Washington state has three national parks and we have officially visited all of them. We loved visiting North Cascades National Park with the kids on our 2024 summer road trip. It was fun getting to cross this incredible national park off our list that’s only 20 miles from the Canadian border–as the crow flies, it takes much longer to drive! I can’t wait to share our tips with you! Keep reading to find out what set this park apart, as well as the best activities for taking your kids to this park.

all about North Cascades National Park

North Cascades was made a national park on October 2, 1968. This designation was in response to the hydroelectric dams built along the Skagit River in the 1920s. Environmentalists campaigned to save the remaining wilderness area with its historical and geological significance. As I mentioned, there are over 300 glaciers in North Cascades–this is one third of the glaciers found in the lower 48 states!

when should you visit North Cascades?

North Cascades National Park is definitely a summer park. Snowfall can occur early and Highway 20 through the park is closed for most of October through May. The average summer high temperatures for Newhalem, Washington (in the lower elevations of the park) are in the 70°s, the average lows are in the 50°s.

where should you stay when visiting?

There are several accommodation options when visiting North Cascades National Park, ranging from camping to hotel rooms, and even a floating resort.

staying inside the park

North Cascades National Park has six campgrounds, some of which will even accommodate small RVs. Keep in mind there are no hookups in any of the North Cascades National Park campgrounds. Looking for something more unique? Try your luck at the Ross Lake Resort lottery. Ross Lake Resort is a series of 15 floating cabins and a marina. This resort has become extremely popular, find out more by clicking here.

staying outside the park

On our family’s visit we stayed in Concrete, WA at Thousand Trails Grandy Creek. It is a beautiful campground and we had a great time! This is one of the closest campgrounds to the west entrance park sign. You can read our full review of Grandy Creek in this blog post.

North Cascades National Park with kids

Our family loves all national parks, but not all are created equal. There are vast differences from park to park, including how kid-friendly they are. Make no mistake–I believe every park is worth a visit. And every park has a Junior Ranger program and neat opportunities to explore with kids. However, some have many hikes that are kid-friendly, and some have less. North Cascades National Park is on the lesser side. Many of the hikes are strenuous and long. North Cascades also has more glaciers than even Glacier National Park in Montana–over 300! Unfortunately, most of these glaciers require one of those long, strenuous hikes to see them. That being said, there are still a lot of beautiful, unique things to see in this Washington state national park with kids!

| Read: How to Visit National Parks for FREE with your 4th Grader |

best hikes in North Cascades with kids

Happy Creek Forest Walk, .3 miles: This is a very easy walk, mostly along a boardwalk following Happy Creek on a short loop. We opted to add on the waterfall extension trail that adds a little over two more miles. Happy Creek Falls at the end is a neat thing to see, but this was definitely a “strenuously” moderate portion of hike, with some loose gravel and slight rock and root scrambling. A pit toilet is located at the trailhead.

River Loop Trail, 1.8 miles: This is a short trail with mild elevation gain. It leaves from the Visitor Center and follows along the Skagit River for a portion of it. You may even see salmon during salmon runs! This path will also take you through the burned areas of the 2015 Goodell Creek fire. It is a good opportunity to take an easy walk through different life cycles of the forest–death and new growth.

Ross Dam Trail, 1.5 miles: This is a moderate hike with some elevation gain as you’ll come to the edge of Ross Lake. The trail crosses Happy Creek before coming down to the top of Ross Dam. If you have your four-legged friend with you you’ll be happy to know that leashed dogs are allowed on this trail–one of the few in the park! Pit toilets can be found at the trailhead.

what else can you do in North Cascades with kids?

become a Junior Ranger

When visiting North Cascades National Park with kids you have to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet! I always recommend having your kids do these programs–they’re great way to learn more about the park you’re visiting in a fun way. Plus, they can earn their unique Junior Ranger badges for each park! Find out more or download the booklet to print at home by clicking here.

stop at a viewpoint

Not a big fan of hiking? That’s okay, you can still see a lot by stopping at one of the many viewpoints that North Cascades offers! Some do have a short walk required, but many allow you to see something scenic by just pulling over your car!

• Diablo Lake Overlook: This is a large parking lot with restrooms and picnic tables. Many places to view the glacial waters of Diablo Lake and descriptive signs telling about the history and geology of the area
• Gorge Creek Falls: This is a parking lot with restrooms. Take a short walk across State Route 20 to view the falls up close (don’t look down!), or less than a mile on a loop trail to view Gorge Lake and Gorge Dam.
• Sterling Munro Boardwalk: Find this view behind the Visitor Center. A short path on a boardwalk will take you to an impressive view, including a glimpse of Terror Glacier. This is the only glacier along State Route 20 that you can easily see without a strenuous hike.

| Read: Best National Parks for Non-hikers |

swim in Diablo Lake

Not only can you see the glacial waters of Diablo Lake from the viewpoint, you can also see it up close by swimming in it! Keep in mind the the water is (understandably) ice cold, but on a hot day it is doable! There are no lifeguards on duty and swimming in glacial water is not like swimming in a pool–take precautions and stay close to shore. Many people choose to access the lake near the Thunder Knob Campground.

tour the Gorge Powerhouse

The Gorge Powerhouse is a short drive from the North Cascades Visitor Center. It is operated by Seattle City Light and houses a Visitor Gallery that is open to the public. Behind the Gorge Powerhouse is a must-do–touring the grounds and “hiking” to Ladder Creek Falls. Ladder Creek Falls is short walk to view the falls up close. At nighttime the falls are lit up, adding a fun twist to this easy hike with kids!

Have you ever visited North Cascades National Park with kids?

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