With more than 500,000 acres, the North Cascades National Park is one of the largest of three National Park Service units in Washington State. It was established as a National Park in 1968 in order to preserve the mountain scenery, snowfield, glaciers, waterfalls and alpine meadows that make up the North Cascades. Since then it has been nicknamed the “American Alps” and recently celebrated its 51st anniversary.
The North Cascades National Park is composed of three different parks; Ross Lake, Lake Chelan and North Cascades National Park. Popular hikes include; Diablo Lake, Cascade Pass Trial, Maple Pass Loop and Hidden Lake.
The North Cascades Institute
In 1986, The North Cascades Institute was founded. This nationally recognized nonprofit organization works to inspire and empower people to enjoy and learn about the mountains, rivers and forests of the Pacific Northwest. The Institute offers a variety of classes year-round in order to share the history, makeup and preservation of the National Park.
The Institute hosts a variety of programs and camps including Family getaways and Base camp Learning and Lodging. Campers have the opportunity learn about the “American Albs” while enjoying the comforts of their award winning campus in the heart of the North Cascades National Park.