The first National Scenic Highway in the United States, the North Cascades Highway provides visitors with sweeping vistas, alpine meadows, wildlife watching opportunities and recreation galore. This mountain scenic drive begins in Sedro Woolley and is closed from mid-November to April. Always make sure to check out road conditions before heading out.

The path that the North Cascades Highway follows is part of Washington State Route 20’s path across through Washington, and is one of the oldest state roads in Washington being established in 1896 as a wagon route. Although State Route 20 goes from 1 part of Washington State to another, East to West, the North Cascades Highway is a small portion of the overall SR 20 route.

Length	30 miles
States	1 – Washington
Nearby Cities	NewHalem, Washington
Astronomy Sites	3
Bortle Scale	2 or 3

Astronomy Sites

Although there are a plethora of sites along North Cascades National Park, this will focus on a few reliable sites along the highway.

Diablo Lake Overlook

Located within the Heart of the North Cascades, Diablo Lake Overlook provides an amazing view of mountains that rise around the lake and the historic Diablo Dam in the distance. Do not feed the wildlife or leave food and waste unattended. In summer, the distinctive turquoise color of the lake is the result of suspended fine rock particles refracting sunlight. The color is most vibrant on sunny days in July, August, and September when seasonal glacial melt occurs. Doing astronomy at higher elevations also tends to make for less atmospheric barriers, which is another benefit of this overlook. Just drive-in, park, walk a short distancec and get some great shots of the scenery and Milky Way.

Washington Pass Overlook

This 400 feet long this level, paved trail pass is an excellent place to see the golden colored larch trees in autumn and see a wide panorama in the area, making it great for the Milky Way. With stairs and steep grades that may limit travel for some. Accessible parking and restrooms, information station, benches, picnic tables and interpretive signs add to the pleasure of this breathtaking stop. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking at this location. Snow covers this area until early-July,

Ross Lake Overlook

Smaller than Diablo, but this provides a lovely opportunity for some lovely DSLR photography for the Milky Way and nights sky.

Some other areas in the vicinity are Artist Point and Heather Pass, which are 2 hikes, which provide panoramic views of the area.

Campgrounds

Here are some of the camping opportunities along the highway that provide opportunities for travelers looking to do astrophotography.

Colonial Creek

Colonial Creek South Campground in North Cascades National Park is a remote, yet bustling campground nestled in old growth forest. Located on the south side of State Route 20 near mile marker 130, there are 94 campsites that are surrounded by forest and located on Diablo Lake.

Goodell Creek

Located close to the town of Newhalem along the Skagit River, Goodell Creek is surrounded by forests and hiking trails. The campground has individual campsites as well as two group sites. It is private and secluded, yet the town, a visitor center and other amenities are close by. The entire facility offers drinking water, vault toilets, and paved roads. Individual sites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis.

Upper Goodell Creek

Upper Goodell Group Campground is a quiet, remote facility for tent camping on the banks of Goodell Creek in North Cascades National Park. The campground is the perfect place to relax while watching the rushing creek cascade over its rocky course. The area is more remote and up a slightly steeper road than nearby Lower Goodell Group Campground. The elevation is 500′ above sea level. Both Upper and Lower Goodell Group Campgrounds are convenient hubs for day trips to the visitor center, hiking trails and the nearby town of Newhalem. The facility has a picnic shelter and pit toilet for visitors’ convenience. No potable water. Water is available at the main Goodell Creek campground on the south side of State Route 20. The campground has one group site, which can comfortably fit 12 to 20 people with a maximum capacity of 30. Individual sites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis. Group sites operate on a 12 month rolling basis.

Lower Goodell Creek

Located on the banks of Goodell Creek in North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Don your walking shoes and hit the trails, explore the nearby community of Newhalem or relax next to the cascading creek. Both Upper and Lower Goodell Group Campgrounds are convenient hubs near visitor centers, hiking trails and town amenities. $75 per night, this is a group campground. The facility has a picnic shelter and pit toilet for visitors’ convenience. No potable water. Water is available at the main Goodell Creek campground on the south side of State Route 20. The campground has two group sites, which can each comfortably fit 12 to 20 people each; the capacity is 50 per site. The nearest store is in Newhalem. 

Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and make sure to view our other unique astronomy roadtrips such as this one for more places to view astronomy when on a roadtrip.