September 21, 2017
Burn Ban Lifted in Skagit and Whatcom Counties of North Cascades National Park Service Complex September 2017
Effective immediately, the burn ban on lands in Skagit and Whatcom counties within North Cascades National Park Service Complex is lifted. This includes all National Park Service lands and campgrounds along State Route 20, the Ross Lake area, west of Rainy Pass, and north of Park Creek Pass and Cascade Pass. The burn ban remains in effect for Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and the area of North Cascades National Park located in Chelan County, which includes campfires or the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbeque grills. This comprises all National Park Service lands south and east of Cascade Pass, Park Creek Pass and Rainy Pass as well as the entire Stehekin Valley. Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations. The burn ban lift compliments similar burn ban lifts in Skagit and Whatcom counties.
September 01, 2017
Skagit River Bridge to North Cascades Visitor Center Closure
The one-lane bridge over the Skagit River to the North Cascades Visitor Center and Newhalem campground will be closed for maintenance beginning Monday, September 18, 2017. The week-long project includes resurfacing the bridge deck as well rock stabilization on the bridge approach.
September 01, 2017
Diablo Lake Drawdown
Low lake levels on Diablo Lake in Ross Lake National Recreation Area will limit accessibility for boaters after the Labor Day weekend. Seattle City Light will begin drawing down Diablo Lake on September 5, 2017, ultimately lowering the lake to approximately 1193 feet, about 9 feet below normal operating conditions, by the end of the day September 7, 2017. Lake levels will begin to rise on September 16, returning to normal conditions by September 18, 2017. Low lake levels during this time will make the boat ramps at Diablo Lake and Colonial Creek Campground inaccessible to motorboats. Paddlecraft users will have difficulty launching and will likely need to walk through mud flats to reach the water.
August 31, 2017
Campfires Banned in All Portions of Park
Effective Friday, September 1, campfires or the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbeque grills, are banned in all portions of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex – North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. This includes all National Park Service lands and campgrounds along State Route 20 as well as Hozomeen and the entire Stehekin Valley. Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations. The burn ban complements similar restrictions in the adjacent Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and British Columbia, Canada.
August 30, 2017
Trails and Camps Open After Thunder Junction Fire
Effective immediately, all trails and camps are open in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex after the Thunder Junction Fire. The 3.3 acre fire is contained and the cause remains under investigation.
August 30, 2017
Fall 2017 Prescribed Fire Burn Notice
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area may implement as many as three prescribed fires in the Stehekin Valley during the fall of 2017. Depending on conditions, these may begin as early as September 1.
August 25, 2017
Thunder Junction Fire
A small fire is active along the Thunder Creek Trail approximately 10 miles from Colonial Creek Campground near Junction Camp in North Cascades National Park. The Thunder Junction Fire was detected Thursday evening and grew to about 2.5 acres as of Friday afternoon.
August 14, 2017
Climber’s Body Recovered
On Saturday, August 12, 2017, the body of Susan Bennett, a 61-year old climber from Bellingham who died on July 22, 2017 while descending the West Ridge of Forbidden Peak, was recovered by search and rescue personnel from North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks. Her body was located in a crevasse on the Forbidden Glacier, which required technical teams to recover.
July 31, 2017
Campfires Banned in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and Portions of North Cascades National Park
Effective Monday, July 31, campfires or the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbeque grills, are banned in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and the area of North Cascades National Park located in Chelan County. This includes all National Park Service lands south and east of Cascade Pass, Park Creek Pass and Rainy Pass as well as the entire Stehekin Valley. Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
April 21, 2017
Tourism to North Cascades National Park Service Complex Creates $53,918,700 in Economic Benefits
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 979,578 visitors to North Cascades National Park Service Complex in 2016 spent $44,208,300 in communities near the park. That spending supported 544 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $53,918,700.
March 15, 2017
North Cascades National Park Service Complex Drew Nearly 980,000 Visits in 2016
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area recorded 45,514, North Cascades National Park 28,646 and Ross Lake National Recreation Area 905,418 visitors with a combined total of 979,578 visits in 2016, the National Park Service’s centennial year.
March 13, 2017
Comment Period Extended on Proposed Alternatives for North Cascades Grizzly Restoration
The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will extend the public comment period regarding the proposed alternatives for the restoration of grizzly bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem by 45 days, through April 28, 2017.
March 12, 2017
State Route 20 Closure Due to Avalanche
An avalanche occurred in the early morning hours on Friday March 10, 2017 in the gorge east of Newhalem, WA. The avalanche completely obstructed State Route 20 at approximately milepost 122.5, immediately east of the first tunnel. No one was injured in the avalanche. Area avalanche conditions were rated by the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) as High at the time. Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced on Friday they would not clear the debris based on avalanche danger in the Gorge, and the situation would be reassessed on Monday, March 13, 2017.
February 10, 2017
Backcountry Permit Reservation System
A pilot program for backcountry permit reservations will begin March 15, 2017 for popular backcountry areas within North Cascades National Park Service Complex.
February 08, 2017
Media Advisory: Additional Information on Upcoming Open Houses on Proposed Alternatives for North Cascades Grizzly Restoration
The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invite the public to participate in a series of informational open houses regarding the proposed alternatives for the restoration of grizzly bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem. The alternatives are described in the draft Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS), released by the two agencies on January 13, 2017. The meetings are one part of the public’s opportunity to comment on the draft EIS.
January 12, 2017
Public Invited to Open Houses on Proposed Alternatives for Grizzly Bear Restoration in North Cascades Ecosystem
The National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) invite the public to participate in a series of informational open houses regarding the proposed alternatives for the restoration of grizzly bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem. The alternatives are described in the draft Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS), released today by the two agencies. The meetings are one part of the public’s opportunity to comment on the draft EIS.
October 27, 2016
Cascade River Road Closes at Eldorado for Winter Season
The Cascade River Road will close at the Eldorado gate (mile marker 20) on Monday, October 31, 2016.
