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By Plane
Nearest major airport is Seatac near Seattle, Washington. Chelan Airways (509/682-5555)provides floatplane access to Stehekin in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.
By Car
Access to the North Cascades and Ross Lake area is from I-5 at Burlington, west of the mountains, and Twisp, on the east, following Washington State Route (SR) 20 with branch routes to Baker Lake (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)and the Cascade River. The park and recreation areas are always open, but access is limited by snow in winter. Note that State Route 20 (North Cascades Scenic Highway), the major access to Ross Lake NRA, is partially closed from approximately mid-November to mid-April. Exact opening and closing dates depend on weather, snow depths, and avalanche hazards. Two roads, both gravel, enter North Cascades National Park itself: the Cascade River Road from Marblemount and the Stehekin Valley Road. Note that the latter does not connect to any roads outside the Stehekin Valley. There are no road connections to Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (access by trail, passenger ferry, and floatplane.) The only road access to the shore of Ross Lake is via the Silver-Skagit Road (gravel) from near Hope, British Columbia.
By Public Transporation
The "LINK" public bus system in Chelan County connects to the passenger ferry at Chelan (Lake Chelan Boat Company) which goes to Stehekin Landing in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area at the opposite end of the lake. The "SKAT" public bus sytem in Skagit County once per day goes to Newhalem in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Contact the park (360/856-5700 ext.515) for more information. Very little of the park is accessible via public transportation.
Getting Around
The N. Cascades Hwy goes through Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Cascade River Road leaves S.R.20 at Marblemount, WA, to more trailheads.
Bus services in the Stehekin Valley (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area)are provided by the NPS and the Stehekin Adventure Company. Service from Stehekin Landing to High Bridge (11 miles/18 km), is available May 19 through October 15, 2000. NPS bus service from High Bridge 4.6 miles to Bridge Ck (Pacific Crest Trail) begins June 16, snow and road conditions permitting. It is anticipated that the service will begin operating to Glory Mountain (20.1 miles from the Landing and the present end of the road) July 1. From there hike 11.2 miles (17.9 km)over Cascade Pass to the Cascade River Rd. There are many trailheads and camps along the Stehekin Valley Road. Reservations not needed for the Stehekin Adventure bus but highly recommended (required May 19 - June 15) for the NPS shuttle buses due to smaller capacity. To reserve, call (360) 856-5700 ext. 340, then 14. One-way fares for either bus: $5/adult;$3/child (12 and under) between Stehekin Landing and High Bridge. An additional $5/adult, $3/child, $3/bicycle each way for the shuttle bus between High Bridge and Bridge Crk or Glory Mtn.
Reservations can also be made in person at visitor centers or when obtaining backcountry permits. For transportation schedule, see http://www.nps.gov/noca/focus/shuttlesched.htm.
93% of the park complex is Wilderness with 386 miles of trail.
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