North Cascades National Park

Many times

Cascade Pass is a pass in the North Cascades dividing Western Washington and Eastern Washington. It is not a very difficult pass to reach from the west side. It is reached about three miles from the parking lot alongside the North Fork of the Cascade River. The scenery from the parking lot is spectacular enough in its own right, looking high towards Mount Johannesburg with its hanging glaciers, steep face, and many water falls.

The trail to the pass runs mostly through the forest , through thirty or more switchbacks, until the last half mile or so. At the 5400 ft. pass, there are several options for further exploring. Usually on a summer or fall weekend, the pass is quite crowded. It is not uncommon to find a dozen or more people there at any given time. On weekdays, it is less crowded, especially early and late in the hiking seasons.

The scenery is unparallel for such a relatively easily attained Cascade crest pass. For me, this area is usually a way stop for lunch (usually nearby, if not right at the crowded pass), before I head onto other less crowded trails, most often the trail to Sahale Arm.