Often dubbed “the American Alps” due to the jagged mountain peaks, open alpine meadows, stunning rivers, and wooded valleys, the North Cascades are an absolute gem for anyone who appreciates wild backpacking trips! With miles upon miles of trails and breathtaking vistas at every turn, the northern part of the colossal Cascade Range will definitely not fail to deliver. While traversing this rugged wilderness west to east, the area offers numerous ecoregions and superb terrain. Discover temperate rainforests in the shadows of Mt. Baker and old-growth forests to the scenic mountain passes, jaw-dropping mountains, splendid rivers, and glacial turquoise lakes. The North Cascades are also known for their biodiversity and abundant wildlife, making this a perfect opportunity to trek through unspoiled wilderness. Join a guide, pack lightly, and come see what all the fuss is about!
Embark upon a light backpacking adventure and feel the peace that the North Cascades offer! This seven-day trip into the true wilderness is a perfect way to discover diverse terrain, mind-boggling vistas, and rich diversity of plant and animal life. Trek through old-growth forests, temperate rainforests, gorgeous mountain passes, valleys, and open meadows and witness the awe-inspiring mountain tops. Join your knowledgeable guide and make this rugged wilderness your home for a full week!
You’ll meet your guide at 8:30 am in downtown Seattle (or arrange your own transportation to Whatcom Falls State Park) for a quick gear check and orientation. After that, you’ll drive for three hours through the magnificent Skagit Valley to the Hannegan Pass trailhead. Once you get there, your backpacking adventure can begin! You’ll test out your legs as you climb up and over Hannegan Pass and down the trail going through immense old-growth forests along with some phenomenal views.
The following five days will be spent moving quickly on trails over five scenic mountain passes—Hannegan Pass, Whatcom Pass, Beaver Pass, Fourth of July Pass, and Park Creek Pass. You’ll then trek through an old-growth forest and cross some small rivers and eventually set up a camp each night with gorgeous views all around you. Some days you’ll hike all the way to sunset. Although this light backpacking trip is fast-paced, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy and soak up all the pleasures that come with backpacking! Take some of the most amazing photos of the expansive landscapes, admire the incredible wildlife sightings and cool off in the glacial lakes along the way. You’ll be camped near Lake Chelan.
On the last day of this exciting adventure, you’ll go for a final 2-3 mile hike and reach Stehekin Lodge at the headwaters of Lake Chelan, where you’ll have celebratory lunch before boarding the de Havilland Beaver seaplane for a scenic flight through the Cascades and back to Seattle.
Head out on a private guided backpacking tour of the North Cascades and discover the serene wilderness of the “American Alps”. Hire a private guide all to yourself and let them show you the ever-changing and versatile terrain, breathtaking views, and amazing wildlife. Trek through magnificent old-growth forests and temperate rainforests, stunning mountain passes, valleys, and open meadows, and admire the rugged mountains all around you. Cool off with a swim in glacial lakes along the way and make memories that will last a lifetime!
You’ll meet your guide at 8:30 am in downtown Seattle (or arrange your own transportation to Whatcom Falls State Park) for a quick gear check and orientation. After that, you’ll drive for three hours through the magnificent Skagit Valley to the Hannegan Pass trailhead. Once you get there, your backpacking adventure can begin! You’ll test out your legs as you climb up and over Hannegan Pass and down the trail going through immense old-growth forests along with some phenomenal views.
The following five days will be spent moving quickly on trails over five scenic mountain passes—Hannegan Pass, Whatcom Pass, Beaver Pass, Fourth of July Pass, and Park Creek Pass. You’ll then trek through an old-growth forest and cross some small rivers and eventually set up a camp each night with gorgeous views all around you. Some days you’ll hike all the way to sunset. Although this light backpacking trip is fast-paced, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy and soak up all the pleasures that come with backpacking! Take some of the most amazing photos of the expansive landscapes, admire the incredible wildlife sightings and cool off in the glacial lakes along the way. You’ll be camped near Lake Chelan.
On the last day of this exciting adventure, you’ll go for a final 2-3 mile hike and reach Stehekin Lodge at the headwaters of Lake Chelan, where you’ll have celebratory lunch before boarding the de Havilland Beaver seaplane for a scenic flight through the Cascades and back to Seattle.
Embark upon a light backpacking adventure and feel the peace that the North Cascades offer! This seven-day trip into the true wilderness is a perfect way to discover diverse terrain, mind-boggling vistas, and rich diversity of plant and animal life. Trek through old-growth forests, temperate rainforests, gorgeous mountain passes, valleys, and open meadows and witness the awe-inspiring mountain tops. Join your knowledgeable guide and make this rugged wilderness your home for a full week!
You’ll meet your guide at 8:30 am in downtown Seattle (or arrange your own transportation to Whatcom Falls State Park) for a quick gear check and orientation. After that, you’ll drive for three hours through the magnificent Skagit Valley to the Hannegan Pass trailhead. Once you get there, your backpacking adventure can begin! You’ll test out your legs as you climb up and over Hannegan Pass and down the trail going through immense old-growth forests along with some phenomenal views.
The following five days will be spent moving quickly on trails over five scenic mountain passes—Hannegan Pass, Whatcom Pass, Beaver Pass, Fourth of July Pass, and Park Creek Pass. You’ll then trek through an old-growth forest and cross some small rivers and eventually set up a camp each night with gorgeous views all around you. Some days you’ll hike all the way to sunset. Although this light backpacking trip is fast-paced, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy and soak up all the pleasures that come with backpacking! Take some of the most amazing photos of the expansive landscapes, admire the incredible wildlife sightings and cool off in the glacial lakes along the way. You’ll be camped near Lake Chelan.
On the last day of this exciting adventure, you’ll go for a final 2-3 mile hike and reach Stehekin Lodge at the headwaters of Lake Chelan, where you’ll have celebratory lunch before boarding the de Havilland Beaver seaplane for a scenic flight through the Cascades and back to Seattle.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the North Cascades, WA, please refer to Washington State Department of Health and Washington State Coronavirus Response.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to participate in this fast-paced adventure, you need to be in prime hiking shape and an intermediate to advanced backpacker. You’ll be moving quickly and covering lots of ground. You need to be ready to push yourself and be in shape for this trip so that you can walk long hours. You’ll be hiking 10-20 miles per day on trails over rugged terrain with elevation gain ranging from 900-2600 m. You need to be ready to leave the weight behind and bring the bare essentials—all with the help of your guide.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
Backpacking in the North Cascades can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has backpackers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the North Cascades, most people fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, about 2.5 hours from North Cascades National Park. From there, you can rent a car or ride the light rail to get to downtown Seattle, where you’ll meet up with your guide and drive through Skagit Valley towards the Hannegan Pass trailhead.
You can also arrange your own transportation to Whatcom Falls State Park.The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
Cancel within 48 hours of booking your trip for free, no questions asked. If you need to change your plans up to 31 days ahead of your scheduled adventure, we offer a full refund on most trips. Within 31 days we offer free date changes or the option to convert your booking to credit to use on any 57hours adventure at a later date.
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
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Backpacking with Jack taught me so much! You can tell he’s made the mountains his home — thanks for an awesome trip!