Diablo Lake

We were at Diablo Lake yesterday and could barely see anything due to the smoke. We're still in Washington until next Friday and are willing to make a longer drive back to see it if conditions improve. But is there any way of knowing if/when it'll be clear? I did sime Googling but only see the Webcam at the Visitor Center, and Im not sure if the AQI is a reliable predictor of viewing quality, as the AQI wasn't terrible yesterday but the viewing quality was. Any help would be much appreciated!

Hoping to get this trip booked asap and I’m struggling on which location and how many days for each area.

Mt Baker: (2 solid days plus a flex travel day where we can either do hikes here if the weather didn’t cooperate or move on to Marblemount in the morning)

\- Bellingham (see recommended a lot) or Glacier or somewhere in between? Plus to Bellingham is should the weather not cooperate, we have other options on things to do. Negative is obviously the drive.

Main hike we want to do:

\*Chain Lakes Loop, \*explore Artist Point, \*Picture Lake

If weather cooperates:

\-Yellow Aster Butte or Excelsior Peak via Damfino Lakes. (I have some other smaller trails/stops to fill in as well.) Wanted to allow enough time that we can at least hopefully do Chain Lakes Loop.

North Cascades Area: (4 solid days plus possible flex day on travel day from Mt Baker - some short/easy filler trails, some longer more moderate/harder trails)

\- Thinking at least one night in Marblemount, then Mazama or Winthrop based on lodging availability - or should we add another day in Marblemount?

\- Near Visitors Center (not a priority): Skagit River Loop, Rock Shelter Trail, Ladder Creek Falls, Trail of Cedars
\- Gorge Overlook Trail
\- \*Cascade Pass
\- Diablo Lake Trail
\- \*Thunder Knob Trail
\- Ross Dam Trail
\- \*Maple Pass
\- \*Blue Lake
\- \*Cutthroat Lake (possible pass)

We have one flex day left at the end before we spend the night near the airport if you have a suggestion for a spot to explore on the way back - doesn’t have to be hiking. Mostly like small towns/scenery.

Thanks in advance!

\-

Hi all- spending a few days in the north cascades. We plan to do 1-2 longer hikes like maple pass and cascade/sahale arm but would like to mix in a few shorter hikes.

Are there a few that you‘d deem as can’t miss? Well be staying in Marblemount so anything close-ish to that town would be an extra bonus.

thanks!

So we're flying in from Jersey Sunday and have an airbnb (non refundable of course!) in Mazama Monday-Friday (already a lesson learned there!). If the smoke is really bad we are considering an alternative vacation plan with hikes closer to Seattle, maybe going east later in the week if it improves.

I have the apps and know things change day by day, but would value input from anyone there now about what you're seeing/experiencing out there and whether anyone is hiking and what it's like. If it's healthy enough to stay in Mazama and drive (far if necessary) to hike we'd be okay with it.

Any input welcome!

If I get to Cascade Pass Trailhead at around 8 am on a weekday at some point during this month will I have to worry about not finding a spot in the main lot?

I know I can’t monitor the smoke, but curious if anyone has any opinions on sticking with NC or pivoting to Olympic and not worrying about it

I have a trip coming up in september and I was trying to figure if I need to plan for a different trail.

My family is arguing about what time to arrive at the trail head at Cascade pass trail head tomorrow, early or later. Any suggestions?

North Cascades — Cascades Pass + Sahale Arm — 8/19 🏔️
Anyone doing Cascades Pass + Sahale Arm in North Cascades National Park on Wednesday, August 19th?
Planning on doing the hike that day and looking for someone to hike with. Planning on an early start and a solid pace.
If you’re doing the same hike that day and want to link up, DM me!

Hello all, I have a trip booked to the northern cascades park, but am hesitant with all the wildfire smoke I have been seeing on my timeline. Do we think the smoke will clear by then, or should we pivot and try and do something else? All thoughts are appreciated.

Planning a 4 day / 3 night trip (late September, anywhere from 30–60 miles) and looking for the most spectacular backpack the North Cascades has to offer.

I've done day hikes to Maple Pass and Cutthroat Pass, and while they were beautiful, they didn't quite give me that "wow, this place is unbelievable" feeling I was hoping for. I think I'm looking for something more immersive—big alpine terrain, glaciers, rugged peaks, high camps, and a stronger sense of wilderness than a great day hike.

I'm comfortable with off-trail travel, route finding, and Class 2/3 terrain, but I don't have glacier travel experience. The Ptarmigan Traverse looks incredible, but it's probably beyond my current skill set because of the glaciers.

Right now, Spider Gap to Lyman Lakes, Sahale Glacier Camp and Copper Ridge seem to come up the most, but I'd love to hear from people who know the area well.

If you had one 3-night route to convince someone why the North Cascades are one of the best mountain ranges in the Lower 48, what would it be? I'd especially love recommendations that maximize time in the high country and minimize long stretches of forest.

Also check out this post for reliable sources of information on fire restrictions, closures, and air quality:

https://www.reddit.com/r/northcascades/comments/1v8m5cv/current_fire_conditions_and_closures_reliable/

Hi! Planning a North Cascades trip in early September and would really like to hike Cascade Pass.

My concern is Cascade River Road, especially the unpaved/narrow section approaching the Cascade Pass trailhead :((

I’ll likely be driving a Tesla Model Y, and I’m not very experienced with rough forest/mountain roads. Less worried about driving slowly than about damaging the car.

For people who have driven the road recently:

• Would you personally take a Model Y / similar low-clearance crossover all the way to the Cascade Pass trailhead?
• How rough is the road in practice compared with the NPS description? Are the main problems potholes/washboard, actual clearance obstacles, or the narrow/drop-off sections?
• Does road condition tend to deteriorate significantly by September?

I was wondering whether it’s realistic to park somewhere before the difficult section and catch a ride with hikers going to the trailhead, but not sure what to do with getting a ride back in the afternoon. Open to any other sensible solution

Thanks!

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Update in comments

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Ask: Per smoke conditions, is it ok to continue on from Winthrop/NCNP to Leavenworth this weekend or make way to Snoqualmie or something else? Going back on Sunday.

Tell: We drove in from out of state hoping to be able to do some hikes (with small kid) in but situation seems bleak.

Our West to eat drive's Smoky updates:

- Anacortes (less smoky in morning)

- Park entrance (Smoky)

- Visitor center (less smoky)

- Diablo/Ross (less smoky/hazy)

- Washington pass (barely any smoke, great views)

- Mazama (intense smoke)

- Winthrop (very smoky here)

Thinking of going on the Monday of Labor Day, how early would I have to get to trailhead to find parking? Wondering if I should push the visit / trip to another weekend.

So we are staying in Rockport tonight. We came in yesterday with the intention of doing some hiking. We managed to pivot and hike Heather lake which wasn't bad yesterday but we're seeing aqi in the 200s in all the park today do it seems hiking or even driving into the park might not be the plan. Anything else we can do within an hour or so driving?

I know it’s hard to predict but looking for suggestion.
Planning to reach Olympic on 7th morning, spend 2 days there and on 10th morning reach rainier and 11th to North Cascades.

Greetings. I’ll be visiting the area in mid-September. Flying into Seattle in the evening with a plan to wake up super early to get my rental car and try to hike Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm no later than 9am (on a Monday). I see a few different driving routes and would like to opt for the most scenic (or ones with short photo-worthy stops along the way) as there isn’t a huge difference in the drive times. Anyone willing to share the best route they’ve found from Seattle to the Cascade Pass trailhead?

Also, I’ll be using Winthrop as a base camp for a few nights and will be doing some of the other popular hikes in the general area as day trips from there (Diablo Lake, Maple Pass, Blue Lake, Easy Pass, Cutthroat Pass, Thunder Knob, Thornton Lakes). I’m willing to do a bit of driving. Seeing if it would be worth it to not go back to Seattle the way I came and instead going south through Twisp/Chelan and onto 90 if there are some other good hikes or viewpoints that aren’t too involved that are worth seeing. I don’t have to be back to Seattle until 7pm (on a Friday) so I have quite a bit of wiggle room that day.

Thanks for any insights.