Itinerary
- Day 1
Seattle to North Cascades Trailhead
You'll get picked up from your Seattle hotel and head out on a scenic 5-hour drive into North Cascades National Park. The drive takes you through some nice country before you reach the trailhead where lunch is waiting. From there, you hike down 4.7 miles through a forest canyon with a mountain creek running alongside, passing Douglas-fir and Ponderosa Pine trees the whole way. By evening you'll reach your first camp and have a hot dinner after the day's hiking.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Hearty dinner)
Included Activities
- Shuttle from Seattle hotel to trailhead
- Lunch at trailhead
- Moderate hike (4.7 miles, 1100 ft elevation loss) through forest canyon following mountain creek
- Dinner at camp
Landmarks/POIs North Cascades National Park - Day 2
North Cascades High Pass Trek
After an early breakfast and packing up, you'll follow yesterday's creek to where it splits, ford across the river, and head south toward a mountain lake. The real work starts here as you climb 3,100 feet over 6.9 miles, pushing toward a high pass with views of Bowan Mountain spreading out in front of you. Once you crest the pass, you descend to reach a mountain lake where you can stop for photos and catch your breath before finishing at camp for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Challenging hike (10 miles, 3100 ft elevation gain, 1000 ft elevation loss)
- River ford crossing
- Trek to high mountain pass with views of Bowan Mountain
- Mountain lake photo stop
- Dinner at camp
Landmarks/POIs Bowan Mountain - Day 3
Rainbow Mountain Ridge and Subalpine Meadow
You'll walk through wildflower meadows with a creek beside you and Rainbow Mountain's jagged peaks visible throughout the morning. At another creek junction you turn north and climb up along a ridge system toward a high mountain pass. Coming down the other side, you'll reach another beautiful lake and end the day camping in a subalpine meadow. Dinner happens under the stars while you're surrounded by the high country.
- Meals
- Dinner (Rejuvenating dinner)
Included Activities
- Full day hike (9 miles, 2500 ft elevation gain, 1800 ft elevation loss)
- Hike through wildflower meadows
- Creek-side hiking with views of Rainbow Mountain
- Ridge climbing toward high mountain pass
- Descent to mountain lake
- Dinner at subalpine meadow camp
Landmarks/POIs Rainbow Mountain - Day 4
North Cascades Loop Completion and Return to Seattle
Start this final day with breakfast as the sun comes up, then hike the last 9.7 miles back to the trailhead. You'll descend through forest, ford one more creek, and complete the loop on trails you know from earlier in the trip. After finishing at the trailhead, you'll head back to Seattle for a hot shower and a real bed, having earned both.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise breakfast
- Final hike (9.7 miles, 1000 ft elevation gain, 2700 ft elevation loss)
- Forest descent and creek ford
- Return to trailhead
- Shuttle back to Seattle hotel
- Lunch at trailhead
Landmarks/POIs North Cascades National Park
