What North Cascades is known for

The North Cascades Destination is home to mountains, rivers, lakes, cities, and North Cascades National Park. The national park covers 505,000 acres of land. It became a national park on October 2, 1968. The elevation in North Cascades National Park varies from the lowest point of elevation at 605 feet to the highest point of elevation at 9,206 feet.[2] Animals inside of North Cascades National Park include black bears, wolverines, lynxes, bobcats, and cougars. Also inhabiting the area are twelve different species of bats.[8] 

On average, around 38,208 people visit North Cascades National Park every year.[2] The park has various hiking trails, lakes, mountains, and animals. Some of the main things to do while visiting the park include driving on the North Cascades Highway, the Sterling Munro Trail, the Gorge Lake Overlook, the Ross Lake Overlook, the Diablo Lake Vista Point, the Washington Pass Overlook, and visiting Stehekin. The overlooks in the park are small hikes that lead to views of the park. Stehekin is a community near Lake Chelon that can offer outdoor recreation such as camping, walking, and hiking. There are no roads that lead to Stehekin, so visitors must get there by plane, boat, or on foot.[3] 

A few miles away from North Cascades National Park is the city of Bellingham, which has a population of 97,864 people.[7] Bellingham is the county seat of Whatcom County, which is located in Washington. The city is located about 21 miles from the border between the U.S. and Canada. Bellingham is considered a tourist city due to the events it offers and its close proximity to outdoor recreational activities.[9] Things to do around the city of Bellingham include visiting Whatcom Falls Park, SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention, the Fairhaven Historic District, Galbraith Mountain Bike Park, Boulevard Park, the Mount Baker Theatre, Lake Padden Park, the Whatcom Museum, Larrabee State Park, and Lake Whatcom.[4] 

On the eastern side of the North Cascades Destination are multiple cities including Mazama, Stehekin, Twisp, Winthrop, Omak, and Tonasket. All of these cities provide multiple activities for visitors to participate in. The North Cascades Destination is also mountainous with lakes and rivers, which can open more options for what to do. Skiing is available in the mountains during the winter season while water activities are common during the summer. Other water activities include jet-skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and swimming.[10] 

Geography

The North Cascades Destination is located in the northwest corner of the state of Washington in the United States of America. The region is mountainous with small desert areas, lakes, rivers, and forests. The zone goes along the border between the U.S. and Canada and wraps around the cities of Tonasket, Omak, Okanogan, and Bellingham. Most of the mountains within the district are towards the middle while the east and west areas of the region are flatter. Rivers and lakes are spread throughout the destination, most of which are near the more forested areas. The main attraction inside of the North Cascades Destination is North Cascades National Park. [11]

North Cascades National Park covers 505,000 acres of land and has varying elevations.[2] The park has two units; the north unit which extends to the Canadian border and the south unit which stretches out to Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. There are around 300 glaciers located within the park, though over a period of time a number of them have disappeared completely. There are also snowfields located within the park.[11] North Cascades National Park has mammals, specifically 75 species in 21 families. Some of these mammals include gray wolves, lynx, bobcats, and cougars.[2] Other animals that dwell in the park are black bears, wolverines, river otters, and twelve species of bats. There are over 200 species in 38 families of birds in the national park. Many of these birds migrate through the area based on the weather. The Skagit River, a river within North Cascades National Park, has one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the U.S. Over half of the birds that inhabit the area are migratory birds like flycatchers, hummingbirds, swallows, warblers, thrushes, and grosbeaks. Most of the migratory species leave during the winter and return during the spring. Other types of animals in the park are amphibians, fish, and insects.[8] 

In the city of Bellingham, an efficient time to visit the area is from the end of May to the end of September. This is mostly based on temperature, which fluctuates from around 38 degrees Fahrenheit to 64 degrees Fahrenheit in the city. Bellingham receives rain throughout the year, though it is the most common in March and November and the least common in July. The city doesn't receive much snow, but other parts of the North Cascades Destination receive snow during the winter months. Bellingham has a relatively high humidity compared to other areas of Washington, the state where Bellingham is located in. The most popular time to visit Bellingham is in July with other busy times being May and October.[5] The main animal in Bellingham is western pearl shells. Plants in Bellingham include wood wolly-foot, eyed beards, scarlet cups, and western black elfin saddles.[6]

History

In the North Cascades Destination, there are mountains, rivers, forests, and small desert areas. The area has changed over time to be what it is today. One of the first inhabitants of the region was the native people. In North Cascades National Park, they were located around Sahale, Hozomeen, Shuksan, Nooksack, Skagit, and Stehekin, each of which was named by the native people. Other parts of the national park were given Spanish names or named after famous people like JD Ross.[1] 

The Chelan tribe, one of the main tribes that inhabited the area, left pictographs on the cliffs surrounding Lake Chelan using red ocher, which is a natural form of iron oxide. These markings are a popular thing for people to go visit, and they can also be a way for people to study the history of the park.[1]

The native people who lived in North Cascades National Park were gatherers, hunters, and fishermen who lived in a constantly changing environment. They depended on natural resources, which occasionally meant that they were vulnerable. For thousands of years, the natives lived in a mountain environment and were acquainted with the land, meaning they were familiar with the different plants and animals. They used the mountain areas for various purposes. Traveling across these mountains was often difficult for the native people so they took specific routes to get around.[1] 

In the 1850s people began to start looking for gold and other natural resources, specifically along the Skagit River. Gold was found in the 1870s along Ruby Creek, causing a relatively high concentration of miners to mine over Skagit Valley. Hardly any gold was found, and the rush ended by 1880. After the rush ended, miners continued to dig in the area looking for silver and lead, which were located in the higher mountains. The Black Warrior Mine was one of the most popular mines at the time, though it was shut down in 1959 and most of the mining supplies were sold for taxes.[1] 

North Cascades National Park was established in 1968 to preserve the mountains in the area, which are called the Northern American Alps. It also preserves around 300 glaciers and multiple snowfields.[11]