It’s been a while since we’ve spent any time in a national park and this one is just what we wanted. National parks offer no hookups at any site – no water, electric, or sewer – but they make up for any lack in amenities by sticking these parks in some of the best scenery in the country with low camping prices (esp. for Golden Age Pass holders - $6/night).
We found a pull-thru site in Colonial Creek C/G that offered some sun, tho not enough to charge the solar panels sufficiently. We supplemented by using the generator several days for a while to help cook dinner, which worked out fine. 50°/ish was the nighttime low and we usually needed a light jacket by day. We had drizzles one day and a few spits of rain on another. Kinda windy some days, too. There’s water all around – fast water, little creeks, lakes, ponds. Our C/G is located on Diablo Lake, and glacial Thunder Creek flows into the lake. This is also hydroelectric dam country - three of ‘em trap the Skagit River to generate electricity: Gorge Dam, Diablo Dam and Ross Dam, all within roughly 15 miles and each with a teal or turquoise lake behind it. It took us 30 minutes to hike a steep trail down onto 540’ tall Ross Dam, peeked over the railing, got vertigo, and backpedaled from the edge! Then we had to hike back up (took longer than 30 minutes)! Spent one day touring the area by car and on foot from Newhalem where the Visitor Center is, up past Ross Dam. Couldn’t believe the number of waterfalls and impressive cascades. Quite a wonderful place!
Below are idyllic scenes from our (or near) campground.
Below are scenes from our Thunder Creek Trail hike.
Avowed tree hugger!
One more cascade!
Above and below: scenes from our Thunder Knob trail hike.
The area has an abundance of hiking trails, all close by. We put in some miles on several of them, nothing too strenuous, all of them mighty fine. Thunder Creek Trail follows the creek thru areas of forest the loggers missed, lucky for us … huge red cedars and Douglas firs, gorgeous trees – and everything so green and chock-full of ferns and flowers. Smells luscious! Enjoyed bird watching – forest birds, e.g., woodpeckers, Swainson’s and Varied thrush, and robins abound. (Robins? Yup, they’re like dandelions – they crop up everywhere!) Heard a barred owl one night, but never did see it. Very relaxing, super stay in North Cascades Nat’l Park.
Wow! We're definitely going to stop there on our way west. Looks like fun (and the price is right).
ReplyDelete