Verses: Romans 1:20
Fun Fact: North Cascades has more glaciers than any other U.S. National Park outside of Alaska
Favorite Hike: Thornton Lake Trail, Wash. State Route 20
North Cascades National Park is one of the best kept secrets of the National Park Service. With only about 30,000 visitors annually, it’s one of the least-visited national parks. North Cascades is in the northwest corner of the continental U.S., about two hours from both Seattle and Vancouver, near the U.S.-Canada border.
North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area are managed as one unit. This region is part of the Cascade range, which extends from British Columbia to northern California.
Fun fact of a neighboring park: the highest point in the Cascade range is Mount Rainier.
North Cascades are often referred to as the American Alps because of the rugged mountains, waterfalls, blue alpine lakes, glaciers and snow-capped peaks. It has beautiful forests that are full of evergreen trees, alpine meadows and wildflowers. The park has over 300 glaciers and 500 lakes within the region, and is home to some of the best hiking and mountain views in the U.S.
With only one paved road in the entire park, visiting can be challenging. Most people drive the main road, North Cascades Scenic Highway (SR-20), and stop at the trailheads along the way. The main visitors center and many of the campgrounds are along this road. To get deeper into the park, you’ll need to backpack on foot. Some parts of the park or the larger region are accessible by boat (either private or public boat services). You can visit the Stehekin community on Lake Chelan where there is a pretty nice lodge. It takes some planning, skill and a sense of adventure to embrace North Cascades!
Having a favorite national park may be frowned upon, like having a favorite child. I wish I could tell you I love them all, equally, and while I can certainly appreciate all of their unique features and beauty, I do have a few favorites, and North Cascades National Park may just be my favorite of them all.
The combination of solitude, sheer wilderness and beauty has, on more than one occasion, taken my breath away. After a long and strenuous hike, I have turned the last corner to see the clear blue water of an alpine lake, peacefully and perfectly placed among the trees, with the mountains rising around it and felt a moment of utter amazement. At times like this, many may be drawn to worship creation rather than the Creator.
But, friends, the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, not only created the mountains, flowers and glaciers, but He also created us to find His creations beautiful and to worship Him because of it.
Scientists have long since tried to understand how the mind perceives beauty. Many evolutionary psychologists, biologists or neuroscientists will tell you we find beauty in things that have survival benefit such as, sources of clean water, trees for shelter, mountains for their high-ground advantage, etc.
I believe we find beauty in things that reveal God’s attributes: His power, glory, creativity, provision and care.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20
God’s nature is displayed through creation. The earth and everything in it, is the Lord's. He created it, and He sustains it according to His will and glory (Psalm 24:1, 95:4-5). Creation communicates this to us and clearly demonstrates the character and existence of God with every detail.
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1
I pray as you visit North Cascades and take in the wild beauty around you, you are in awe of what the Lord has created and how it displays His glory. I pray you see His attributes clearly displayed, that you count them, meditate on them, and praise God for them.
All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name. Selah.
Psalm 66:4
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