The spectacular alpine scenery, luxuriant vegetation and great recreation areas, adjoining the North Cascades National Park make it a renowned destination of any mountain lodging vacation. Here you'll find hanging valleys, high peaks, icefalls, glaciers and mountain lakes, offering an amazing experience. Because most part of the park is protected as a wilderness area, very few facilities can be observed within the park itself. The most popular attraction here is Cascade Pass, which can be accessed by the four-mile trail. Together with the Eldorado Peak, the South and North Picket Ranges, it has proved extremely popular with mountain climbers.
The second highest peak of the park is the Mount Shuksam, seen as the most photographed mountain in the country. Another great way to experience the North Cascades National Park is by using a boat. Adjoining the park, Ross Lake is one of the recreational areas, another being Lake Chelan. Both are ideal for such outdoors activities as fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and backcountry camping.
Inaccessible and vast are two terms, that appropriately describe the Cascade Range, which contains the greatest wilderness in the State of Washington. In the heart of the region is the North Cascades National Park Service Complex, which comprises the park itself, and its two recreational areas. Unlike the majority of recreational areas, Lake Chelan and Ross Lake are remote and wild, having almost no signs of any human residence. Many mountain lodging vacations are destined for this region for a true wilderness experience. Despite the fact that the choices for lodging are not so abundant, the resorts located here offer extensive facilities for your best mountain lodging vacation. The most popular resorts include Clark's Skagit River Cabins & Resort, Freestone Inn, Hotel Rio Vista, North Cascade Stehekin Lodge, Ross Lake Resort, Sun Mountain Lodge and the Virginian. Famous for its great chalets and cabins, making the resort different from others and keeping many visitors coming back, Clark's Skagit River Cabins & Resort is especially popular in the winter season, when numerous facilities become available here. One of the unique resorts is Hotel Rio Vista, resembling many buildings right out of a Hollywood movie. All the rooms are designed in the modern style with nice furnishings and country décor. From your balcony you'll enjoy the view of the Methow River and Chewuch River. With its fifteen resort's cabins, floating on Ross Lake, Ross Lake Resort claims to be the only resort of its type in the nation. To reach it, you'll have to take a tugboat, which will carry you to the lodge. The resort is perfect for fishing, kayaking and canoeing.
One of the most spectacular resorts, Sun Mountain Lodge offers an impressive view of the Cascade Mountains. Available here are western style horseback rides, offered throughout the day. The resort is a popular destination for a family mountain lodging vacation, providing inexpensive lodge-type rooms. Nearly 200 miles of trails are adjacent to the resort. Thus, whether you want to experience cross-country skiing, hiking, or mountain biking, look no further than Sun Mountain Lodge.