Diablo Lake is the most famous lake in the park. The man-made lake gets it unique color from glaciers grinding down underlying rocks which then filter into the lake. There are two ways to experience the lake. The Diablo Lake Overlook will give you an amazing view of the lake and the surrounding mountains from up high. You can pull off the North Cascades Highway and you’ll be able to see it from there. If  you want to hike, you’ll need to take the Diablo Lake Trail, which is about 7.5 miles out and back. It’s located in the Ross Lake Recreational Area. It’s a great place for pictures too. You can also take a boat tours of the lake that will allow you to see waterfalls and the dams that helped form the lake. Boat tours are usually about 2.5 hours long. You can find more information on our TOURS page.

The North Cascades Highway traverses the park and is the best way to take in some of the amazing sites without too much effort. Originally a wagon route, the road (aka State Route 20) goes all the way from Seattle in the west to the Idaho border in the east. Be sure to stop at the Diablo Lake Overlook, as well as Ross Lake and Washington Pass Overlook. The road is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the country. If you’re going at any time other than summer, make sure to check road conditions as some areas may be closed due to weather.

Behind the Gorge Powerhouse in the town of Newhalem lie the beautiful Ladder Creek Falls. The falls and surrounding gardens are impressive during the day, but it’s at night when the real show begins. Begun in the 1920’s and updated in the last decade, the falls are lit at night with a multi-colored light show that is as unique as anything you’ll see in any park. The show generally runs every 15 minutes from dusk until midnight.