Cascade Pass Trail

Cascade Pass is a short but steep climb into the alpine environment of the North Cascades, and is possibly the most popular trail in the park.

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Cascade Pass Trail Details

Cascade Pass is a short but steep climb into the alpine environment of the North Cascades, and is possibly the most popular trail in the park. The trail rises steadily, relying on numerous switchbacks through gradually thinning forests and fragile subalpine meadows from which you can hear the sound of rushing water and cracking ice falling from the nearby Johannesburg Mountains' hanging glaciers. The trail eventually enters a long expanse of talus slopes that stretch on until the trail suddenly turns a corner and arrives at the pass. The views of the surrounding glaciers and peaks are impressive, and it's easy to see why the Cascades Pass is such a popular destination. The pass, which is home to a variety of native plants, is currently undergoing revegetation of damage from human-caused erosion, and hikers are asked to resist the temptation to wander off the trails. From the pass you can continue on the Sahale Arm Trail to the bottom of the Sahale Glacier, or take the trails continuing to Horseshoe Basin and the Stehekin Valley. The trailhead 23.1 miles down Cascade River Road from Marblemount.

Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

7.6 miles

Estimated time

6.5 miles

Region

N/A