The last thing any diehard road tripper wants to do is get stuck sitting in the car for hours on end. The whole point of taking a road trip isn't just to see pretty scenery from the car--it's to get out and explore! Whether your thing is touring historic barns, hiking epic ridgelines or photographing wildlife, the Cascade Loop has got a LOT to keep you busy!
Need to Know Info
Know Which Permits/Passes to Take
Most State and Federally operated public lands (parks, trails, forests, wildlife preserves, etc.) will require that you purchase and display the correct permit or pass during your visit. To determine which permits or passes you need, consider if the land says it is State or Federal/National.
Know How to Follow The Rules
Hiking is just like most every other activity or sport—there are unwritten rules that when followed, make the experience much more fun for everyone. And likewise, when not followed, can either drive people crazy or in the worst case scenario, be dangerous. Because we’re in the business of inviting folks from all over the world to come and join us on the trail we figure we would be remiss if we didn’t give folks a few pointers. Take a moment to review Hiking Etiquette before you hit the trails!
"Osprey are some of the largest and most common birds of prey in our region. We see them regularly along all our big rivers and other large bodies of water, and we probably even take them for granted sometimes, but now is the time to enjoy them because they are all about to head south for the winter. Right now, watch for groups of Osprey on nesting platforms and power pole structures. These groups are one to several full grown juveniles with one or both of their parents. The juveniles… Read More >>>>
Many of us see these big, colorful, and raucous finches in winter at our seed feeders, but because the Methow and Okanogan valleys and the surrounding mountains have high elevation mature conifers like Ponderosa Pine and Engelmann spruce, we are lucky to be able to see these birds year-round though we are at the southern end of their breeding range. Read More >>>>
Spotted Sandpipers are "shorebirds" that are common just about all over Washington. Here in Okanogan County, we see (and hear!) them along rivers and streams though they could also be found in gravel pits, farm ponds and other wetlands. These birds are still active in July - listen for their piercing high-pitched alarm call along rivers warning you to stay back. They do this because they make nests directly on the ground, in the river cobbles, typically within 100 yards of the water's edge. The nest is just a little… Read More >>>>
