Outstanding Recreational Activities in Winter and Summer in the Cascade Mountains

The Washington Cascade Mountains are the perfect spot for a winter or summer holiday, with its endless miles of snow-shoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing and skiing. There are also many ski resorts and countless opportunities for camping, hiking, backpacking and mountain climbing in one of the most accessible and scenic mountain ranges in the world.

The mountain range in the State of Washington is roughly divided into three regions, North Cascades, Central Cascades and South Cascades. Each of these regions has unique features.

In the North Cascades is Mount Baker, the most isolated of the Cascade volcanoes in the United States. Native Americans called it “White Steep Mountain” because of the numerous glaciers. In this area you will also find the North Cascades National Park, with mountain peaks that have vivid names, such as Mt. Terror, Mt. Challenger, Mt. Torment, Mt. Despair, Mt. Fury and Desolation Peak. Each year around 500,000 visitors come to see this magnificent park complex. It is also popular among hikers, backpackers and mountain climbers. The North Cascades region also features the Ross and Chelan Lake National Recreation Areas and a number of National Wilderness Areas. Incorporated villages in this area are Manson, Chelan, Darrington, Concrete, Mazama, Twisp, and Maple Falls.

The Central Cascades will excite you with its variety of outdoor recreation activities, in a less than two-hour drive from Seattle that makes the area an extremely popular playground for hiking, climbing, backpacking, and skiing. Within an hour or two popular trailheads can lead hikers into the deep wilderness areas, far from the traffic, noise and pollution of the big city. In summer all trails are populated with many solo hikers, couples and families with children. The cities and towns found nearby are Baring, Carnation, Roslyn, Monroe, Cashmere, Sultan and others.

The South Cascades consist of three snow-capped volcanoes, dramatically rising above their neighbors. These volcanoes are Mount Adams, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens and are among the areas featuring the most outstanding attractions in Washington. A star attraction in the South Cascades is the Mount Rainier National Park, hosting millions of visitors each year, offering them fantastic mountain views, hundreds of hikes, forests, beautiful nature walks, and pleasant campgrounds, and challenging climbs, too. Popular cities in the area are Greenwater, Ashford, Cougar and Trout Lake.

Some of the National Wilderness Areas in the Cascade Mountains are Alpine Lakes, Goat Rocks, Glacier Peak, Indian Heaven, Boulder River, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Noisy-Diobsud, Clearwater, Norse Peak, Tatoosh, Pasayten, and Trapper Creek. There are also a number of wonderful ski areas, the most popular of which are Crystal Mountain, Mission Ridge, Mt. Baker, Stevens Pass, Summit at Snoqualmie, and White Pass. The National Forests in the area are Gifford Pinchot, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, and Okanogan-Wentatchee. Don't forget to visit the incredibly scenic 270-foot Snoqualmie Falls, one of the most popular natural attractions in the state of Washington.

The Cascade Mountains provide breathtaking scenery on a clear, sunny and even snowy day. Their natural beauty and the many opportunities for wonderful outdoor recreations make them a desirable holiday destination.