Gorge Overlook Trail - North Cascades National Park

The trailhead for the Gorge Overlook Trail is near mile 123.4 on the south side of the North Cascades Highway (Washington Route 20). Paved parking for about two dozen vehicles is available as well as a vault toilet. An accessible, paved trail zig-zags up a short incline to provide a view of an unnamed waterfall flowing into Gorge Creek. The paved trail continues a short distance to a couple of views of Gorge Lake before turning downstream to another overlook about 0.2 miles from the parking lot. Beyond the last overlook, the trail is a gravel surface that is not ADA compliant. From the second overlook back to the parking lot via the gravel trail is about 1600 feet. We hiked the complete loop during our September 2022 visit to North Cascades National Park.

Gorge High Dam from North Cascades Highway pullout at mile 122.9

A closer view

Trailhead interpretive display

Typical trail conditions for the accessible part of the trail

Waterfall flowing into Gorge Creek

My daughter taking in the view from the first overlook

Gorge Lake

Second overlook

Interpretive sign

Another view of Gorge Lake

Obstructed view of Gorge High Dam from the last overlook

Typical trail conditions beyond the pavement

Trailside boulder

Lots of trees

Switchback

Larger trailside rocks

Was a section of this rock removed to create the trail?

Returning to the parking lot

There is no entrance fee at North Cascades National Park.

The North Cascades National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm.