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== Attractions == [[File:Mount Shuksan tarn.jpg|thumb|right|Mount Shuksan|alt=A large and sharp mountain, partly covered in snow, is reflected in a tarn in the foreground.]] North Cascades National Park is approximately {{convert|100|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Seattle]].<ref name="2012plan">{{cite web|title=North Cascades National Park 2012 Business Plan|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/management/upload/noca_4-30_spreads.pdf|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref> Nearly all of the national park is protected as the [[Stephen Mather Wilderness]] and it is "one of the premier wilderness parks" in the lower-48 states".<ref name="crest">{{cite web|title=Pacific Crest Trail|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/pacific-crest-trail.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> Unlike some national parks, there is no entrance fee at North Cascades,<ref>{{cite web|title=Fees & Passes|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fees.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Entrance Fees by Park|url=https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/entrance-fee-prices.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> and hiking trailheads accessed by vehicle do not require a parking pass; trailheads on some national forest properties adjacent to the park may require a pass.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/faqs.htm#6|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> Mount Shuksan, in the northwest corner of the park, is often photographed, and at {{convert|9131|ft|abbr=on}} is the second highest peak in the park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Picture Lake Path|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recarea/?recid=17536|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rivers and Streams|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/nature/rivers.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gottberg Anderson |first=John |date=May 19, 2016 |title=National Park lands of the Northwest: Where to celebrate the centennial of the country's Park Service |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/4332896-151/national-park-lands-of-the-northwest |work=[[Bend Bulletin]] |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> === Camping, hiking and bicycling === [[File:Cascade pass.jpg|thumb|Hiking at Sahale Arm near Cascade Pass|alt=A hiker with walking poles, an orange backpack, and a sun hat, on a trail in a grassed area. In the background are tall dark mountains partly covered in snow.]] Hikers and [[backpacking (wilderness)|backpackers]] often visit [[Cascade Pass]] in the southwestern section of the southern unit of the park, which was used as a travel route by Native Americans. The pass can be reached by a {{convert|3.7|mi|adj=on}} hiking trail accessed from a parking lot at the end of a gravel road that starts at Marblemount.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cascade Pass / Sahale Arm Trail|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/cascade-pass-trail.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> There are nearly {{convert|400|mi|abbr=on}} of hiking trails in the park.<ref name="hiking">{{cite web|title=Hiking|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/hiking.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> Hikers can also access two [[National Scenic Trails]] including {{convert|18|mi|abbr=on}} of the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] in the southern unit of the park and {{convert|63|mi|abbr=on}} of the [[Pacific Northwest Trail]] that passes through the northern unit.<ref name=crest/><ref name=pnw>{{cite web|title=Pacific Northwest Trail|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/pacific-northwest-trail.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name=trailguide/> The north and south [[Picket Range]]s, [[Mount Triumph]], Eldorado Peak and [[Boston Peak]] regions are popular backcountry camping zones.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cross-country Zones|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/cross-country-zones.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> Unlike most US national parks, there are no places within North Cascades National Park where one can drive to a campground. There are many vehicular access camp grounds in Ross Lake National Recreation Area and in surrounding national forests.<ref>{{cite web|title=Camping|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/camping.htm#CP_JUMP_628805|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> All overnight camping is considered backcountry camping and camping areas are protected to prevent overcrowding.<ref name="bcamp">{{cite web|title=Wilderness Trip Planner|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/wilderness-trip-planner.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> Backcountry camping spots can be reserved in early spring only; walk-up permits can be obtained at the Wilderness Information Center near Marblemount.<ref name="visitorcenter"/><ref name="permits" /> Since the vast majority of the park is designated wilderness, the goal is to ensure all hikers and backcountry travelers enjoy the opportunities for solitude.<ref name="permits">{{cite web|title=Backcountry Permits|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/permits.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> Group sizes are limited to parties of less than a dozen on what are known as trail and camping corridors, and in more remote areas off trails, groups larger than six are not permitted.<ref name="bcamp"/> North Cascades National Parkβs rugged terrain and limited access to drivable campgrounds make it particularly dangerous for inexperienced campers and hikers. The park has the highest death rate of any U.S. National Park, with 40.7% of fatalities resulting from falls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=1p21.admin |date=2024-08-19 |title=Washington National Park Deaths [2024 Study] |url=https://www.elkandelk.com/washington/washington-national-park-deaths/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Elk & Elk Co., Ltd |language=en-US}}</ref> It is important to note that the park has gone over two decades without a fatal incident. The last recorded fatality was in September 2000, demonstrating that with proper preparation and caution, visitors can safely enjoy this beautiful wilderness.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NPS Incident Reports - North Cascades National Park / Lake Chelan National Recreation Area / Ross Lake National Recreation Area |url=http://npshistory.com/morningreport/incidents/noca.htm |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=npshistory.com}}</ref> Bicycles are allowed in the park but only on the same roads that vehicles are allowed on. No mountain bike access is allowed on hiking trails. Hiker/biker camping is available at Newhalem Campground, Colonial Creek, and near Stehekin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bicycling|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> === Mountaineering === [[File:Boston Peak 4091.JPG|thumb|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.|alt=Angular light-gray rocks in the foreground. Behind, a range of darker gray mountains with snow. The one at the right has a substantial glacier at its foot.]] High quality climbing routes on the numerous cliffs, ice and other challenges make the park a favorite destination for many mountaineering enthusiasts.<ref name="climb">{{cite web|title=Climbing|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/climbing.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> While some peaks and cliffs can be accessed fairly easily, the most remote ones entail a multi-day excursion, challenging for even experienced mountaineers. The park has banned the installation of any new fixed anchors such as [[piton]]s, and only removable anchors such as [[Nut (climbing)|chocks]] and [[Spring-loaded camming device|cams]] are permitted. This [[clean climbing]] has been implemented to help protect the resource, since fixed point anchors deface the rock and are considered intrusive.<ref name="climb"/> With much of the rock climbing and mountaineering done above the tree line, the effort to protect alpine ecosystems is of paramount importance. [[Leave No Trace]] policies are strictly enforced and encouraged, such as camping only on bare rock, using only a camp stove, storing food safely where animals cannot get to it, and carrying out or properly burying human waste as necessary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Planning a Climb|url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/planning-a-climb.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> Mountaineering in the North Cascades was first popularized by [[Fred Beckey]]; at age 15 he was the first to reach the summit of [[Sinister Peak]] in 1938, in 1939 he was the first atop [[Mount Despair (Washington)|Mount Despair]], and the following year he was the first to climb [[Forbidden Peak]]. Beckey was the first to summit at least two dozen peaks in the North Cascades, and his exhaustive three-volume [[Cascade Alpine Guide]] books, first published in the early 1970s, have been called the "Beckey Bible".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Harrison|title=Fred Beckey, mountaineer who scaled untrodden peaks, dies at 94|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/fred-beckey-dirtbag-mountaineer-who-scaled-untrodden-peaks-dies-at-94/2017/10/31/468afb20-be43-11e7-8444-a0d4f04b89eb_story.html|access-date=April 5, 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 31, 2017}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
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