Places to stay in north cascades national park

Discover the top lodging near North Cascade National Park!

Looking for a peaceful getaway or where to stay? North Cascades National Park hotels are definitely one recommendation, but with a place like this we think glamping is a much more autonymous way to enjoy the area! This collection of cool places to stay near North Cascades National Park is all the travel inspiration you need! Located in the northern part of Washington, this park is home to a diverse landscape consisting of lush forests, stunning glaciers, and mesmerizing lakes. Washington Pass Overlook and Diablo Lake Overlook are two of the greatest lookouts in the area, offering outstanding views. Find the best lodging near North Cascades National Park and spend your Washington vacation exploring the different park attractions. Active glampers will absolutely love it here, as there are plenty of hiking trails available throughout the park, including Blue Lake Trail and Stehekin Valley Trail, and visitors cannot leave without seeing the stunning waterfalls of Ladder Creek Falls. These North Cascades lodging alternatives are conveniently located and have luxury amenities for you to feel like home.Want to head out to Washington already? Check out the best lodging North Cascades National Park has available and book your dream rental! Enjoy the best places to stay! North Cascades National Park awaits!

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North Cascades National Park, Washington was the last US National Park we visited during our three-month cross country road trip. The year we visited winter had been kinda crazy all along the west coast so some roads were still closed at the beginning of June! It’s true, the summer season in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest is short but it’s a beautiful one! Plus, even if you visit outside of the winter months, you’re in for a treat!

Places to stay in north cascades national park

Often called “The American Alps”, North Cascades National Park is full of glacial mountain peaks, forested valleys and emerald green lakes. It’s truly beautiful and felt very different to the other National Parks we visited in the US.

North Cascades National Park makes up what’s known as the North Cascades National Park Service Complex along with Ross Lake and Lake Chelan national recreation areas.

When it comes to North Cascades wildlife there’s plenty! As you explore you may see mule and black-tailed deer, black bears, marmots and mountain goats. Less often seen but still around are mountain lions and bobcats.

This park is very popular with backpackers, hikers and mountaineers thanks to the wildness of the terrain and the numerous peaks!

Where is North Cascades National Park located?

Places to stay in north cascades national park

North Cascades National Park is in Washington, USA and forms part of the Cascade Mountain Range; so called due to the many, many waterfalls found in it. The range runs from British Columbia to northern California and it’s believed that the North Cascades mountains as they are today rose up around 5-6 million years ago!

North Cascades National Park is close to the Canada – USA border and is roughly 2.5 hours from both Vancouver, BC and Seattle depending on traffic conditions.

North Cascades National Park map

Places to stay in north cascades national park
This map of North Cascades National Park gives you an idea for the size of the park. If you’re looking for a North Cascades Trail Map you can pick one up a very basic one (like the image to the left) at the visitor centre within in the park.

Alternatively, I like to use the Alltrails app to do some quick research into hikes and routes and carry a proper trail map with me (like this North Cascades map) when going on a longer hike.

You can see a North Cascades highway map – which is the road running through the park from east to west – here.

How to get to North Cascades Park

Places to stay in north cascades national park

North Cascades National Park is easily accessible from Vancouver, BC and Seattle (and towns in between!). If you need to rent a car for your trip to the North Cascades then take a look at RentalCars.com. They make it really easy to compare deals so you get a good one!

Nearest airports to North Cascades

The closest big international airports to the North Cascades are Seattle-Tacoma and Vancouver.

If you’re flying to the US before visiting North Cascades National Park and have dates in mind then I recommend checking out Skyscanner.com to compare your cheap flights!

If you’ve yet to choose your dates then take a look at Dollar Flight Club, once signed up you can set your home airport(s) and then they’ll let you know when they find amazing deals on flights. The savings they find every day AMAZE me!

Driving directions to North Cascades

From both Seattle and Vancouver the journey is roughly 2-3 hours. Depending on traffic and how long the queue at the border is if you’re coming from Canada.

Seattle to North Cascades National Park

From Seattle head north on the I-5 until you get to the WA-530 E/State Rte 530 NE. Follow the WA-530 EState Rte 530 NE WA-20 E Rockport and then continue until you’re in the park.

Vancouver to North Cascades National Park

Head south out of Vancouver on BC-99 towards the Peace Arch border crossing. Then take the I-5 southbound once in the US. Take exit 232 and then go along the WA-20 eastbound and this will take you into the park.

Places to stay in north cascades national park

North Cascades entrance fees & permits

Here are some of the following permits, passes and fees you may need to pay during your North Cascades trip.

Entrance fees

There’s no fee to enter North Cascades National Park – it’s completely free!

However, if you’re planning on visiting a few US National Parks over the course of a year then consider buying the “America is Beautiful National Parks Pass” from REI which saves you a lot of money in the long run.

North Cascades National Park camping fees

There’s a lot of camping available through the North Cascades area. And most of them can be reserved in advance through recreation.gov. Other campsites in the North Cascades are available as first-come, first served.

Some of these North Cascades National Park campgrounds are free, and others cost up to $16 a night.

Each campsite spot is limited to 8 people with a max of 3 tents and 2 vehicles. You can have a fire in the firepit but must buy locally sourced firewood from a vendor in the surrounding areas and must not collect your own firewood.

North Cascades camping sites

  • Goodell Creek Campground: Main Campground is first-come, first-served with the Upper and Lower Campgrounds available for reservation
  • Newhalem Creek Campground
  • Gorge Lake Campground: Reservable
  • Colonial Creek Campground: North Loop is first-come, first-served, South Loop is reservable
  • Hozomeen Campground: First-come, first-served North Cascades campground

For more details on the campsites check out the NPS website.

Bicycle campsites

If you’re cycle touring through the North Cascades National Park then you’ll be pleased to hear there are some bicycle campground sites reserved just for cyclists. There’s one at Newhalem Creek Campground (site A3) and another at Colonial Creek (south site 115)

You can’t reserve these in advance and they cost $16/night

If unoccupied after 8 pm, campers with vehicles may occupy this site for 1 night only.

Backcountry Permit Camping Fees and Reservations

With almost 644 km of trails in the North Cascades National Park, there’s plenty of wilderness exploring to be done. If you’re planning on backcountry camping in North Cascades National Park then you’ll need to get a backcountry permit.

Permits are required all year for overnight stays in the backcountry of North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan. Permits are specific to a site or a cross country zone and you must follow the itinerary listed on your permit.

How to Get a Backcountry Permit

You can get a backcountry permit for the North Cascades either through advanced reservation (this holds a site but needs to be converted to a permit before entering the park), or through getting a walk-up permit. Permits must be picked up at a ranger station in or around the park.

60% of permits are advanced permits and they are allocated in full very quickly each year. If you don’t have a permit for the coming year but still want to explore the backcountry you can, but you’ll likely have to do a less popular trail.

More information on backcountry exploration and permits.

Northwest Forest Pass (required at USFS trailheads only)

Depending on where you’re hiking you may need to buy a Northwest Forest Pass. These allow you to park at the trailheads on National Park Service lands. A permit is $5 a day, or $30 for a year. You can get these at most ranger stations, many local businesses and online.

Places to stay in north cascades national park

Where to stay near North Cascades National Park

Because North Cascades is a bit more ‘wild’ than other National Parks in the US, you’re not going to find a lot of places to stay in North Cascades National Park itself.

However, there are plenty of places to stay just outside of the National Park as well as campsites within it and, as above, it’s not that far from Vancouver and Seattle if you really don’t want to camp!

North Cascades National Park hotels

Below is a selection of the top North Cascades National Park cabins and hotels near North Cascades National Park.

  • Wizard’s Cabin: Cute tiny home Airbnb near North Cascades
  • Sun Mountain Lodge: The most luxurious option on the list!
  • River’s Edge Resort: Cottages & chalets and a private deck with a hot tub
  • Hotel Rio Vista: All rooms have river views and a balcony
  • AbbeyCreek Inn: Gets great reviews and is based on the Methow , with free WiFi, an outdoor pool and free breakfast
  • Aspen Lodge: Cute North Cascades National Park lodging with skiing straight to the door in winter

Places to stay in north cascades national park

Top 5 things to do in North Cascades NP

Here are some of the top North Cascades attractions that you should add to your “what to do in North Cascades National Park” itinerary!

  1. See Diablo Lake
  2. Do some epic North Cascades hiking
  3. Take a scenic drive along the North Cascades Scenic highway (check here for “Is the North Cascades highway open?“)
  4. Go to the Washington Pass overlook
  5. Spend the night camping!

5 Best hikes in the North Cascades National Park

With so many North Cascades hikes to do, it’s virtually impossible to say which are best. However, here are 5 North Cascades National Parks hikes that include a mix of easy hikes and backpacking routes.

  • Cascade Pass
  • Maple Pass Loop
  • Desolation Peak – one of the most famous hikes in North Cascades thanks to Jack Kerouac. His books, Dharma Burns & Desolation Angels are said to be heavily inspired by his time spent here.
  • Thunder knob trail – an easy hike with a great view makes this one of the best hikes in North Cascades for those short on time
  • Hidden Lake Lookout

Check out this post for more North Cascades National Park hiking

What to do nearby

Here are a few things to do near North Cascades National Park

  • Discover Seattle
  • Explore Vancouver, BC!
  • Hike in and around Mt Baker
  • Visit Leavenworth; a Bavarian styled town

More USA National Parks posts

  • Ultimate guide to Arches National Park (permits, must sees & more!)
  • A guide to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
  • The complete guide to Canyonlands National Park, Utah
  • How to do a self guided Everglades tour
  • A guide to visiting Death Valley National Park, California
  • A guide to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim
  • A first timers guide to Zion National Park, Utah

Where do you stay when visiting North Cascades National Park?

Where to stay near North Cascades National Park.
Wizard's Cabin: Cute tiny home Airbnb near North Cascades..
Sun Mountain Lodge: The most luxurious option on the list!.
River's Edge Resort: Cottages & chalets and a private deck with a hot tub..
Hotel Rio Vista: All rooms have river views and a balcony..

What is the closest town to North Cascades National Park?

Getting to North Cascades National Park What is this? The closest major city to North Cascades National Park is Seattle, which is 108 miles (a little over 2 hours) away.

How long should you stay at North Cascades National Park?

You need a bare minimum of one full day for North Cascades National Park. Of course, more time is always better. With one day in North Cascades National Park, drive North Cascades Highway, visit the overlooks, and do one or two hikes. If you prefer short, easy hikes, we recommend Rainy Lake, Blue Lake, or Thunder Knob.

Is Mount Rainier or North Cascades better?

While both parks offer incredible views and hikes, Mount Rainier National Park is better because it is easier to access and has more amenities and attractions. Hikes and views here are accessible on shorter hikes or simply a scenic drive. However, if you're looking to explore the backcountry, consider North Cascades.