With high alpine lakes, waterfalls cascading down cliffs, rivers and streams, they don’t call them the Cascades for nothing. 🌧️ The North Cascades has an abundance of water due to the orographic effect or the rain shadow effect. 🌧️ The orographic effect occurs when air masses are forced to flow over high topography. As air rises over mountains, it cools and water vapor condenses. As a result, it is common for rain to be concentrated on the windward side of mountains, and for rainfall to increa

Lodging Near North Cascades National Park

The North Cascades has some of the most scenic hiking in Washington state. With active fires in the area hiking can be limited due to smoke conditions. There are still great hiking trails open. Visit nps.gov/noca for open trails, trail conditions and current closures and remember to #recreateresponsibly What’s your favorite hike in the North Cascades? 📍Ancestral homelands of the Nlaka’pamux, Nooksack & Coast Salish people 📸: @addisonexplores | North Cascades Institute

North Cascades National Park in Washington State