I highly recommend visiting Mount Baker and the Picture Lake area of the mountain. The views are…read moreextraordinary, it's a great way to spend the summer. The roads to the mountain are only open in the summer.

Gorgeous as always! Perfect day for a picnic lunch- making sure not to drop any food. Pack it in…read morepack it out! Do not feed wildlife or leave any trash. There were three boys from a family who decided to walk off path and waited for them to correct their behavior. When they didn't I told them to get back on the trail- don't be one of those humans who thinks nature is there just for them. Leave it better than you found it!

A Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required. Day passes are available near…read morethe bathrooms. This hiking area is heavily populated with rangers so do yourself a favor and purchase the day pass if needed. The parking lot has about 160 spaces and every single space was taken by the time we completed our hike. This is area draws large crowds. There are several trail-heads that can be accessed from this parking area. The views are amazing! This hike can be anywhere from 4 miles to 9 miles round-trip. The choice is yours to decide how far to hike. Ptarmigan Ridge is considered "intermediate." As always, listen to your body and know your own limitations. The terrain is rocky and narrow at times. Due to the high altitude, expect snow no matter what the season. There is minimal shade on this hike so be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen. If you have hiking poles, it's a good idea to pack them. Poles come in handy when crossing large patches of snow. Pack plenty of water! This whole hike is above-timberline. Lots of alpine trees, meadows, snow patches and wildflowers. During the day of our hike many people witnessed mountain goats in the meadows. Unfortunately, we did not spot a single mountain goat. Bummer! Overall, if you have time for only one hike in the Mount Baker area, make it this one. The views are incredible, the hike is achievable, and the wildflower medley is stunning. As always, if you pack it in, be sure to pack it out.

With sweeping views and wonderful vistas, everyone should try this trail. I have lead those from…read morethe city (who were not the hiking types) and the trail is easy enough for about a mile/mile and a half to soak up the views and get a taste of what this area has to offer. You will still need solid walking shoes as the trail is covered in gravel and rocks with a large portion of the trail extending from a slope. The best time to visit is in August through early October, but preferably August since the snow will be completely gone from the trails and the days will be warm and sunny. You may see Pikas, largish rodents that live in the hills. You can hear them chirping and they are cute little suckers. Bears have been spotted in the early season, since they are waking up from their winter slumber. I have camped overnight on this trail during this time and you are required to keep food up and away from your tent site. But I have never had issues in the past years that I have camped here.

The amazing power of these falls... just be sure to stay on the trail and don't be a stupid human…read moretrying to get the ultimate selfie that'll cost you your life!!! Observe and respect Mother Nature! just gorgeous

Nooksack Falls truly took my breath away. The drive there alone on Mount Baker Highway was…read moreexquisite. What is so mind blowing about a waterfall? Everything. I believe you feel a sense of peace in the presence of one. The sound of the powerful water, the mist surrounding, and the wet air is quite the moment.

The lava beds are found under ground. There is a wooden stair case to enter. The cave is small but…read morewonderful. It's not much of a hike either, you park and walk a few steps and your there. Bring a sweater, flashlight and hard hat.

Beautiful park, trails, and scenery !…read more Kid, stroller, and dog friendly Being wet gear because there's multiple areas where you can get in the water . Definitely going back

Beautiful park with waterfalls and accessible trails to enjoy alone or with family and friends. I…read moreloved walking beneath the trees and along the water. It feels like a safe area with lots of people enjoying the outdoors in the summertime.

Nice little waterfall in North Cascades with great views of the water…read more The water here is unlike anything I've ever seen. Super green and beautiful. We walked to the overlook, and it had a decent view of the waterfall. Much better views if you walk over to the bridge and look from the walkway there. If you want, there's also a trail that walks along the water. We didn't take it, so can't vouch for it. Overall, it's worth a quick stop to take in the surrounding beauty.

One more great spot to admire the fabulous beauty as you travel through North Cascades National…read morePark. There's plenty of parking at the trailhead, and another lot on the other side of the bridge. They have great pedestrian walks on either side of the bridge from which to admire the falls and the gorge. Once you've finished there head to the trail from the parking lot. There are fabulous viewpoints along the paved section of the trail from which to take in the crazy blue waters of the Gorge Lake below. The paved section is short (.3 mile) but very pretty and ends at the dam viewpoint. You can continue on, however, onto the unpaved path for 1/2 a mile through the trees and loop back to the lot. The unpaved section is still very easy and quite lovely...so why not loop! I found this short trail, coupled with the falls, to be a great stop. Don't miss it as you pass through!

Honestly not sure if there is a better view to be had! You could just take it in from the parking…read morelot (it's worth the drive up), or embark on one of many hikes which originate from the trail head. Even the short trails give you unbeatable views of Baker and Shuksan. Definitely check snow and weather conditions before you drive up, especially in the shoulder season. It's otherwise usually closed in the winter. Will be back for sure!

World class views and potential photos here with minimal effort so long as the snow conditions are…read morenot a problem for your vehicle, driving skills, or patience.

Spontaneous Saturday trip to Diablo Lake in Northern Washington but we parked and stayed in Thunder…read moreKnob Trailhead. We drove for almost 3 hours, but when we were looking for a place to park, I lost my signal sevice! Diablo Lake is big and long! We found a spot to relax and swim, but the water was 10°C (so cold, hahaha!). It's still a gorgeous place to visit! Remember, it's better with chairs, snacks, kayaks, paddleboards, and drinks! It's so nice to set aside city and technology life! Just for sure, we are looking to rest and swim and not to hike! But still it is a beautiful nature to see

A vibrant trail with some sensational views! The Thunder Knob trail is a short but moderate 3.5…read moremile out and back trail that's located within North Cascades National Park. The trail begins just behind Diablo Lake and crosses over the beautiful rushing waters of Colonial Creek. It then begins to gently switchback through a lush forest that's filled with beautiful Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock trees. The trail is mostly shaded but features a few breaks within the trees that will reveal some amazing glimpses of the snowcapped mountaintops. As you ascend up the trail, you're rewarded with gorgeous views of the forest and mountains. The forest vegetation is super versatile. I was able to spot daisies, ferns, Western Hemlocks, Douglas Firs, an array of different wildflowers, and so on. The views are the best at the top, of course. There's this stunning vista point that features an aerial view of Diablo Lake with the striking North Cascades Mountain Range in the background. If there was ever a time to get a photo while on this hike, THIS is where you need to do it. It's simply breathtaking to witness. This is also a great spot to bring a picnic and/or take a lunch or snack break for heading back down to finish the second half of the hike. What I genuinely loved about this trail (aside from the views) was how incredibly green it is. The vibrancy is out of this world. Also, to see how clear Diablo Lake is from the top is just insane. It doesn't even look real, but it definitely is! The best part about hiking this trail is being able to literally walk right down to lake to relax after you've finished your hike. It's the perfect reward, and hiking this trail was truly a wonderful experience.

Lake Ann did not disappoint. Breathtaking vistas, meadows, glaciers, and of course the lake. It is…read morerated on the Washington Trails Association as a HARD hike. Approximately 8.2 miles round trip 1900 feet elevation gain, with the highest point 4900 feet. I do recommend getting there early, before 9am, as the parking lot is very small and fills quickly! 4 stars because of the crowds. The trail starts downhill which is a confidence booster especially when you are backpacking. But what goes down, must come up! The last mile is probably what classifies this hike as hard. Hiking up, over loose gravel and boulders and up to almost 5000 feet elevation is difficult for us non-Colorado living people. On the trail you cross many small creek beds that were almost all dried up when we went here at the end of the summer. There is plenty of water at the lake for water source. There are multiple well groomed areas for tents along the trail uphill from the lake. I appreciated these spots at night when the mosquitoes came out and we're a nuisance (only when getting water). Speaking of night... do dress for cold weather! You do get the breeze coming off of Shuksan's glaciers. Very little salmon berries left on the main trail but plenty of huckleberries left. Night time is beautiful. The sky is completely full of stars and the sound of waterfalls coming out of the glaciers is relaxing. No campfires allowed at the lake. Pack out trash and human and animal waste. Trailhead provides blue bags for this.

If you're a hiker: Lake Ann is a gorgeous place to camp! You have sweeping views of Mt Shuksan and…read moreit's cracking Upper and Lower Glaciers. Rushing waterfalls augment the flanks of these enormous sheets of ice. The lake is a deep blue and there is plenty of flat space to find the perfect camp site. If you're a climber: this makes for a LONG summit day. Best to keep moving and camp higher on the peak.

After driving up this mountain and navigating through gravel roads and thick brush, you will arrive…read moreto a small, tiered lot for parking. The overall hike is great. There are many beautiful sights to see and if you go in October, you will see some amazing colors on the foliage. The hike is certainly not for beginners, as you climb a couple thousand feet overall. There are Tarns at the top and camping, and a trail that gets technical at the far end of the meadow, past the tarns. The wildflowers are amazing in spots during the summer with views of Mt Baker, Goat Mountain,Shuksan...