Books, Bites, and Sights

June 9th – 12th, 2026

North Cascades is nicknamed the “American Alps”. And after visiting this rugged landscape, I get it.

A sea of steep, jagged peaks. Vast, shimmering, turquoise lakes in the shadows of those peaks. And glaciers galore. The hikes here are insane – in many regards: Strenuous. Challenging. Breathtaking. Remote. All the things.

Things to note: All of the higher altitude hikes we did were still snow covered, even in mid-June. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Bring the right equipment. Fuel your body accordingly. Know the weather. As someone who is fairly fit and a daily hiker, I struggled here – like, struggled. I did not take precautions and did not heed my own advice (more on this later); yet, I had the time of my life and still consider the hikes we did in NCNP as some of the most grandiose hikes of our 63 in 365 journey.

Where to Sleep

Determine your must-do hikes and then choose campgrounds nearby. If not, you’ll be doing a lot of driving. Bleh. There are campgrounds inside the park and in the surrounding Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Road closures are common here due to landslides and construction, so always check on that before hand. Seriously, learn from us: We weren’t able to get to our first night at Mineral Park Campground because of bridge construction that began nightly at 8 – we got to the bridge at 8:34…

• Mineral Park Campground: This remote campsite in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is in the perfect location for the hikes on Cascade River road (Cascade Pass Trail). We booked this site through Recreation.gov for $62 a night. Steep, I know, but you save both gas and time camping nearby. Worth it IMO.

• Newhalem Creek Campground: This in-the-park campground is right beside the North Cascades Visitor Center. Better amenities than Mineral Park. Less rugged. Less private. More crowded. Nice bathrooms with flushable toilets and running water. Potable water spigots. A 20 minute drive to the Diablo Lake area. And only $24 a night.

Where to Hike

As I mentioned in the introduction of this post, the hikes in North Cascades are unmatched. Comparable to Glacier National Park – if not better. But you need to be prepared. On our first day we did Cascade Pass, and I felt fine during and afterward, but the difficulty and length of the hike was draining. On our second day we trekked up Sourdough Mountain, and the morning of, I woke up exhausted and didn’t even feel like doing the trek. Maybe I should have listened to my body because what should have been only a slightly more challenging hike for us turned into an almost 12 hour nightmare. My legs went numb. I was severely dehydrated. I was breaking every half mile. Crying big girl tears. For a lack of better words, I was fighting for my life up there – but truth be told readers, I would do it again. 10/10 views.

Long story short: Listen to your body. Prepare. Fuel.

• Sourdough Mountain Lookout: a 10.5 miles out-and-back trail with breathtaking views of Diablo Lake from 6,000 feet elevation (5,000 of which you gain in the 5 miles up); The peak and ridge leading to the peak was heavily snow covered mid-June and a bit nerve racking to navigate

• Cascade Pass Trail: a 6.9 mile in-and-out trail with panoramic views of those famous “American Alps” and ample opportunities to see calving glaciers; Once you reach the pass, there are trails that will take you further into the basin or to other peaks; however, those trails were blanketed in snow, so we turned around; Additionally, because of poor road conditions, Cascade River road was partially closed and we had to park at the Eldorado parking area rather than at the trailhead. This added an additional 3 miles each way to the hike. Like I have mentioned before, know before you go!

• Ladder Creek Falls Trail: A gentle 0.5 mile loop behind the historic Gorge Powerhouse through an old botanical garden with a one-of-a-kind tucked away waterfall

Where to Stroll

North Cascades is known for its steep, rugged terrain and brutal hikes, but if you’d rather not, here are some trails and viewpoints worth checking out.

• Diablo Lake viewpoint: A must-do pull off. If you go to North Cascades and don’t go to Diablo Lake, then did you really go to North Cascades?

• Gorge Creek Falls Trail: A short 0.5 mile loop with views of Gorge Lake, the Gorge Dam, and a 250 foot waterfall

• Trail of the Cedars Nature Walk: A 0.6 mile loop through old growth cedars and Douglas firs with historical and educational signs all along the way; A perfect trail for those with kiddos

• Rock Shelter Trail: This trail is connected to the Trail of the Cedars Nature Walk (shares the same trailhead), takes you to a 1,500 year old indigenous hunting camp, and adds an additional 1.5 miles to the round trip

• Skagit River Loop Trail: A simple 1.8 mile loop that starts at the North Cascades Visitor Center; I had cell service for the entirety of this trail, so I was able to call my mom and blab as I walked it – which if you know me, you know walking and talking takes me to my happy place lol

What to Read

The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eger

5/5 stars; Read. This. Book.

“Expression is the opposite of depression.”

“When you have something to prove, you aren’t free.”

In this memoir, Dr. Eger retells her Holocaust survival story, recants her life as a refugee in the United States post WWII, and gives a powerful testimony on how she came to terms with these traumas through the power of choice and through the practice of gratitude.

Ah yes, the power in rediscovering gratitude. We know the power of being grateful, but how easily (and how human) it is to forget to count your blessings. I loved every page of this memoir, and the advice given in it is 100% practical and anything but superficial.

Lately I have been in a rut. Without a routine (which used to include my daily devotions and meditations), I have let misery, suffering, and negativity control and dictate my feelings and actions. And while I have the ability to be aware of this in the moment, I, unfortunately, have begun to lean into sulking. Why? What is the point? What benefit is there to that? The only conclusion I have come to is as the old saying goes, “Misery loves company.” Misery loves attention. We love to throw ourselves a pity party, but do we ever feel better after doing so? Personally, I don’t.

Because of Dr. Egar’s life story and insights throughout The Choice, I feel re-empowered to choose my mindset. I feel motivated to disengage in the sulking. To shut down the pity party. Acknowledging that I have the power to choose to be grateful. The power to reject misery and the power to reject suppression. Re-enlightened in knowing that these coping mechanisms don’t lead to healing, prosperity, or joy.

Sorry (not sorry) to end on such a heavy note readers. Blessing, and love, and gratitude for you! Whoever you are and wherever you are. Check back next week. Xoxo.