Absolutely beautiful park. We followed this stunning mountain range all the way from Seattle, and…read moreOld School Park ended up being the perfect place to stop and take it all in. The views were surreal--snow-dusted peaks rising behind a quiet little town, like something out of a postcard. The open green space, crisp air, and peaceful energy made it feel like a true hidden gem. It's rare to find a roadside stop that feels this grounding. Whether you're snapping photos, stretching your legs, or just soaking up the stillness--this place delivers.

Pretty steep for a quick two mile hike but definitely worth it!! It was pretty muddy when I went so…read moreI recommend bringing a nice pair of hiking shoes and trekking poles. I love that this hike doesn't require any pass or fee. There's no restroom, so Espresso Chalet is a good place to stop to use the restroom before the hike! The trail was pretty quiet, we only saw a few people on the way up and down. We had the top of the lookout to ourselves for about 15mins, before groups of people started to arrived so if you want privacy go early. Either way it wasn't too crowded and people were considerate with taking turns at the front of the lookout.

Nothing special. Lot of stones and rooted under the feet. Pretty steep elevation under the trees…read more View from the top is just ok. Trees hide half of the mountains view even if you climbed to the lookout

We hiked to Cascade Pass and Sahale Glacier and it is probably one of the best but hardest day…read morehikes I've done. I would read the trail reports ahead of time so you know the conditions before heading out. The road to the trailhead is LONG but doable in sedan although it was a bit questionable at times. So just know your vehicle and have a backup plan just in case! As many others have stated the trailhead parking fills up EARLY. We also started early and are glad that we did to try and avoid hiking too much in the sun later in the day. Be sure to bring enough water and food, as especially the combo Cascade Pass + Sahale Glacier hike is loooong, steep, with quite a bit of sun exposure especially after you get to Cascade Pass. We saw goats, pikas, grouse, and loved that! I really just cannot describe the views, it is hard to believe such a beautiful place exists.

Oh yes, yes, yes! I absolutely loved Cascade Pass Trail. For sure it was one of the best hikes…read morehikes I completed during my time at North Cascades National Park. Okay...it was a relatively difficult hike but I knew this ahead of time so I was prepared. I actually afforded myself the entire day to explore so no worries for me....I simply took my time and enjoyed the views. My one and only "grrrr" moment and frustration aspect in regards to this Cascade Pass Trail was the drive to get here. Oh wow...for me, I hate driving on dirt/gravel roads...especially when I'm on vacation. Because...what happens if I have a flat tire? Who's going to rescue me? But...I was so intrigued and wanted to witness what Cascade Pass was all about that I held my breath and bravely drove the rough/bumpy/hard 13 miles along the dirt/gravel road to get here. And once I finally arrived at the parking lot....kaboom! The scenery was smack in my face. The mountains were overwhelming that before I even started hiking....I was off and taking pictures outside the parking lot! How funny. I hung out in the parking lot for a few moments simply to appreciate the mountainside being so close in view. I just knew...I anticipated good things were to come from hiking up to Cascade Pass. Now...when I started at the trailhead...it's not just Cascade Pass that you can venture off to. Even further away was Sahale Glacier which at the last moment I had heard from other hikers along the way offered even better scenery than Cascade Pass. And in fact....the hikers that I passed and or did come in contact with were all headed up and down the trail for overnight camping. Yeah that's offered with a permit. But for me...I was just here for day hiking. So...Cascade Pass Trail is a 7.4 mile round trip hike gaining about 1700 feet in elevation. I knew I'd at least be here half the day. And for those interested in exploring further....checking out Sahale Glacier was a 10.4 mile round trip hike gaining a stunning 3900 feet in elevation. Wow...that's crazy 3900 feet! Okay so Cascade Pass was good enough for me. I'd say a good portion of the first part of the hike was obviously uphill and through a lot of switchbacks up the mountain. But eventually...the forest finally parted away and then the views got serious...seriously good! I'd say about halfway up the mountain scenery turned dramatically. I was so high up and level with the shear faced cliff walls...I had to stop often to take photographs! Also, I visited on a relatively dreary/cloudy day. But actually, this was good...because along my way up the trail...I was walking parallel to the clouds...and in perspective...it sort made my photos with the clouds shifting in and out of the background quite dramatic! I appreciated having some clouds. Who would have thought? But yeah, continuing on....I can't say it enough that the dramatic background and valley views were epic! There was snow in and around various parts of the jagged terrain. Combined with the clouds continuously shifting....it made for some pretty great "wow" moments. And before too long, I made it to Cascade Pass. Yeah Cascade Pass was pretty much the pinnacle of it all. With the mountains being so up close beside me and the majestic, rugged snow-capped mountains featured in the distance....I felt quite humbled and grateful to be here and in the moment. If I had to compare the views from Cascade Pass....they reminded me of some of the best aspects along hikes at Glacier National Park. And Glacier NP is one of my favorites out there. I ate my lunch here at Cascade Pass, just soaking up the views before heading back down the mountain. I was intrigued to see what Sahale Glacier was all about but I just wasn't mentally prepared to hike an additional 4 miles along with trekking up a lot more elevation...especially when most hikers camp out for the night while at Sahale Glacier. So...I was definitely content with the views and perspectives I received at Cascade Pass. I was ready to hike back down. And on the way down...again the views were so tremendous...that I had to stop for more pictures. Actually, at that point in time most of the clouds had disappeared and I had virtually all of the Cascade Mountains within close viewing range. How cool. This hike and trail was so worthwhile. Finally when I made it back to the bottom and the parking lot in early afternoon, I bravely drove back the 13 mile gravel road into town. I then had a fulfilling dinner at a charming little quaint restaurant called Marblemount Diner. This was a terrific way to end an inspiring day exploring the wondrous mountains and scenery of Cascade Pass Trail.

Spontaneous Saturday trip to Diablo Lake in Northern Washington but we parked and stayed in Thunder…read moreKnob Trailhead. We drove for almost 3 hours, but when we were looking for a place to park, I lost my signal sevice! Diablo Lake is big and long! We found a spot to relax and swim, but the water was 10°C (so cold, hahaha!). It's still a gorgeous place to visit! Remember, it's better with chairs, snacks, kayaks, paddleboards, and drinks! It's so nice to set aside city and technology life! Just for sure, we are looking to rest and swim and not to hike! But still it is a beautiful nature to see

A vibrant trail with some sensational views! The Thunder Knob trail is a short but moderate 3.5…read moremile out and back trail that's located within North Cascades National Park. The trail begins just behind Diablo Lake and crosses over the beautiful rushing waters of Colonial Creek. It then begins to gently switchback through a lush forest that's filled with beautiful Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock trees. The trail is mostly shaded but features a few breaks within the trees that will reveal some amazing glimpses of the snowcapped mountaintops. As you ascend up the trail, you're rewarded with gorgeous views of the forest and mountains. The forest vegetation is super versatile. I was able to spot daisies, ferns, Western Hemlocks, Douglas Firs, an array of different wildflowers, and so on. The views are the best at the top, of course. There's this stunning vista point that features an aerial view of Diablo Lake with the striking North Cascades Mountain Range in the background. If there was ever a time to get a photo while on this hike, THIS is where you need to do it. It's simply breathtaking to witness. This is also a great spot to bring a picnic and/or take a lunch or snack break for heading back down to finish the second half of the hike. What I genuinely loved about this trail (aside from the views) was how incredibly green it is. The vibrancy is out of this world. Also, to see how clear Diablo Lake is from the top is just insane. It doesn't even look real, but it definitely is! The best part about hiking this trail is being able to literally walk right down to lake to relax after you've finished your hike. It's the perfect reward, and hiking this trail was truly a wonderful experience.

This review is for Cascade Pass Trail which was a ~6.9 miles round trip that took ~4 hours to…read morecomplete. This was the shortest trail available on AllTrails within the North Cascades National Park, Washington. With that being said, the trail felt long with a ~2.5 mile steady forest incline alongside the mountain. Trail was mostly a narrow rocky dirt path. The views were stunning once the trail opens up out of the forest! Large parking area at the trailhead with additional parking on the side of dirt road. Restroom available at the parking lot. The last ~12 miles were mostly unpaved road with a few potholes near the end. The North Cascades NP Wilderness Info Center was the closest visitor center with magnets, located ~1 hour from the trailhead. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/t6P9xpmFA64

Amazing, breathtaking, incredible - words cannot describe the beauty of the PNW…read more How lucky are we that we get to live in a world with such wonders? Pictures are from the Maple Pass Loop during larch season :)

Beautiful and peaceful State Park…read more We were heading to North Cascades Park and saw the sign for Rockport. We try to check out any state parks we can, so we made an impromptu turn in. There were only a couple cars in the lot, and no one in sight. As I was in the bathroom...which by the way, as another reviewer mentioned, were some of the cleanest I've ever seen in a park...my husband was checking out the trail map. Knowing my deep affinity for trees, especially the elderly ones, he had quickly made the decision we were taking a short trail while here. We took off across the highway to Sauk Springs Trail to see the old grandmother cedar. The trail was a bit muddy at times but nothing tragic. A narrow, serene path winds through the old growth forest passing by the GORGEOUS old cedar and continuing on the loop back to the park entrance. On our way back to the van we noticed a sign about the now closed campground portion of the park. Personally I loved the idea that rather than destroy the precious old growth trees that had become fragile, the park decided in 2007 to close the campground, letting nature have its home while letting hikers still take in the beauty via foot or by driving through. As we left we did just that, drove a loop through the old campgrounds...so cool to see nature slowly reclaiming the space. This park is beautiful. Pristine grounds and lovely trails. Definitely a great place to stop by for a picnic, a hike, and to check out old Grandmother!

A tour of Rockport State Park is a tour of the old growth Pacific Northwest forests, with trees so…read moretall most of the views will be looking up. For the first part of our exploration of this state park we simply stood in the parking lot and looked up, watching the tops of the trees hundreds of feet up sway in the wind. It almost seemed as though they had reached their final height, not able to grow any taller without breaking off. Some of the trees had tested their limits and crashed to the ground. The campground in the state park was permanently closed because massive limbs falling hundreds of feet will punch through any RV on the market. After staring up at the trees for a while, we decided to drive through the park. It was weird to the see the old campsites, looking like they were slowly returning to the forest, scattered amongst the dense forest. Some of the trees are 400-600 years old, giving any observer a true feeling of what the forest must've felt like before the lumber industry moved in.

Lovely riverside park with lots of space. It's nice for a relaxing walk or some frisbee and…read morecertainly soccer.

I've been here several times, in most cases just to get out of the car, stretch my legs, and look…read moreat the scenic view of the Skagit River, and on one occasion at night, to enjoy a fantastic view of the night sky. One down-side is the absence of toilets. When I was here for astronomy a few years ago, there were portable toilets, but apparently those aren't in the budget during the pandemic. Maybe they'll be back some day. If you're a bird watcher, you may have been here to see the summer birds -- American black swift, Vaux's swift, osprey, spotted sandpiper, Bullock's oriole, and lazuli bunting. Or maybe you've been here for the winter birds -- the bald eagles that are this place's namesake, common goldeneye, Barrow's goldeneye, merganser, and American dipper. (I confess that I'm not much of a birder, but since this place is noted for bird watching, it seems appropriate to give some bird details.) The GPS coordinates point to an interpretive sign about the birds and the Skagit Wild & Scenic River System. If you're a hobby astronomer (as I am), this place is a pretty sweet spot. There are no lights around, except headlights from vehicles on the highway, and it's possible to find spots where one can hide from the headlights. The sky is nice and dark, because there are no nearby population centers, and mountains block most of the light pollution from more distant cities. Astronomical "seeing" (atmospheric stability) can be very good. The mountains don't obscure the horizon much; the southern horizon is particularly clear. It's easy to find spots to see the sky without trees in the way. Access is very easy, as a highway rest area. On the other hand, it's not perfect for astronomy. For viewing in some directions, the headlights can be more of a challenge. The altitude is low, and being next to the river can mean fog. The same remoteness that mean dark skies also mean it's quite a trip from where most people live. And the toilets are gone, for now at least. My most recent visit was late August, in the year of the pandemic. It was a daytime stop, to get up and stretch our legs. My boy and I walked along the riverfront to the west end of the area. Just west of the area there's a short road from the highway almost to the river, along the dry creekbed of Sutter Creek. It looks like it was once a boat launch, but as of 2020 it was washed out. The washed out road still makes a good way to get to the edge of the river, where there's a gravel shore that looks like salmon heaven. Years ago, my wife and I stopped here for astronomy, and it was great. We enjoyed the very dark sky, and wished we had room to pack the telescope. That's a fond memory. It's not clear what this little park's official name is, or whether it even has one. - According to text on the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest information sign, it's the "Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area". - According to the Skagit Audubon Society, it's the "Skagit River Bald Eagle Area". - According to the road sign, it's "Roadside Park - Mile 100". - According to Google Maps, it's "Rest Area, at Sutter Creek". - According to Google Plus Code, it's "FFV5+Q8 Rockport, Washington". - The GPS coordinates are 48.49438° N 121.541625° W. I'm not sure whether any of those are official, but "Skagit River Roadside Park" describes it accurately, and combines the names on the forest service sign and the highway department sign. Although the address listed is in Concrete, it's closer to Rockport. It has two entrances, one directly across the highway from Conrad Road, the other about 250 yards east of there. Note where the pin on the map is located.

This hike is very intense but very pretty. The beginning part of the hike is full of switchbacks in…read morea wooded area. Then, you cross through an overgrown thicket that may contain stinging nettles. There are lots of files and bugs during this part. After the thicket is another wooded area with a couple of streams running through the path (but there are bridges so you're shoes probably won't get wet). Towards the end of this section, there is a fork in the road that is kind of hard to see. One path takes you to the lookout tower and the other takes you to mirror lake, where you can call overnight with a permit. If you're going to the tower, the next area you'll walk through is the spectacular Alpine meadow full of flowers and the beginnings of views of the surrounding mountains. After that the remainder of the hike until the top is relatively short. There is a lookout tour at the top that you can climb and view all the surrounding mountains and foothills, such as Mt Baker and Mt pilchuck. The hike took me (a semi novice hiker) and my friends 4 hours to get to the top and 3 hours getting down (going downhill is tricky because it's very steep, and you'll probably be tired). This hike is super hard and long but worth it for the view, at least for me.