Rugged and remote, the half million acre North Cascades National Park is one of the most pristine national parks in the Lower 48. It contains more than half of the total number of glaciers outside Alaska and has few roads penetrating its wilderness. The Park is actually a complex of three distinct units: the park itself is split into northern and southern units by Ross Lake National Recreation Area while the southern end includes Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. It is truly a rugged and beautiful place full of jagged peaks, dark and deep valleys, cascading waterfalls, miles of remote trails and alpine glaciers ideal for hikers and backcountry adventurers. The park is rich in human history too, Native Americans have been in these mountains for over 8,000 years, and western settlers came in the nineteenth century to mine gold and other minerals or trap fur bearing animals. The park contains conifer forests, mountain peaks, and river gorges.

Private lodge welcomes birders. Walk among giant cedars to ponds for Swainson’s Thrushes, MacGillivray’s and Townsend’s Warblers, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Ruffed Grouse, Mountain Chickadees and Northern Pygmy-Owls. See Cascade Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.

Area Birding

HABITAT: 6-square-mile site w/in 684,000-acre national park of conifer forests, mountain peaks, and river gorges.

BIRDING: Year-round species include Pileated Woodpecker, White-crowned Sparrow, Varied Thrush, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and American Dipper. Spring and summer bring seven species of warbler, four of flycatcher, and five of swallow, as well as Swainson’s Thrush, Vaux’s Swift, Cedar Waxwing, Harlequin Duck, and Spotted Sandpiper.

VIEWING: Start on visitor center viewing platform w/ views of Black Swifts, warblers and Ospreys, especially in morning and evening. Enjoy 1.8-mile River Loop Trail; walk to town of Newhalem. Goodell Creek Campground 0.5 mile west of visitor center (across river) offers good sightings of migrant Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and ducks. Don’t miss forested 0.3-mile trail to 1,300-year-old rock shelter used by early Native Americans. Spring, summer and fall, visitor center is open daily 9 am to 4:30 pm; and on winter weekends.

ACCESS: From Hwy 20 at milepost 120, turn south. Drive 0.5 mile to visitor center parking.