Get out and explore on foot! Because the landscape and environment change so radically every 100 miles or so along the byway, hikers love vacationing here and taking in a whole bunch of wildly differing hikes. Walk along beaches on Whidbey Island, through tulip and daffodil fields in the Skagit Valley, along alpine ridge lines in the North Cascades National Park, or simply through some of the most scenic, mountain territory you'll find in the Cascade Mountains of Stevens Pass and the Leavenworth area. There is a LOT of diversity in the type of hikes as well as level of difficulty. Some hikes may be mild, requiring a modest level of fitness and/or technical skill, whereas full-on mountaineering-level expeditions are accessible as well.

If you plan to hike or camp, chances are you’ll need a pass of some kind. We wish it were easier to determine which pass you need, but to be honest, we know it’s still confusing. That said, we’ll try our best to help guide you. Permits 

Important Note: Hiking during the COVID-19 outbreak brings its own challenges. Please read through our Pandemic Hiking Guide to help you keep yourself and others safe during this trying time.

• 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!
• Download Highway 20 Hikes and Sites Map - Map of Hikes and Sights along Highway 20. Includes featured trailheads, visitor centers, scenic stops, picnic areas and restrooms, and denotes land ownership, for necessary permitting. Project partners include the Cascade Loop, The Wilderness Society, North Cascades Institute, North Cascades National Park, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, REI Guidepost, Seattle City Light, Washington Trails Association.
• North Cascades National Park - “The North Cascades are Calling!” Less than three hours from Seattle, an alpine landscape beckons. Discover communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east. Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys. Witness a landscape sensitive to the Earth’s changing climate. Help steward the ecological heart of the Cascades.
• Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest - One of the most visited forests in the country, located on the west side of the Cascade Mountain Range.
• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is a large and diverse area, encompassing over 4-million acres along the east slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range.
• The Mountaineers - The Mountaineers are a community built around passion for the outdoors. For over 100 years, they have been teaching skills, sharing adventures, creating volunteers, and conserving land.
• Washington Trails Association - WTA is the voice for hikers in Washington state. They believe hiking trails are our link to wilderness. They protect hiking trails and wild lands, take volunteers out to maintain trails, and promote hiking as a healthy, fun way to explore the outdoors.
• Wenatchee Outdoors - Promote human-powered outdoor adventure sports at the local level for the health, lifestyle, conservation and economic benefits of these activities. They highlight the outdoor world using a content-rich website to help residents and visitors alike to explore, appreciate, care for, and conserve their backyard outdoor places and resources.