youre_up

On Monday July 10, maybe in the early afternoon, I'll be driving from Port Angeles to NCNP.

One idea I have is to drive all the way to Chelan. Then the next morning (Tuesday), I can take the 8:30am ferry to Stehekin (arrives at 11:00am), do the Red Bus tour (11am to 11:50am), then take the 12pm ferry back to Chelan (arrives at 2:45pm).

Then I could drive either the northern part of the Cascade Loop through Winthrop to Rockport, or I could drive the southern part of the Cascade Loop through Wenatchee and end up in Rockport. I'd like to be in Rockport so that the next morning (Wednesday) I can do the Cascade Pass and Sahale hikes. My guidebook mentioned some things I might like to do along the northern part of the loop: Washington Pass, Rainy Pass, Gorge Creek Falls, Trail of Cedars. I'm not sure I'd have the time for those if I'm leaving Chelan after 2:45pm. I'm also not sure what hiking trails are along the southern part of the loop. I suppose I can do those things on Thursday. But Thursday evening I need to take the train to Vancouver.

Is it possible to drive the entire Cascade Loop in a day with time for some hiking along the way?

Let me know what you think - is going to Chelan first a good idea, or should I go to Rockport first?

Gardyloo

The Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hikes are at quite high altitudes, and given this year's above average (actually, MUCH above average) snow pack, I wonder if you'll be able to hike them comfortably in early July. The NPS website says both are still covered in snow and while they don't show depth, other places at similar altitudes show 10 feet or more still on the ground. While it can certainly melt fast, it's not certain that it will be gone in five weeks; and if it is, will conditions be dry or muddy?

Note this is what I was trying to say on your original thread back in April.

I guess I'm saying I'd have a fallback plan involving lower elevations.

If you're leaving from PA, going all the way to Chelan is one honking long day's drive; you'll need to have reservations on the Port Townsend - Whidbey ferry for sure.

Is it possible to do the Cascade Loop in one day? Sure, but one needs to define terms. If you mean the SR 20 - US 2 loop (North Cascades going, Stevens Pass returning or v.v.) then it's certainly doable with some time to walk around a bit. It's a long day, and adding Lake Chelan to that plan obviously nixes it.

If you're still following your original itinerary, then just be aware that you might not be able to accomplish everything on your list. By all means give it a go, but also consider the potential benefits of slowing down a bit and experiencing these wonderful areas with enough time to work around poor weather or hiking conditions, or to savor the places you can access.

youre_up

Thanks. I've seen others mention that even if there's snow on the ground, you can still get by if you have trekking poles and snow spikes on your shoes. Hopefully that'll be good enough if it hasn't all melted by then?

By Cascade Loop, yeah I meant SR 20 - US 2. I am not aware of what other loop there could be. If I did Lake Chelan in the early part of one day, I'd only do either SR 20 or US 2 in the afternoon of that day on my way to Rockport.

If there is still too much snow, that would only affect the Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hikes, right? I imagine I could still do the Stehekin tour as well as drive around the Loop and do some of the hikes off the Loop.

Gardyloo

If there is still too much snow, that would only affect the Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hikes, right? I imagine I could still do the Stehekin tour as well as drive around the Loop and do some of the hikes off the Loop.

Oh, for sure. Things will generally be warmer and drier pretty much anywhere east of the Cascade crest, including the Lake Chelan basin. You might want to look around Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee (off US 2) for possible hikes at lower elevations.

Monitor this site for NCNP - https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvis...conditions.htm or this one from the WTA for fairly current conditions - https://www.wta.org/go-outside/trip-reports . Nothing takes the place of first-hand reporting.