Hiking in the Cascade Mountains

Lake Chelan is a major entryway into the North Cascades, providing access to some of the best hiking and backpacking in the Cascade Range. Trails range from one mile, through the paved Riverwalk Park to nearly 230 mile treks. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced hikers can all find the perfect trail from among more than 40 trailheads listed in the Lake Chelan Valley. Hiking: General Information Lower elevation trails are usually accessible from early April through mid-October. Higher elevation trails (which is most of the North Cascades backcountry), however, do not open until mid-July and remain accessible through late September. There are 386 miles of maintained trails, many steeply taking you to absolutely breathtaking alpine scenery. Permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. Camping at designated or existing sites is encouraged. Party size is limited to 12 (6 in cross-country zones) andd campfires are discouraged in subalpine areas. Pets are not allowed on any trail in North Cascades National Park except the Pacific Crest Trail, where they must be on a leash. Hiking: Precautions There is a significant difference between westside and eastside climates, with the westside receiving higher precipitation year-round, resulting in cloudier and cooler weather. Eastside forests, in the Cascade rainshadow, have more sunshine, higher temperatures, and noticeably less vegetation. It should be noted that the North Cascades is Grizzly Bear Country.While sightings are infrequent, all precautions for travelling in grizzly bear country should be religiously followed to avoid an unpleasant encounter: 1.Design your camp in a triangle. The cooking area should be 100 yards away from your sleeping area, which in turn is 100 yards away from the food storage area. 2.Keep a clean camp. Store food, garbage, cooking gear, and cosmetics properly at all times. •Place items in an odor proof bag that is used exclusively for food storage. •Choose a tree to hang your storage container that is at least 100 yards from your tent. •Hange storage container at least 10 feet above the ground and at least 4 feet from the trunk. 3.Pack out all garbage. Never bury or burn garbage. 4.Never cook in your tent and do not sleep in the clothing you wore while cooking. 5.Store horse pellets the same as food. 6.Always stay alert to your surroundings and avoid startling a bear by making noise, especially in low visibility areas. Nature Trails Shadow of the Sentinels Barrier-free loop trail through old-growth forest. (Baker Lake) To Know a Tree (Newhalem) Trail of the Cedars (Newhalem) Thunder Woods (Colonial Creek) Happy Creek Forest Barrier-free. (Ross Lake) Rainy Lake Paved 1 mile barrier-free trail to Rainy Lake Trail of the Obelish (Hozomeen) Imus Creek (Stehekin) McKellar Cabin (Stehekin) Rainbow Mist (Stehekin) Selected Hiking Trails Thunder Creek 6.5 miles (one-way) from Colonial Creek campground to McAllister Creek, easy; 18 miles (one-way) to Park Creek Pass, strenuous East Bank 31 miles (one-way) from Ruby Creek trailhead on North Cascades Highway to Hozomeen Cascade Pass7 miles (round-trip), moderate. Extremely popular trail accessible via gravel Cascade River Road. Access to Sahale Arm, Horseshoe Basin, and Stehekin. Meadows are fragile, please stay on trail at all times! Lakeshore 14 miles (round-trip) from Stehekin to Moore Point along Lake Chelan. Agnes Gorge 5 miles (round-trip), easy. Excellent views of Agnes Mountain and spectacular Agnes Gorge. Trailhead near High Bridge in Stehekin Valley.

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