When to Go

When to Go

The spectacular, craggy peaks of the North Cascades—often likened to the Alps—are breathtaking in any season. Summer is short and glorious in the high country, extending from snowmelt (late May to July, depending on the elevation and the amount of snow) to early September. This is peak season for the North Cascades, especially along the alpine stretches of Route 20; weekends and holidays can be crowded. The North Cascades Highway is a popular autumn drive in September and October, when the changing leaves (on larches, the only conifer that sheds its leaves, as well as aspen, vine maple, huckleberry, and cottonwood) put on a colorful show. The lowland forest areas, such as the complex around Newhalem, can be visited almost any time of year. These can be wonderfully quiet in early spring or late autumn on mild, rainy days, when you can experience the weather that makes the old-growth forest possible. Snow closes the North Cascades Highway November through mid-April; exact dates depend on snow conditions.