North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park encompasses a total area of more than 500,000 acres of land in the state of Washington. The North Cascades National Park is part of a much larger North Cascades National Park Complex that spans more than 680,000 acres. The three contiguous NPS units included in the North Cascades National Park Complex are the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

There are several routes that you can take to get to the North Cascades National Park. You can access the park through the State Route 20 corridor which is also called the North Cascades Highway. This road joins Interstate 5 (Exit 230) at Burlington.

When you get to the park, you will get to appreciate lots of natural splendor including several distinct life zones that support thousands of plant and animal species. This diverse biota can be found across an elevation gain of almost 9,000 vertical feet, and this range in elevation provides a habitat for the largest biodiversity in any U.S. national park.

There are several activities to enjoy at the park including guided tours, bird and wildlife viewing, ranger programs, boating and fishing, bicycling, camping, climbing, day hiking, trail guide, backpacking, and horseback riding.

Dogs and other pets are allowed into the park, but as you would expect, there are several restrictions in place to provide safety to park resources, wildlife, park visitors and even your dog. Dog owners that may not be able or willing to accommodate these restrictions are encouraged to leave their pets at home or to seek a kennel service near or within the park. 

That said, some of the park rules at this park include the following. No dog, except for a service dog, is allowed into park buildings. All dogs must be on a leash except along the Pacific Crest Trail and within 50 feet of roads.