North Cascades National Park

Absolutly stunning! Espacially for fall season! 😍😍😍 Tons of hikes to do around, all level. Maple pass and Cutthroat pass highly recommended! Concrete town is really nice for a break in between hikes (nice pub in town).

— alison richard

easily top 3 favorite places i’ve ever been to. my girlfriend and i camped at goodell creek campground about a week ago for 2 nights and had perfect weather. we hiked cascade pass to sahale glacier camp and it was pretty brutal, but the views were just insane! so many layers of mountains. awesome visitor center, helpful and friendly rangers, i’ll definitely come back here in the future.

— David Schauer

Visitors should take advantage of this park said to be one of the least visited in the park system. The Scenic Pkwy was finished in 1972 and only named a National Park in 1984. There are numerous hiking trails/pullouts/camping and picnic areas. Most notable is the Washington Pass overlook. Photographers note... light is best here in afternoon to late afternoon.

— Bruce Wessel

Wild, breathtaking, and still wonderfully untouched North Cascades National Park is the kind of place that reminds you what real wilderness looks like. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking — dramatic peaks, turquoise lakes, deep forests — and the hikes are nothing short of mesmerizing. Every trail feels like you’ve stepped into a postcard. What makes it even better: not a lot of people. No traffic-jam trails, no theme-park atmosphere. Just mountains, silence, wind, and the sound of your boots on the ground — the way national parks were meant to be experienced. One honest downside: the restrooms (loos) are clearly below par and not well maintained. For such a world-class park, this part is disappointing and needs serious attention. That said, if you want raw beauty, solitude, and unforgettable hikes, North Cascades delivers in every meaningful way. This place doesn’t try to impress — it simply does.

— Kwizzy Howling At-Themoon

One of the most underrated National Parks – North Cascades Tucked away in northern Washington, right along the Canadian border, North Cascades National Park is a hidden gem. The park offers both stunning scenic drives and hiking trails that range from easy to challenging. We visited in late June, just as the summer season was beginning. Our first stop was the breathtaking Diablo Lake—its striking turquoise color comes from glaciers melting in the summer months, framed by dramatic mountain peaks. We also hiked to Rainy Lake, part of the Maple Pass trail. It’s an easy, family-friendly hike and absolutely worth it for the serene alpine lake views. Like most national parks, there are no food options inside, so packing enough for the day is a must. We made the most of our visit by stopping at multiple viewpoints, soaking in every bit of the park’s beauty. If you’re looking for a less-crowded park with jaw-dropping scenery, I’d highly recommend adding North Cascades National Park to your list.

— Greeshma Raghavendra