North Cascades National Park - Facilities

Open mid-April to mid-October depending on staffing.  Open daily with NPS staffing during the summer.

Phone
360/599-2714

Location
Just east of Glacier, Washington, on the Mt. Baker Highway (Highway 542).

Exhibits
Relief map of Mount Baker and exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Mt. Baker District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Available Facilities
At this U.S. Forest Service station on the road to Mt. Baker and to trailheads accessing North Cascades National Park, backpackers and climbers can obtain the free Wilderness Permit required for overnight stays in the park"s backcountry. Sales of books, maps, and other items related to the area.

Golden West Visitor Center and Ranger Station

Open
Open year - round,  Boat-time only in Winter and Spring.  Weekend Evening Programs and guided snowshoe walks in January, February and March.

Phone
360/856-5700 x340 then 14

Location
Several minute"s walk from the passenger ferry landing at Stehekin Landing near the north end of 50-mile long Lake Chelan. Reached via passenger ferry, trail, or float plane. No road connections outside the area.

Special Programs
Arts & Humanities of Stehekin operates the gallery and feature a series of exhibits of work by local artists and crafts people.

Exhibits
Relief map and exhibits on natural and cultural history of the area.

Available Facilities
Information desk, sales of books, maps, and other items related to the area. Obtain free backcountry permits here for trips into the park"s wilderness. Audiovisual program available throughout the day. Daytime short talks. In summer, children"s programs, guided walks, bicycle tours and nightly evening programs.

North Cascades Visitor Center

Open
All Year
Daily in summer and fall, open weekends only in winter and spring.
Daily 9:00am - 5:00pm

Phone
206/386-4495 ext.11

Location
Across the Skagit River from the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) near milepost 120 and the town of Newhalem. Adjacent to Newhalem Creek Campground.

Closures
Weekdays October 16 until mid-April

Special Programs
Special presentations available for school and other groups by prior arrangement.

Exhibits
Relief map of the park and surrounding area, exhibit room featuring multimedia exhibits on the park"s natural and cultural history. Temporary exhibit about North Cascades Environmental Learning Center (Opens near Diablo Dam Spring 2005).

Available Facilities
Theater featuring large format slide program and video presentation. Several short, accessible interpretive trails and restrooms.

WILDERNESS INFORMATION CENTERS

Wilderness Information Center

Open
Current: Open Friday - Sunday 8:00am - 4:30pm.  May 18-June 28: Daily, Sunday - Thursday 8:00am - 4:30pm, Friday & Saturday 7:00am - 8:00pm.  June 29 - post Labor Day: Daily Sunday - Thursday 7:00am - 6:00pm, Friday & Saturday 7:00am - 8:00pm.

Open late-April - October: Weekends only during Spring and Fall.  Closed November - mid-April.

Phone
360/873-4500 ext.39

Location
The Wilderness Information Center is located approximately 1 mile down Ranger Station Road, which leaves the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) at milepost 105.3 in Marblemount, WA.

Closures
Self-issue backcountry permits and voluntary climbing register available outside the Wilderness Information Center.

Exhibits
Exhibits about wilderness and backcountry travel. Relief map. Sales of books, maps, and other items related to wilderness, hiking, and climbing.

Available Facilities
This center is the main backcountry permit office for North Cascades National Park and the adjacent Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas.