Beautiful and peaceful State Park…read more We were heading to North Cascades Park and saw the sign for Rockport. We try to check out any state parks we can, so we made an impromptu turn in. There were only a couple cars in the lot, and no one in sight. As I was in the bathroom...which by the way, as another reviewer mentioned, were some of the cleanest I've ever seen in a park...my husband was checking out the trail map. Knowing my deep affinity for trees, especially the elderly ones, he had quickly made the decision we were taking a short trail while here. We took off across the highway to Sauk Springs Trail to see the old grandmother cedar. The trail was a bit muddy at times but nothing tragic. A narrow, serene path winds through the old growth forest passing by the GORGEOUS old cedar and continuing on the loop back to the park entrance. On our way back to the van we noticed a sign about the now closed campground portion of the park. Personally I loved the idea that rather than destroy the precious old growth trees that had become fragile, the park decided in 2007 to close the campground, letting nature have its home while letting hikers still take in the beauty via foot or by driving through. As we left we did just that, drove a loop through the old campgrounds...so cool to see nature slowly reclaiming the space. This park is beautiful. Pristine grounds and lovely trails. Definitely a great place to stop by for a picnic, a hike, and to check out old Grandmother!

A tour of Rockport State Park is a tour of the old growth Pacific Northwest forests, with trees so…read moretall most of the views will be looking up. For the first part of our exploration of this state park we simply stood in the parking lot and looked up, watching the tops of the trees hundreds of feet up sway in the wind. It almost seemed as though they had reached their final height, not able to grow any taller without breaking off. Some of the trees had tested their limits and crashed to the ground. The campground in the state park was permanently closed because massive limbs falling hundreds of feet will punch through any RV on the market. After staring up at the trees for a while, we decided to drive through the park. It was weird to the see the old campsites, looking like they were slowly returning to the forest, scattered amongst the dense forest. Some of the trees are 400-600 years old, giving any observer a true feeling of what the forest must've felt like before the lumber industry moved in.

The board, manager and employees ( most of whom are non-owners) have installed cameras EVERYWHERE…read morewithout the approval or vote of the owners and without informing people. They have them outside of every bathroom ( which shows the inside of the bathroom when the door is opened), as well as ALL AROUND the outdoor pools and hot tubs. The club house and pools are already secured with gate key access only, which already shows management WHICH LOT OWNERS have accessed the buildings and pools and the dates/ times associated with that access. The cameras are not needed. These web cameras have audio, zoom and sharability options. The user is notified in an app when someone gets into the hot tub or pool, so the hot tub goer can be watched in real time ( with sound available!). All content is sharable to other users of the app. The app itself can also be easily shared to non-employee devices at will. However, the owners whom foot the bill for these cameras are NOT allowed to have access to the app and cameras, only the board, management and all employees. Owners are not allowed to know how many people are employed by Lake Tyee either, depsite the owners paying their salaries. Owners are not allowed to know the number of people accessing these cameras. There are apparently NO background checks for those accessing cameras, as Lake Tyee does not require that for employment. The company they use for these cameras, utilizes AI when storing ALL content to the cloud. The employees of that camera company also has access to those cameras at will in real time, and all content previously created from those cameras. The camera company employees can share that content without ever needing to inform Lake Tyee. Lake Tyee is making potentially profitbale online content for a camera company at the detriment of owners. Lake Tyee has also installed hidden trail cams outside of comfort stations, green belts and trails. These cameras had no signage. These cameras ALSO pick up adio, recording your private conversations. Lake tyee has no real security camera policy, and put up all these cameras PRIOR to ever attempting to create one. They did however, put a single piece of paper in the owners handbook in May 2024, claiming to have a policy, and back dated it several months to March 2024, as a form of CYA after owners started asking questions. When the office employees were asked for a hard copy of the supposed policy they claimed to have had, they were unable to produce one. They were caught red handed falsifying records. Lake tyee did not put up camera notice signage until AFTER owners complained about the hidden cameras. Many cameras still have no signage. They put cameras up around the dumpster, and WILL go through your trash, in order to fine you. They have recently started to drive around with Dash cams on Lake Tyee vehicles and body cams on the security personnel, which affords them the abity to record your private property as they walk and drive around throughout the park. They have brought a Surveillance State to every owners front door. Important to note, security is so low level, you can not even call them directly. Only a message line. Because of these new body cam and dash cam footage they are getting, They now host monthly "public hearings" where they share the video footage of an owner doing something they can hopefully fine them for. Public embarrassment. Surveillance Abuse. When asked, the board and management claims that the shared spaces within the park are not considered private, so therefore, they are allowed to record us. FYI, Skagit County has those lands listed as private. Lake Tyee also markets the park as "private", yet films you everywhere throughout the park, in hopes of fining you. An example of a fine.... $1500 usd for a first time offense, no written or verbal warning, for having evidence of a fire during a burn ban ( even one that is already put out). Another example, $500 first time offense for putting ANYTHING into the dumpsters that management does not consider a kitchen scrap ( despite the owners being the ones who pay for those dumpsters to begin with). They will put a lean on your property and seize it, if you do not pay their ridiculous fines. At the annual owners meeting June 2024, they bragged about the number of lots they got "quit deeded" to them, because they overwhelmed the owners with assessments. The board president is buying up property within the park, with his personal LLC company, Alpine Lakes. His position on the boar awards him employment opportunities for his LLC, that other owners do not have. When asked about this obvious conflict of interest, the entire board was complicant. The presidents wife use to work in the realistate company LandsWest, who is the exclusive realtor for Lake Tyee, and would benefit from leans placed on properties by the board. Another conflict of interest. Would NOT recommend this park.

I've been here a couple of times as a guest and love this place! It is more like glamping than…read morecamping, but you're still enjoying the outdoors :) My husband and I live in Kirkland, so it's far enough away that we feel like we're on vacation, but close enough we don't have to spend much time and money to get here. The first time we came was about 4 years ago in late September and there wasn't anyone there. It was kinda cold and drizzly (surprise! WA!) and we mostly stayed inside. However, we came for Labor Day weekend this year and it was so much fun! There were a lot of activities (my favorite was the pig they roasted on the spit), music, drinks, great food, crafts, etc. etc. and the weather was pretty decent, minus a few sprinkles here and there. TONS OF PEOPLE were out and about and I hear this is the big weekend and kind of the last bang of the year before things go quiet again. I'm so happy we were here for this and had a great time. Everyone was so nice! The grounds are well maintained. I like that there are public restrooms/showers scattered around the grounds in case you are on a walk and need to go ;) Everything is clean. Loved using the hot tub and pool (nice and heated) during the weekend and took most of my showers there even though we could have done that at the trailer we were at. Seems more convenient since you're wet from swimming. Apparently there are hikes around Lake Tyee, but I was usually recovering from the nights festivities and ended up in the hot tub instead ;) People were out riding bikes and running in the morning. Just an overall great place to enjoy the outdoors with the comforts of home. I'd definitely look into getting a place here if we had some extra $ :)

Amazing, breathtaking, incredible - words cannot describe the beauty of the PNW…read more How lucky are we that we get to live in a world with such wonders? Pictures are from the Maple Pass Loop during larch season :)

I Just returned from another incredible adventure exploring the Pacific Northwest with a couple of…read moreunforgettable days in North Cascades National Park! I'm currently on a mission to visit all 63 designated National Parks in the United States and this trip marked Park #61 for me - only two more to go! After flying into Seattle, I picked up a rental car, picked up a friend, and headed straight for the North Cascades. First stop: the Wilderness Information Center just before the official park entrance. We browsed the exhibits, picked up passport stamps and Junior Ranger books (a must!), and chatted with some friendly and helpful rangers before continuing on to our campsite at Newhalem Campground. Once we set up camp, we made our way to the main Visitor Center, which was well worth the stop. It had a newly updated park film, an informative mini museum, a decent gift shop, and of course more amazing rangers. Although it was a bit crowded, it's great to see people out and about exploring nature. I originally planned to hike the Skagit River Loop but one of the rangers recommended Ross Lake Dam Trail instead. Despite it being a little bit of a detour, I pivoted, and it was worth it! The hike down to the dam was serene, scenic, and less crowded. For dinner, we tried to get into the restaurant next to Mondo Restaurant, but it was packed!!! Luckily, Mondo came through with great food and hectic yet welcoming service. We wrapped up the evening back at Newhalem Campground. There was a fire ban in place during our visit (no campfires!) but otherwise, the campground was peaceful and perfect for me for a good night's rest. The next morning, we woke up really early to tackle the iconic Maple Pass Loop and WOW. From start to finish, the hike was epic. The wildflowers were blooming, the views were jaw-dropping, and we lucked out with light crowds. Although it's rated hard on AllTrails, I'd say it leans more moderate if you're an experienced hiker. Either way, it's a can't miss trail and an absolute highlight of the trip for me. After our hike, we headed over to Mazama (remote and worth the visit!) before continuing our journey via ferry to Stehekin. One note: the NPS Visitor Center in Stehekin is completely closed for the 2025 season, which was a letdown but it didn't take away from the beauty of the area. I'll be posting separate reviews for the rest of our trip! All in all, North Cascades lives up to the hype and then some. It's wild, remote, and breathtakingly beautiful. The National Parks truly are America's Best Idea, and I hope everyone gets a chance to experience their awe-inspiring landscapes, rich history, and cultural significance. Onward to parks #62 and #63!!!

Beautiful state Park!! One of my favorites!!! Love my Skagit River Spot and we can go hiking. The…read morePark host is very nice and SO helpful! Rusty & Greg are great, Park Rangers!! Always get back to you and answer questions that you have about many camp grounds they take care of in the area. We always have a great time & feel refreshed after our camping weekend!

The park is beautiful , peaceful and clean but coin operated shower is a downfall and no laundry at…read moresite .

My mom and I stopped here and at the nearby Rockport State Park recently on Wednesday 1 July 2020…read more We arrived in the morning just before 11 a.m., it had been a rainy morning and we managed to get here in a brief window where the rain stopped. It was still overcast, but no rain can be a plus when out hiking. The entrance to the park is well marked and there is a parking lot for those who are at the park for day use like we were. After parking our car we set out to explore the trails down to the river and back. Informational signs spot the trail and provide background and helpful tidbits if you are on the look-out for wildlife or their tracks. The mosquitos were fiercest at the parking lot and a number of them bit me through my clothing. Coming back I'd wear more layers or insect repellent if trying not to get bit. The trail we walked ran along the Skagit River for a short bit then twisted through the woods and back to the parking lot. On the way out to the Skagit River we passed a clearing. The grass was tall in the clearing center, but around the edges the grass had been cut to provide a walking path if one so yearned. We encountered mostly birds on our visit in terms of wildlife. The park itself wasn't too busy when we arrived, but we started to see more people by the time we departed. Restrooms were clean and we maintained our social distance.

Great park, we drove with my family, nice place to walk, relaxing and dream, nice forest and quietread more

This park is my favorite by far! Every time I come here to see the concrete silos I am just blown…read moreaway and not by the wind. Some updates for this place: the water park was up and running, there are two disc golf carts, and an updated big-foot big ramp area! It was quite lively there for a sunshine filled day, it was awesome to see people there.

Silo Park is located in Concrete, Washington. It's the gateway to the North Cascades National Park…read morewhich is beautiful! I suppose what catches your eye here is the the 1914 era cement silos that say "Welcome To Concrete". A lot of little towns have this type of thing and runs on the gimmicky side of things but what made me want to stop here was these silos were in the film This Boy's Life which had some filming done here which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. But if I wasn't going off of the film I still would have wanted to stop as the silos are quite large and impressive. This town also once had a major cement industry which were supplied to the local dams. It is free to see and is a minor tourist attraction for those that get their attention drawn to the structure or want to see it because they watched the film.

When seeing the name "Rainbow" one might assume that the bridge is painted in the classic ROYGBIV…read morecolor scheme. And, I gotta admit, that would be cool. Alas, this bridge is merely shaped like a rainbow - though I'd be all about a petition to get it painted like one too! Spanning the Swinomish Channel, this lovely span connects the mainland with Fidalgo Island and is a great connection point to all things beyond (like Anacortes or Deception Pass). If you happen to have access to a boat, it's fun to cruise the channel and pass underneath the bridge, admiring its architectural magnificence from below. No boat? No worries? I like to view it from pretty Pioneer Park. And if you get there at just the right time of day, it's a wonderful place to catch the sunset (or the sunrise).

Pretty, blue water that the sunshine was hitting so beautifully. Very warm on a June 2026 day, but…read morenot much parking around unless you have a boat as part of your vehicle makeup. Designated parking for those specific vehicles. A really pretty stop from Whidbey island on my way back home. There is only one bench here :( watch out for the corner because incoming cars could jumpscare

Diablo Lake is undoubtedly stunning. It's most notable feature is its gorgeous turquoise color,…read morecaused by the reflection of "rock flour". We saw the lake in its full glory both on a sunny and cloudy day - and it is spectacular in any weather. We accessed the lake in two ways - once directly to the lake via campground, and then the second time (drove around it) to the vista point where you can get a full view. Enjoy!

What a beautiful place to visit in North Cascades National Park!!…read more Pictures do not do this beautiful lake justice. This water is unlike anything I have ever seen before - so green and clear and so unique to North Cascades. We just enjoyed the lake from the overlook, but we saw many more people also going down to the lake. If you don't have time to do much in North Cascades, taking the time to simply enjoy Diablo Lake is a must-stop and well-worth the time.

We completely love this place. It has everything you need for a family trip: beach, playground,…read moretrails, flush toilets, showers, and a boardwalk. Love love love!

We checked out this park in February. It was too cold for swimming but lots of people out fishing…read morefrom the shore and docs. The park was well maintained and there was no trash. The restrooms were out of order but there was a portapotty near the boat docks. There is ripped of swimming but no lifeguards. They do have a spot where life jackets can be borrowed. The playground was amazing! Lots to interact with. Very very high though and not for little kids younger than 4. Lots of picnic tables near the waters edge. You need to pay entry for parking.

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.