North Cascades National Park facts for kids
North Cascades National Park is a national park in the U.S. state of Washington. It was established on 2 October 1968. The park covers 634,000 acres of the Cascade Range (specifically the North Cascades).
The Park is split in half by the Skagit River, which flows south then southwest through the park. Another primary watercourse of the park is the Baker River which flows into the Skagit and the Stehekin River (which flows into Lake Chelan in the southeast).
North Cascades National Park features the rugged mountain peaks of the North Cascades Range. This is the most expansive glacial system in the mainland United States. The Park also has the headwaters of numerous waterways, and vast forests with the highest degree of flora biodiversity of any US national park.
The region was first settled by Paleo-Indian Native Americans. By the time white explorers arrived it was inhabited by Skagit tribes.
Images for kids
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Microblades excavated from Cascades Pass; the two on the right were crafted from quartz.
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Goode Mountain is the tallest mountain in the park.
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Ross Dam in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area
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Stephen Mather (seated at center) was the first Director of the National Park Service, and is the namesake for the vast wilderness area that now encompasses almost all of the park.
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Mount Triumph
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West entrance sign on SR 20
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The south unit of the park is dominated by Eldorado Peak (left center skyline). Cascade Pass, one of the most popular hiking destinations in the park, is the lowest point on the skyline between Boston Peak (just right of center, with large glacier) and broad Johannesburg Mountain (right). Hidden Lake Peaks, another popular hike, are in the middle distance below and right of Boston Peak.
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View from the south of Mount Terror (left skyline), Inspiration Peak (center) and McMillan Spires (right center), major summits in the southern portion of the Picket Range
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Thunder Creek is known for its milky appearance from suspended rock particles called glacial flour.
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View of three glaciers from Eldorado Peak: Inspiration, Forbidden, and Quien Sabe
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Lower Curtis Glacier in 2003 compared to 1985 extent demarcated by red line demonstrates the retreat of this glacier.
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The Thornton Lakes fill glacier-carved basins near Mount Triumph
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Common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a plant species normally found much further north but is found at higher elevations in the park.
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Sooty grouse seen on the Thornton Lakes trail
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Mountain goats have hooves that are well adapted to steep snow-covered slopes and cliffs
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Copper Mountain Fire Lookout
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Air quality in North Cascades National Park is generally considered good and aside from some reduced clarity due to haze, even distant peaks are easily seen most days.
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Mount Shuksan
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Hiking at Sahale Arm near Cascade Pass
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Pyramidal Forbidden Peak (left) is one of the Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. Quien Sabe Glacier shrouds the west face of Boston Peak (right) below extensive cliffs.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional de las Cascadas del Norte para niños
