North Cascades National Park in Washington State

If you’re looking for rugged mountains, sweeping glaciers, and wild wilderness your family will remember, the North Cascades deliver in every way. Located in northern Washington, this dramatic region is home to the most expansive glacial system in the contiguous United States, making it a standout destination for nature-loving families. 

Long before modern trails and viewpoints existed, Native American people explored and lived in this mountain landscape. Archaeological evidence shows that ancestors of the Upper Skagit and other tribes traveled through the high passes thousands of years ago. 

In the early 1800s, as fur-traders and explorers pushed into the Pacific Northwest, the North Cascades range acted as a rugged frontier of discovery. British and American explorers, seeking routes, trade and resources, ventured through the valleys and mountain passes. 

Today, families visiting the park get to walk along trails shaped by glacial ice, listen to the rush of melt-water carving deep valleys, and watch for wildlife in forests and alpine meadows that remain largely untouched. As you plan your trip, imagine the ancient glaciers that still fill the landscape with their blue-tinged ice and fresh melt water. 

Whether you’re hiking a short trail or simply stopping at a view point to let the kids soak in the scale of the peaks, North Cascades National Park offers a chance to connect with wilderness in a way that few places can.