North Cascades Visitor Center
Facility · Washington ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Ross Lake National Recreation Area (National Recreation Area) · Open Access
- 559 ft
- Elevation
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.
Exhibits: Relief map of the park and surrounding area, exhibit room featuring multimedia exhibits on the park's natural and cultural history.
Available Facilities: Theater featuring large format slide program and video presentation. Several short, accessible interpretive trails and restrooms. Information desk. Bookstore.
Getting there
North Cascades Visitor Center is located off North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) in Newhalem, Washington, just behind Newhalem Creek Campground. Newhalem is 59 miles east of I-5 in Burlington and 72 miles west of Winthrop.
48.66630, -121.26675 · 48°39'58.7"N 121°16'0.3"W
Typical weather
Typically 79°F in Aug, down to 40°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 40 | 44 | 49 | 58 | 67 | 70 | 78 | 79 | 71 | 57 | 45 | 40 |
| Low °F | 32 | 33 | 35 | 40 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 54 | 50 | 44 | 37 | 33 |
| Precip in | 12.4 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 8.8 | 13.6 | 11.7 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Member photos
Common questions about North Cascades Visitor Center
- Can you reserve a site at North Cascades Visitor Center?
- No. North Cascades Visitor Center is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near North Cascades Visitor Center
- Goodell Creek Campground 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lower Goodell Group Campground 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Upper Goodell Group Campground 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Newhalem Creek Campground 0.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Gorge Lake Campground 6.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Colonial Creek North Campground 7.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Colonial Creek South Campground 8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Marble Creek Campground 9.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mineral Park Campground 14.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Shannon Creek Campground 16.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Wilderness Information Center 12.1 mi · Facility
- Marblemount Boat Launch 12.2 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (360) 854-7200
- Email noca_information@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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