Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [293]
As the road loops south from Diablo, look for fantastic views of Neve Glacier. In fact, beautiful views spread out from a plethora of turnouts along the road. Between Newhalem and Diablo is the new, universally accessible Gorge Overlook Trail, with great views and interpretive signs.
At the Ross Lake Dam, the lake begins its 24-mile dogleg up the eastern side of the park complex to the Canadian border. For views of the lake from the dam, stop the car (Northwest Forest Trail pass required for parking) and take the steep, 1-mile walk down the Ross Dam Trail. This trail leads over the top of the dam, eventually winding its way to the Ross Lake Resort and the North Cascades backcountry. Another good choice is the accessible Happy Creek Forest Walk, a quarter-mile past the Ross Dam trailhead, a .3-mile boardwalk stroll through old-growth forest, with interpretive signs. Farther along Wash. State Route 20, take the turnout at the Ross Lake Overlook, where you can see the Ruby Arm (leading to Ruby Creek) as well as Ross Lake proper, heading north toward Canada (with Hozomeen Mountain in the distance).
The Stehekin Area, at the head of Lake Chelan, is not accessible by car. To get there, you have to hike in, take a passenger ferry or floatplane from the southern resort town of Chelan, or take the Cascade River Road from Marblemount to its southern terminus at the Cascade Pass trailhead. From there, you can hike 12 miles over Cascade Pass to Glory Mountain, along the Stehekin Valley Road, where you can catch a shuttle bus to the Stehekin area, if the road is open (usually from early July to mid-Oct). Flood damage has closed the road from Glory Mountain to its terminus 2 ¾ miles farther at Cottonwood Camp. Be sure to call ahead for up-to-date information and to reserve a seat on the shuttle bus (☎ 360/856-5700, ext. 340, then ext. 14). A ferry ride up the lake from Chelan is the only quick and relatively affordable way to the Stehekin Area. (A floatplane is the quickest, most expensive option.)
Once you make it to Stehekin, you can rent a bike to ride the roads in the area, but bikes are not permitted on trails. Give yourself enough time and strength for the hike out.
If you wish to visit the northern sections of the park, you have a couple of options. From the Ross Dam area, park the car and hike the trail in to the Ross Lake Resort. You can hike around the general area or, better yet, catch a water taxi up the shores of the lake. Call the Ross Lake Resort to arrange for water taxi service (☎ 206/386-4437). The taxis will drop you off at any of the trailheads that intersect both sides of the shores of this lake all the way to Hozomeen, the northernmost part of the lake in U.S. territory. Ross Lake Resort also rents small outboards, canoes, and kayaks for those who want to fish or explore the lake on their own.
The only practical way to get near the northwest section of the park by vehicle is to head east from the Mount Baker Wilderness Area, which is popular and easily accessible because of the Mount Baker Ski Area. Beyond the Mount Baker area, take the Hannegan Road (Forest Service Road 32), which is accessible by two-wheel drive. As usual, it's a good idea to call ahead for road conditions. Beyond the end of the road lie the Hannegan Pass, Copper Ridge, and Chilliwack trails. These are popular trails in the summer, but they are multiday hikes and require a permit for camping overnight. Backcountry permits are available at the Glacier Public Service Center in Glacier. Permits are issued in person only, on the day of your trip or up to a day in advance. Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. The trails offer beautiful views of glaciers spreading southward through the park, especially the Nooksack Glacier along the ridges overhanging the Nooksack River. The Northwest Forest Pass is required for all trailhead parking on U.S. Forest Service lands in Washington and Oregon.
Organized Tours & Ranger Programs