North Cascades National Park

After expressing our way north, we took the 530 towards the Cascades National Park, hoping to avoid traffic associated with detours around the area of the recent bridge collapse on Interstate 5.

Little did we know that the 530 was itself a very pretty path through quaint farming communities sitting at the base of alpine peaks.

This was a fitting entrance to the North Cascades National Park which is an incredibly beautiful collection of sharp (alpine style) peaks, the largest volume of glaciation in the lower 48 states, and lovely cascading falls that give it its name.

We overnighted at the Howard Miller Steelhead Park, an awesome Skagit County Park at Rockport where we camped beside the best playground yet! With views of the Skagit River to boot!

The next morning we took the 20 which partners with the Skagit River all the way into the park and were surprised (and a little bit disappointed) by all of the electricity infrastructure and the hydroelectric dams. 

Admittedly, the scheme here provides a third of Seattle's peak requirements. It's a balancing act - yes - but we were relieved when we drove on deeper into the eastern side of the park, leaving all of that behind and entering truly majestic territory.

The Washington Pass is the highest section of the road but the side road to its overlook was closed due to snow. So first Nath and then Dash and I took turns walking the kilometre or so in and out to see the 180-degree unimpeded view of Liberty Bell Mountain and its compatriots.

Then we had a great idea - tobogganing with plastic bags - big time giggles!

After a couple of hours we headed back through the park to the Colonial Creek campsite and set up in a site beside Thunder Creek.

The next morning, Nath did the 5.8km Thunder Knob Trail which left from our campground, before we headed back out to civilisation.

The National Park is strange in that, from the road at least, you never actually enter the National Park boundary. It's National Forest and National Recreation Area but not technically National Park.

We think that to really experience it you would probably need to hike the longer trails up through the passes - all of which are currently snowed in.

Another time perhaps?