Park comparison
Olympic vs North Cascades
Washington's famous park and its wild neighbor that most travelers have never heard of.
Olympic is the famous one: rainforest, wild coast, and glaciated peaks spread across long drives, with big summer crowds. North Cascades is the quiet one: jagged alpine peaks, turquoise reservoirs, and a fraction of the visitors, with fewer services. Pick Olympic for the variety, North Cascades for the solitude.
Side by side
| Olympic | North Cascades | |
|---|---|---|
| Best time to go | Jul–Sep | Jul–Sep |
| Crowds | Busiest in July and August | Busiest in July through September |
| Landscape | Coast | Mountain |
| Established | 1938 | 1968 |
| Location | Washington | Washington |
Month by month
Questions
Which is better, Olympic or North Cascades?
Neither is objectively better. Olympic is the famous one: rainforest, wild coast, and glaciated peaks spread across long drives, with big summer crowds. North Cascades is the quiet one: jagged alpine peaks, turquoise reservoirs, and a fraction of the visitors, with fewer services. Pick Olympic for the variety, North Cascades for the solitude.
Can you visit Olympic and North Cascades in one trip?
Yes, and you should. They're about 165 miles apart, an easy pairing.
When is the best time to visit both Olympic and North Cascades?
Look for the overlap: Olympic is best Jul–Sep and North Cascades is best Jul–Sep. The sweet spot for both is June through October.
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