North Cascades National Park Service Complex (U.S. National Park Service)

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North Cascades National Park Service Complex

Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness.

		A Rich Tapestry The mountains, forests, rivers and lakes of North Cascades National Park Service Complex provide a rich tapestry of visitor experience for all abilities and interests. Almost 400 miles of trails and vast undeveloped wilderness allow visitors to experience nature with minimal human-caused intrusions. Possible experiences range from accessible trails to world class mountaineering, including scenic drives, hiking, camping, nature-watching, relaxation, boating and fishing.

Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan

The final Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan for the North Cascades National Park Service Complex has been issued and is available on the NPS park planning site.

The purpose of the Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan is to guide cooperative fishery management actions by the NPS and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in order to: Click here for maps of the 91 lakes

Conserve native biological integrity
Provide a spectrum of recreational opportunities and visitor experiences, including sport fishing
Resolve the long-standing debate and conflicts over fish stocking in the naturally fishless mountain lakes in the North Cascades Complex.

The North Cascades are Calling

You are invited to visit and enjoy North Cascades National Park. As we enter our 5th decade of caring for the park we need your help to care for the North Cascades. Enjoy a visit to the park where recreation, education and restoration blend as one. Experience the natural splendors of the North Cascades, meet interesting people and contribute to the wellbeing of the park. Stewardship Opportunities

You are invited to view:“Cascading Effects: Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest”. It examines the sublime landscapes of North Cascades, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Parks. Researchers shed light on emerging indications that climate change is real and predict how warming temperatures will affect the natural resources and timeless beauty of the region. As glaciers melt and the winter snow-pack decreases, what is the fate of the aquatic ecosystems and cold water fish that depend on runoff during the hottest and driest parts of the year? How will enormous amounts of unstable sediment exposed by retreating ice-sheets affect the roads and infrastructure of these parks? Will pine beetle infestations and larger forest fires become widespread in the approaching future?

Part I: http://www.lifeonterra.com/episode.php?id=178

Part II: http://www.lifeonterra.com/episode.php?id=179

Write to

North Cascades NPSC
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(360) 854-7200

Wilderness Information Center
(360) 854-7245

Fax

(360) 856-1934

Climate

Steep mountains and onshore weather systems from the Pacific Ocean influence a wide range of climate conditions in the North Cascades. One of the snowiest places on earth, the westside mountains collect more snow than melts each year (forming glaciers). On the east side of the mountains, conditions are much dryer.
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