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North Cascades National Park |
Description:
The North Cascades National Park Service Complex includes North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas.
North Cascades National Park contains some of America's most beautiful scenery -- jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers -- within its 505,000 acres (202,000 hectares).
Ross Lake National Recreation Area (118,000 acres, 47,200 hectares) is the corridor for scenic Washington State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway, and includes three reservoirs: 12,000-acre (4,800-hectare) Ross Lake, 910-acre (364-hectare) Diablo Lake, and 210-acre (84-hectare) Gorge Lake -- water gateways to more remote areas.
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (62,000 acres, 24,800 hectares) rests in a glacially carved trough in the Cascades Range. Lake Chelan is one of the nation's deepest, reaching a depth of 1,500 feet (450 meters). It offers boating, fishing, and lakeshore camping. The average width is less than two miles (3.2 kilometers), but Lake Chelan extends 50 miles (83 kilometers) into the Cascade Mountains. The lake's northernmost four miles (6.4 kilometers) are in the National Recreation Area, including the remote community of Stehekin and the Stehekin River Valley.
Over 93% of the three areas comprising the Complex are included in the Stephen Mather Wilderness, established in 1988 (Public Law 100-668). This Wilderness was named in honor of the first director of the National Park Service.
Designations:
National Park (October 2, 1968)
National Recreation Area (October 2, 1968)
Wilderness (November 16, 1988)
Accessibility:
The following is a part of the information available in "Accessible Recreation Opportunities" (http://www.nps.gov/noca/accessibilityguide/accessguide.htm). The North Cascades Visitor Center, Sedro-Woolley information station, and Wilderness Information Office are fully accessible. The approach to the Golden West Visitor Center is an unpaved, sloping path which can be negotiated with assistance. There is a ramp into the center itself. The Sterling Munro Trail at the North Cascades Visitor Center and the Happy Creek Forest Walk at milepost 135 on S.R.20 are fully accessible boardwalk paths. The latter is a 1/3 mile (1/2 kilometer) loop through ancient forest. The River Loop Trail, Linking Trail and Newhalem Creek Rockshelter Trail, all in the vicinity of the North Cascades Visitor Center, are accessible trails with good surfaces and less than 10% grade throughout. The Rockshelter Trail ends in a boardwalk providing a view and interpretation of an archeological site. East of Newhalem along the North Cascades Highway is the Gorge Overlook Trail, a portion of which is paved and fully accessible and the remainder of which is accessible at a challenge level or with assistance. There are accessible campsites and restrooms in the park's campgrounds along State Route 20 and an accessible picnic shelter near the Goodell Creek Campground.
Getting Around:
The N. Cascades Hwy goes through Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Cascade River Road leaves S.R.20 at Marblemount, WA, to more trailheads.
Bus services in the Stehekin Valley (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area)are provided by the NPS and the Stehekin Adventure Company. Service from Stehekin Landing to High Bridge (11 miles/18 km), is available May 19 through October 15, 2000. NPS bus service from High Bridge 4.6 miles to Bridge Ck (Pacific Crest Trail) begins June 16, snow and road conditions permitting. It is anticipated that the service will begin operating to Glory Mountain (20.1 miles from the Landing and the present end of the road) July 1. From there hike 11.2 miles (17.9 km)over Cascade Pass to the Cascade River Rd. There are many trailheads and camps along the Stehekin Valley Road. Reservations not needed for the Stehekin Adventure bus but highly recommended (required May 19 - June 15) for the NPS shuttle buses due to smaller capacity. To reserve, call (360) 856-5700 ext. 340, then 14. One-way fares for either bus: $5/adult;$3/child (12 and under) between Stehekin Landing and High Bridge. An additional $5/adult, $3/child, $3/bicycle each way for the shuttle bus between High Bridge and Bridge Crk or Glory Mtn.
Reservations can also be made in person at visitor centers or when obtaining backcountry permits. For transportation schedule, see http://www.nps.gov/noca/focus/shuttlesched.htm.
93% of the park complex is Wilderness with 386 miles of trail.
Activites:
Auto_Touring | Biking | Boating | Camping | Climbing | Educational Programs | Fishing | Hiking | Horseback Riding | Hunting | Wilderness Area | Wildlife Viewing | Backpacking | Bird Watching | Mountaineering | Nature Walks | Stargazing | Kayaking | Whitewater Rafting | Cross Country Skiing | Snowshoeing | And more.
Facilities:
Visitor_Centers | Restaurant or Snack Bar | Picnic Areas | Groceries or Supplies | Comfort Stations | Museum Exhibits | Cabin Rentals | Tours & Guided Activities | And more.
Nature: Endangered Animals | Glaciers | Mountains | And more.
Directions to North Cascades National Park
Plane:
Nearest major airport is Seatac near Seattle, Washington. Chelan Airways (509/682-5555)provides floatplane access to Stehekin in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.
Car:
Access to the North Cascades and Ross Lake area is from I-5 at Burlington, west of the mountains, and Twisp, on the east, following Washington State Route (SR) 20 with branch routes to Baker Lake (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)and the Cascade River. The park and recreation areas are always open, but access is limited by snow in winter. Note that State Route 20 (North Cascades Scenic Highway), the major access to Ross Lake NRA, is partially closed from approximately mid-November to mid-April. Exact opening and closing dates depend on weather, snow depths, and avalanche hazards. Two roads, both gravel, enter North Cascades National Park itself: the Cascade River Road from Marblemount and the Stehekin Valley Road. Note that the latter does not connect to any roads outside the Stehekin Valley. There are no road connections to Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (access by trail, passenger ferry, and floatplane.) The only road access to the shore of Ross Lake is via the Silver-Skagit Road (gravel) from near Hope, British Columbia.
Public Transportation
The "LINK" public bus system in Chelan County connects to the passenger ferry at Chelan (Lake Chelan Boat Company) which goes to Stehekin Landing in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area at the opposite end of the lake. The "SKAT" public bus sytem in Skagit County once per day goes to Newhalem in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Contact the park (360/856-5700 ext.515) for more information. Very little of the park is accessible via public transportation.
Attractions:
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Phone:360/856-5700 ext.515
Wenatchee National Forest
Skagit Valley Provincial Park
Phone:604/924-2200
Seattle City Light's Skagit Tours
Phone:(206) 684-3030
Okanogan National Forest
Phone:(509)996-4000
Nearby Parks:
Mount Rainier National Park (199 miles)
Olympic National Park (148 miles)
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (123 miles)
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (166 miles)
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Contact Information for North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
2105 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA
98284-9394
Phone: 360/856-5700
Fax: 360-856-1934
Located near Marblemount, WA
For more information on North Cascades National Park
Information on this page provided by the NPS.
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Washington Road Maps (WA Maps)
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