North Cascades National Park

About two hours northeast of Seattle, North Cascades National Park is the wildest corner of the American Alps, more than 300 glaciers carving jagged peaks. The drive by views are only the prelude. Diablo Lake glows turquoise from the highway, but the real park begins on foot, on trails like Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm that climb from old growth forest to a glacier overlook in a single day. July through September is the season, when the high trails are snow free and the lakes shine brightest.