Photography: Alex Mironyuk

Experience the great outdoors with this hiking trip that offers beautiful mountain views! 

There are plenty of reasons to hike in the North Cascades. It's scenic, challenging, and incredible. Plus, the state's highest peaks are in this part of the country! Pack your bag and head for a view of the Cascade Mountains —these spots offer views that can't be beat!

Bring back amazing collection of Team photo-memories of the most emotional moments of the trip captured by talented photographer and team leader Alex Mironyuk  📸  🏔 🤩

Stay at Historic 1889 old growth cedar log house that was a frequent watering hole for gold miners, mountain men, lumberjacks and mule trains traveling up the Skagit river into North Cascades Mountains. Today it provides 15 beautiful mountain/lodge themed accommodations to explore all the Park has to offer! (Our lodge http://northcascadesinn.com )

Trip Overview:

✈️  Arrival /Departure:  Seattle (WA)

🍭  Kids: 14+ OK with previous hiking experience

🏩  Lodging: Basic, but comfortable and clean North Cascades Inn (twin rooms with shared bathroom (Possible upgrade for couples:  ensuite queen room with private shower) 

🤗  Group size: max 9 travelers

🥾 Level of difficulty:  Upper Intermediate (for individuals able to walk up to 10 mi/8hrs/day with elevation gain up to 2200-3300 feet)

Participant can cancel their trip anytime prior departure with the following penalties: 

- Cancellation 45+ days before departure - fully refundable

- Cancellation 45 to 21 days before departure -  registration deposit is non-refundable

- Cancellation 20 to 0 calendar days before departure – full trip cost is non refundable

Trip cancellation insurance is advisable; it protects all registration deposits and payments for both air and land cost.

On the day of arrival we will make a stop at the grocery store to buy necessary trail snacks, fruits and drinking water

Hotels rooms are always equipped with mini-fridges to keep your groceries.

Breakfasts:

Not included , bring your own coffee/buns  or dried breakfast.

Lunches:

Take your own trail snack. You can purchase it in advance and keep in a fridge available for guests in the living room public area. In addition, we would suggest taking your own dry snacks from home such as trail mix, energy bars, chocolate etc.

If itinerary and time allows, we stop by for lunch at the local cafeterias or breweries as well.

Dinners:

Available at the  restaurant of the lodge and eateries nearby in the village.  We will take care of advanced reservations for the group.

Wifi and cellphone reception

Cellphone reception is very limited or non-existent in the national parks

Wi-fi will be available in the public areas of the lodge

Gear items:

- Suitcase OR Duffel for your MAIN luggage - PLEASE NO BULKY LUGGAGE ITEMS,  PACK COMPACT as we don’t have much room in the van trunk. Carry-on size is preferred. 

- A small backpack 28-35L for your day-hikes (it should fit the following: your water reservoir, an extra layer, your personal hiking snack,  sunblock, and your personal first aid kit)

- A rainproof cover for your day-pack

- Head lamp (it is good to have light when your hands are free always keep it in your backpack on a hiking trail)

- Trekking poles – a must have for steep downhill trails  (collapsable are better. Note: Standard hiking poles are not allowed in carry on luggage during flights, collapsable ones haven't been a problem however it depends on airline rules)

- Water bottle or camelback reservoir (1.5 to 2L)

- Small bags for your personal trash/leftovers for hiking days

- Sunblock (UV 50+)

- Lip balm (UV protection).

- Mosquito repellent (must have!)

- Your personal first aid kit (your personal medicines you can’t do without)

- Sunglasses 

Optionals:

- Ear plugs, if you are a sensitive sleeper

- Gaiters (protection for your boots and pants from mud, wet and dust) - recommended

Hiking Outfit:

- Good sturdy high-ankled and waterproof hiking boots, well-worn before the trip  (!) Please no brand new boots, try them a few times on hiking trails before the trip to avoid painful blisters while on travel

- Comfortable tennis shoes (it's good to have a change of shoes for off-trail activities)

- Hiking pants  (long pants, no shorts please)  

- Light long-sleeved loose shirt  for hiking (protection from sun, insects)

- A change of long/short-sleeved t-shirts as a base layer for hiking (preferably a quick-dry fabric, not cotton)

- A change of long -ankled hiking socks (not cotton. merino wool is the best) 

- Fleece jacket or hoodie

- A windbreaker, better if waterproof  fabric

- Rain poncho - lightweight is better, any rain-cover will work

- Sunhat 

- Optional swimming suite: if you are brave enough to swim in the mountain lakes :)

Our group is meeting at a rental car facility in the airport of Seattle at noon. Drive approx. 2.15 hrs to our basic but comfortable lodge in the middle of the Mount Baker Wilderness and conveniently located near the western entrance to North Cascades National Park and along one of Americas most scenic roads The Cascade Loop.

We will check-in and have our first dinner together at the restaurant of our lodge. Team introduction and discussion of the plan for the following days.

Overnight in North Cascades Inn http://northcascadesinn.com/

After breakfast, we will hike one of the most picturesque trails in the surrounding mountains.

We will hike to a historic fire lookout. Along with unobstructed panoramic views of Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, and the rest of the North Cascades, the route to Park Butte offers the most that North Cascades can provide for the outdoor enthusiast — wildflower-filled alpine meadows, rushing waterfalls, and thousands of small seasonal lakes full of melting water with stunning reflection of all surrounding mountains.

The trail length is  7.5 miles round trip with 2200' elevation gain.

Back in the lodge. Dinner & Overnight. 

This morning we will drive through the whole North Cascade National Park to get to our trailhead.  If ever there was a hike to satisfy all a hiker’s desires, this trail comes as close as any. 

A loop hike with many fabulous changing faces throughout the different elevations (Heather-Maple Pass) features a unique fur forest at the beginning, ridge-lines blanketed in wildflowers in summer, lakes ringed with larches, and countless dramatic views along the route. Nearby mountains include Corteo, Frisco, Goode, Stiletto, Black Peak, and many more. 

The trail length is  7.5 miles round trip with 2000' elevation gain.  

Night in hotel. 

After breakfast,  we will drive to our perhaps most challenging trail on the entire trip — Hidden Lake Lookout Trail.

The view offers the exhilaration of climbing it certainly does, proceeding well above the tree-line to a summit that hardly looks attainable from a distance. Still, it also provides an intimate view of the very heart of the North Cascades, the kind of immersive experience not available by gazing up from the valleys below. From wildflower meadows in its early stretches to stark granite at the top, it is a front-row seat for all that draws us upward.  

From the top of the trail, you can enjoy the fantastic view of Sahale, Triad, Eldorado, Torment, Boston, Forbidden, Klawatti, Sharkfin. From here, you can see just how closely one stack is on top of the next after the next.  

The trail length is  8 miles round trip with 3300' elevation gain.  

Overnight in the lodge

Right after breakfast, we will check out from our rooms, and one more time, we will drive through the whole North Cascade National Park.  But unlike two days ago, we will have time to stop at pretty much all pullouts to soak that unforgettable beauty of surrounding mountains and clear turquoise lakes.

We will stretch our legs with a couple of short hikes to some waterfall, river dam, and viewpoints.

By noon, we stop at the small but lovely town of Winthrop to get some lunch and spend some time visiting local gift shops.  And 4-5 hours later, we finally get to Seattle International Airport, where our trip will be officially over.

Keep in mind that we plan to be at the airport no earlier than 6-7 PM on that day.