Road trip · Northern Washington
North Cascades Loop
The loop
Mount Baker, North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan and Bavarian-style Leavenworth.
Overview line between stops, not turn-by-turn directions.
Stop by stop
- 1
Mount Baker
Suggested: 3 days (full guide: 3–4 days)
Check Forest Service status for Mount Baker Highway access
~22 mi straight-line from Mount Baker
2North Cascades National Park
Suggested: 3 days (full guide: 3–5 days)
Advance Backcountry and Campground Reservations Required
~91 mi straight-line from North Cascades National Park
3Lake Chelan
Suggested: 3 days (full guide: 3–4 days)
Advance Ferry and Stehekin Lodging Coordination Required
~33 mi straight-line from Lake Chelan
4Leavenworth
Suggested: 2 days (full guide: 2–4 days)
Enchantments Lottery and Peak Season Lodging Checks
Quick answers
How many days do I need for the North Cascades Loop?
Plan about 11 days to give each of the 4 stops its suggested minimum time, plus extra if you add rest days.
Which order should I visit the stops in?
Mount Baker, then North Cascades National Park, then Lake Chelan, then Leavenworth. The order keeps each leg as short as possible.
Do any stops on this loop need reservations?
Check booking rules early for Mount Baker, North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan, Leavenworth. Each stop's guide links to the official source.