Things to do in North Cascades National Park Near Concrete, WA
Get out on foot, bike, boat or car to discover the recreational opportunities and things to do in North Cascades National Park and the surrounding area. Drive the gorgeous Mountain Loop Highway which leads through stunning landscapes. Grab your binoculars and head to Rasar State Park to look for eagles, or discover the diverse plants and animals of the ancient forests nearby. From swimming in clear lakes to driving roads leading through beautiful countryside, you’ll find plenty to do for people of all ages and abilities in and around Concrete, Washington.
Explore Concrete, Washington and North Cascades Recreation:
Parks & Lakes
Rasar State Park (pictured below) is a 169 acre park in Concrete, WA that has a playground, and 4,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Skagit River. Eagle watching is best in early fall and winter. Website
Rockport State Park is a 670 acre park in an ancient forest which contains old growth that has never been logged, leaving the entire ecosystem in place. Located in this park is the David Douglas Historical Marker. David Douglas, a horticulturalist, discovered the Douglas fir in 1825. (8 miles east of Concrete). Website
Howard Miller Steelhead Park in nearby Rockport is right on the Skagit River. There are many recreational activities along the river include fishing, river rafting, biking, hiking, history, and wildlife viewing. Website
Silo Park had a new addition added in 2022, the Spray Pad! It’s been a fun addition to the park and a destination for kids in Concrete. Bring your friends & family, a picnic lunch and have some fun! Where shoes please! Open 9am-7pm daily.
Baker Lake features camping, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking and pack and saddle trips. Developed campgrounds are located on the western side of the lake. Website
Lake Shannon is a long, narrow reservoir on the Baker River which was formed in the 1920s by the construction of the dam. The Lake Shannon Boat ramp and new Day-Use Park offers guests a large picnic shelter with picnic tables and grills. Sidewalks and trails feature native restoration landscaping. The park is open from 7am-9pm daily April 15th – October 31st. It is closed to drive-in traffic November 1st – April 14th annually. (pictured at left and below). Website
Mountain Loop Scenic Byway
This scenic byway loops through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest providing access to Boulder River, Henry M. Jackson and Concrete Peak Wilderness areas plus hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Length: 27 miles; Time: 40 minutes. Website
North Cascades National Park & North Cascades Highway
There’s lots of things to do in North Cascades National Park! The North Cascades National Park Complex offers excellent opportunities for adventure, exploration, learning, and having fun! Drive 30 miles across the park on the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), and experience the old growth forests, cascading waterfalls, and mountain scenery of North Cascades. Allow at least an hour to drive this stunning winding road. Add more time for stops along the way, including the Visitor’s Centers for more info on visiting the park and things to do.
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Experience old growth forests, scenic byways, lookouts, the Pacific Crest Trail, wilderness areas (Boulder River, Henry M. Jackson and Concrete Peak Wilderness) and a national recreation area. Enjoy water activities in one of the lakes or rivers including fishing, river rafting, boating and swimming or go climbing, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, hunting, bird watching, OHV riding, snow skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Website
Hiking Trails
Here’s a list of the best loved trails within roughly an hour or less from Concrete. Click on the trail name for directions and more info from the Washington Trails Association.
- Gorge Lake Overlook: .53 miles, gain 70ft.
- Rasar State Park Hike: 3 miles, gain 20 ft.
- Northern State Ghost Town: 5 miles, gain 50 ft.
- Trail of the Cedars: 3 miles, gain 0 ft.
- Skagit River Loop Trail: 1.8 miles, gain 118 ft.
- Ladder Creek Falls: .5 miles, gain 359 ft.
- Rockport State Park Trail: 3 miles, gain 250 ft.
- Diobsud Creek: 4 miles, gain 440 ft.
- East Bank Baker Lake: 9 miles, gain 500 ft.
- Thunder Woods Nature Trail: 1.2 miles, gain 305 ft.
- Thunder Knob: 3.6 miles, gain 635
- Thunder Creek: 12 miles, gain 1300 ft.
- Diablo Lake Hike: 7.6 miles, gain 1400 ft.
- Newhalem Creek: 9 miles, gain 800 ft.
- Ross Dam Trail: 1.6 miles, gain 500 ft.
- Stetattle Creek: 6 miles, gain 1100 ft.
- Pyramid Lake Trail: 4.2 miles, gain 1500 ft.
- Happy Creek Nature Trail: 2.6 miles, gain 570 ft.
- Fourth of July Pass via Panther Creek: 11.5 miles, gain 2000 ft.
- Fourth of July Pass via Thunder Creek: 11.2 miles, gain 2400 ft.
- Rocky Creek: 3.4 miles, gain 4000 ft.
- Oakes Peak Snowshoe: 18 miles, gain 5000 ft.
- Cow Heaven: 9.6 miles, gain 4040 ft.
- Anderson Butte: 3 miles, gain 1000 ft.
- Sauk Mountain Trail: 4.3 miles, gain 1200 ft.
- Sauk Mountain Snowshoe: 11 miles, gain 3500 ft.
- Lookout Mountain Lookout: 9.4 miles, gain 4500 ft.
- Monogram Lake: 9.8 miles, gain 4675 ft.
- Thorton Lakes & Trappers Peak: 9.7 miles, gain 3789 ft.
- Sourdough Mountain:10.4 miles, gain 4870 ft.
- Desolation Peak: 9.4 miles, gain 4400 ft.
- Hidden Lake Lookout: 8 miles, gain 3300 ft.
- Ruby Mountain: 17 miles, gain 6300 ft.
- Eldorado Peak: 10 miles, gain 6716
- Cascade Trail: 22.5 miles (one-way), gain 60 ft.
- Skagit-Sauk Reach Trail: 8 miles.
- Newhalem Rock Shelter Trail: .6 miles, gain 68 ft.
There’s so much more to see and do!
In addition to the recreational opportunities above, be sure to visit the Recreation Category of our chamber business directory. There’s several recreation outfitters who will help make your time in the North Cascades extra special. Concrete also features several “top site” attractions such as Silo Park, Concrete Theatre and more.
Join our Mailing List!
Subscribe to our Email Newsletter to stay in the know of all things Concrete WA. You can also follow us on Facebook!