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North Cascades National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Washington, USA
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from $15.59 per group (up to 15)

Lowest Price Guarantee
North Cascades National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour Image 1
Highway 20
Washington Pass Overlook
Ross Lake Overlook
Ross Lake

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On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.
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11 to 12 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Explore the rugged beauty of North Cascades National Park with our captivating audio tour! Visit iconic spots like Diablo Lake and Ross Dam while trekking through snow-capped peaks, lush forests, and crystal-clear lakes. Our expert guides share fascinating stories and facts about the park’s history, geology, and wildlife. Immerse yourself in local culture and gain insider knowledge on the forces that shaped these dramatic landscapes. Perfect for families, adventure seekers, and nature lovers, this tour offers an enriching and unforgettable experience. Download, plug in, and start your journey today!

What's Included

  • Tours NEVER expire
  • Freedom to explore at your own pace
  • Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
  • Optional meals and refreshments
  • Park Entrance Fee
  • Forks Timber Museum
See 3 moreSee 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Rockport
WA 98283, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

North Cascades Visitor Center

The North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem features nature exhibits, park information, a gift shop, two short films, and an easy boardwalk offering a magnificient view of the Picket Range in the distance.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Newhalem

Plan to spend a couple of hours in Newhalem. There's so much to see and do in this historic Seattle City Light company town. From visiting the Skagit Information Center and Skagit General Store and taking photos of the historic Number 6 engine and Gorge Inn, to walking the lovely Trail of Cedars across the river. Take a moment to enjoy the breathtaking views from the suspension bridge.
Read more

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gorge Powerhouse

From Newhalem, you can walk or drive up to the Gorge Powerhouse and cross another suspension bridge to access the Ladder Creek Falls Trail. The trail to the falls is lit every evening...a tradition that began in the early 1900s to showcase the wonders of electric power.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gorge Overlook Trail

Enjoy two spectacular views in one stop. Gorge Lake Overlook features a stunning view of Gorge Dam and Gorge Lake framed by the rugged North Cascade Mountains. A short, paved trail leads to the overlook. You can return the way you came or continue the loop on a graveled trail back to the parking area. From the pedestrian walkway across the bridge, you can view Gorge Creek Falls--a 242-foot cascade that feeds into nearby Gorge Lake.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Thunder Knob Trail

Colonial Creek Campground is the launching point for two popular trails--Thunder Knob and Thunder Creek. The 3.6 mile moderate hike up to Thunder Knob features two viewpoints above Diablo Lake with glimpses of the surrounding peaks both going and coming. The easy 4-mile hike along Thunder Creek meanders through old growth forests to a suspension bridge.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Diablo Lake

This is definitely one of the must-see stops along Highway 20! This overlook features breathtaking views of Diablo Lake with its stunning turquoise water and the majestic North Cascades towering above.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ross Dam Trailhead

The 1.5 mile roundtrip trail to Ross Dam offers hikers a unique opportunity to hike down to the Skagit Hydroelectric Project's largest dam and view this amazing engineering structure up close. From the top of the dam, you can see the southern end of Ross Lake stretching northward. The moderate trail has an elevation gain of 500 feet.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Happy Creek Trailhead

The Happy Creek Forest Walk is an easy and accessible .3 mile loop through old growth forest. Most of the trail is on a wooden boardwalk that winds through impressively tall trees along Happy Creek.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ross Lake Overlook

These two Ross Lake overlooks along the highway offer partial views of the southern end of this lake which is visible through the trees. Although Ross Lake is the largest of the three resevoirs along Highway 20, this is the only place you can view it from the road.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rainy Pass

Rainy Pass features a picnic area, restrooms, and two beautiful trails. The easy 2-mile round trip hike to Rainy Lake meanders through lush, mossy forests on a narrow, paved trail to a stunningly beautiful alpine lake surrounded by mountains. For a more challenging hike with breathtaking panoramic views, consider the 6.5-mile Maple Pass Trail. This loop trail gains over 2,000 feet in elevation. It's one of the best places to view the stunning golden larches in the fall.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Blue Lake Trail

The Blue Lake Trail is a moderately strenuous 4.5 mile climb with a 1000 foot elevation gain, but the payoff at the end is worth the burn. Trek through a beautiful subalpine forest to a crystal clear mountain lake surrounded by towering granite peaks and teeming with cutthroat trout.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Washington Pass Overlook

Another must-see stop on the North Cascades Highway is Washington Pass Overlook. Sitting at 5,500 feet, it's the road's highest point and the dividing line between eastern and western Washington. A short interpretive trail offers multiple views of the majestic North Cascades peaks including Liberty Bell Mountain, Early Winters Spires, and Kangaroo Ridge. Although partially paved, the trail is narrow and includes rock stairs.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cutthroat Lake

Moderately easy, this 3 mile roundtrip hike through a lovely forest leads to a pretty mountain lake set in a basin with spectacular views of Cutthroat Peak and Cutthroat Ridge.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Show 12 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
  • Park open seasonally depending on weather — check NPS website before visiting
  • Some hikes require a National Forest Recreation Pass — $5/vehicle; purchase online or at trailhead kiosks; America the Beautiful Pass accepted

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the North Cascades National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-102020P113

Reviews

5.00
1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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4 stars
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3 stars
0
2 stars
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1 star
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On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (6)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the North Cascades National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Tours NEVER expire.
  • Freedom to explore at your own pace.
  • Offline map (no wifi or data needed).
  • Turn-by-turn directions using GPS.
  • Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music.
  • Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive.
The following is NOT included:
  • Optional meals and refreshments.
  • Park Entrance Fee.
  • Forks Timber Museum.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the North Cascades National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour is as follows:

  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for North Cascades National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

Activity name

  • Tours NEVER expire
  • Freedom to explore at your own pace
  • Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
  • Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
  • Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
  • Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
  • Optional meals and refreshments
  • Park Entrance Fee
  • Forks Timber Museum

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Additional Starting Point: East of Mazama, WA
  • Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
  • The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
  • Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
  • Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
  • Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
  • Park open seasonally depending on weather — check NPS website before visiting
  • Some hikes require a National Forest Recreation Pass — $5/vehicle; purchase online or at trailhead kiosks; America the Beautiful Pass accepted
  • No gas stations in the park — fill up in Marblemount (west) or Mazama (east); EV charging available in Newhalem
  • Food is limited — Skagit General Store in Newhalem has pre-packaged items; nearest restaurants in Marblemount or Mazama/Winthrop
  • Cell service is spotty — download the tour on Wi-Fi before arriving
  • Bear and cougar country — keep at least 50 yards distance, make yourself look big, back away slowly, and never feed wildlife
  • Operated by a business

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Lowest Price Guarantee

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We guarantee the lowest price on all the tours available to book on our site. We'll refund the difference if you find the exact tour cheaper online until 48 hours before your tour starts.

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The following conditions apply to all lowest price guarantee refund requests:

  • The lowest price guarantee is available to any customer who makes a qualifying purchase through our website. The qualifying purchase must be a minimum of US$20 (or equivalent).
  • The lowest price guarantee covers retail and prepaid rates available to the general public. This does not include discounts or promotions you may receive (or be eligible for) from third-party sites or organizations such as AAA or AARP or special offers made as part of a membership program, corporate discount, daily deal, group, or rewards program.
  • Cool Destinations promotions cannot be combined with the lowest price guarantee.
  • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on Cool Destinations and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
  • The lowest price guarantee does not apply where a lower overall price is found by breaking down the purchased tour into one or more parts sold separately.
  • Cool Destinations reserves the right to verify the lower price details. Examples of acceptable forms of verification include a web screenshot or a web address.
  • All refund decisions will be made at the sole discretion of Cool Destinations.
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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).

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The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

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  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
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  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.