North Cascades National Park: Cascade Pass
Satisfy your wanderlust on this 5.4-mile out-and-back, which offers stop-and-gawk panoramas of the jagged Cascades blanketed by glaciers.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 8.7
Waypoints
CAS001
Location: 48.475503, -121.075001
Begin from the well-marked Cascade Pass trailhead, listening for distant roar of falling ice on Johannesburg Mtn.
CAS002
Location: 48.476236, -121.072061
Keep trudging up 30-plus switchbacks before trail opens to talus slopes and impressive views
CAS003
Location: 48.477929, -121.068649
View of glacier-carved valley cradling N Fork of Cascade River
CAS004
Location: 48.476691, -121.066675
Continue along steep slope of valley wall. Native Americans once used this corridor as a mountain passage; later it became a gold prospectors’ route
CAS005
Location: 48.471271, -121.060967
Catch good views of Johannesburg Mtn.
CAS006
Location: 48.477829, -121.065774
Top of switchbacks; trail goes S
CAS007
Location: 48.472494, -121.06204
Rest in tranquil wildflower meadow
CAS008
Location: 48.471989, -121.061699
Terrain changes to barren alpine zone inhabited by friendly marmots and pikas
CAS009
Location: 48.470551, -121.060402
Traverse lengthy talus rise; good views upslope of Mt. Sahal. Caution: Trail is obvious, but footing is rough
CAS010
Location: 48.467541, -121.059196
Cascade Pass; SE vistas of glacier-capped Pelton Peak
CAS011
Location: 48.467857, -121.058092
Hike to end of pass for stellar views, photo ops; retrace steps to car
