Last Updated: June 20, 2026
From Olympic National Park, reaching Anacortes was a scenic journey — a ferry ride from Port Townsend across Puget Sound to Whidbey Island, then another half hour north to the RV park. We were in the front row of the ferry with a sweeping view of the Sound and the San Juan Islands beyond. Our goal was to meet up with family on Whidbey Island and then push east to explore North Cascades National Park.
Anacortes, Washington
It was the 4th of July, and Sandy was making the most of it — striking a full Statue of Liberty pose with a giant ice cream cone. The ice cream was excellent. Anacortes sits on Fidalgo Island and serves as the gateway to the San Juan Islands, with ferry service to Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, and beyond. The views of the San Juans and Vancouver Island from the island are genuinely gorgeous.
Anacortes has a wonderful public art tradition: Bill Williams, a local quadriplegic artist, has painted over 150 murals on wood panels displayed throughout the city, depicting scenes from Anacortes history and daily life. A self-guided mural walk map is available from the Chamber of Commerce — it’s one of the more unique and charming things to do in any small city we’ve visited.
We stayed at Pioneer Trails RV Resort in Anacortes — full hookups, decent wifi, and a narrow gap in the trees that allowed us to pick up satellite. Jake had a field day watching bunnies and squirrels work through their territories.
We crossed Deception Pass — the dramatic tidal strait and bridge connecting Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island — to visit our longtime friends Lori, Bob, Kelly, and Nikki. They had just returned from a fishing trip in British Columbia and celebrated with us over a delicious fresh salmon dinner. We love their house on Whidbey.
La Conner Sips wine bar was on the water in the charming historic town of La Conner — a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla with a charcuterie board on their dog-friendly patio. Perfect afternoon.
Concrete & the North Cascades
From Anacortes we headed east on Highway 20 toward North Cascades National Park — one of the most dramatic and least-visited national parks in the lower 48. The North Cascades Highway climbs through the Skagit River valley, past turquoise glacial lakes, and over two high mountain passes into some of the most rugged terrain in the continental United States.
We stayed at the Concrete/Grandy Creek KOA — full service with a paid wifi plan. The setting in the Skagit River valley was beautiful, with mountains rising on every side. Our neighbors across the way provided daily entertainment of a decidedly unintentional variety. Not the best view we’ve ever had, but humorous.
Lunch and beers at Birdsview Brewing Company was a very welcome discovery — a small craft brewery with a big view of the Skagit River and the mountains. Exactly the kind of place you stumble into on a road trip and wish you’d planned to stay longer.
North Cascades National Park had snowcapped peaks at every turn. When we drove through Rainy Pass, it actually poured — fitting given the name. Washington Pass at 5,477 feet was stunning — dramatic granite spires rising directly above the highway in a landscape that looks more like the Swiss Alps than the American Northwest.
Kent, Washington
We stayed at the Seattle/Tacoma KOA in Kent. Sites were on the tight side, and a massive 800,000-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center loomed across the street — though our site was far enough from the road to keep noise manageable. Full hookups, but too many trees for satellite and internet was marginal.
Snoqualmie Falls is a 282-foot waterfall about 30 miles east of Seattle and one of Washington’s most iconic natural attractions, drawing approximately 1.5 million visitors a year. The paved trail from the upper overlook to the river below is dog-friendly, and the lower viewpoint puts you right at the base of the falls with the full force of the spray. The Salish Lodge perches dramatically at the top — familiar to any Twin Peaks fan as the Great Northern Hotel.
After the hike, we had excellent food and wine at Reds Wine Bar in Kent. The sommelier/manager was exceptional — he gave us a detailed list of his favorite Walla Walla wineries to visit when we passed through the area the following week. That kind of personal insider knowledge is exactly what makes a trip.
Visitor Information
North Cascades National Park: 810 WA-20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284; 360-854-7200; nps.gov/noca; $30/vehicle (America the Beautiful pass accepted). The North Cascades Highway (SR-20) is the primary access route — typically open late April through mid-November (closed in winter due to avalanche risk). Deception Pass State Park: 41229 WA-20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277; 360-675-3767; $10 Discover Pass required for parking. Walk across the bridge for vertiginous views of the tidal currents below. Pioneer Trails RV Resort (Anacortes): 7337 Miller Rd, Anacortes, WA 98221; pioneertrailsrv.com. Concrete/Grandy Creek KOA: 7370 WA-20, Concrete, WA 98237; koa.com. Birdsview Brewing Company: 30682 WA-20, Concrete, WA 98237. La Conner Sips: 107 S 1st St, La Conner, WA 98257. Seattle/Tacoma KOA (Kent): 5801 S 212th St, Kent, WA 98032; koa.com. Snoqualmie Falls: 6820 Railroad Ave SE, Snoqualmie, WA 98065; free to visit; Salish Lodge on-site for dining.
Practical Tips
North Cascades Highway (SR-20) is one of the great scenic drives in North America — but check conditions before driving, as it closes November through April due to avalanche risk. The Washington Pass Overlook (5,477 feet) is a mandatory stop for the view of Early Winters Spires and Liberty Bell Mountain. Diablo Lake Overlook on SR-20 is another unmissable stop — the glacially-fed turquoise color of the lake is extraordinary and best in late morning light. Deception Pass bridge walk is free and takes about 15 minutes round trip from the parking area — the tidal currents through the narrows below are spectacular. Snoqualmie Falls: arrive by 9am in summer as the upper parking lot fills quickly; the lower trail is 0.6 miles round trip with about 300 feet of elevation change. Anacortes murals: pick up the self-guided walking map from the Chamber of Commerce — there are over 150 panels scattered around the downtown and residential areas. San Juan Islands ferry departs from the Anacortes ferry terminal; advance reservations are strongly recommended in summer, especially for vehicles. La Conner is worth a half-day visit — charming waterfront town with galleries, restaurants, and tulip fields in spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes North Cascades National Park unique?
North Cascades National Park is one of the most rugged and least-visited national parks in the lower 48, protecting over 500,000 acres of jagged granite peaks, glaciated alpine terrain, and old-growth forest. It contains more glaciers than any other U.S. national park outside Alaska — approximately 300 named glaciers — and its peaks are among the most technically demanding climbing objectives in the country. The park is often called the “American Alps” for its resemblance to the European mountain landscape. Despite its dramatic scenery, it receives a fraction of the visitors that comparable parks like Glacier or Rainier do, making it one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest for those seeking a less-crowded wilderness experience. The North Cascades Highway (SR-20) traverses the southern portion of the park complex and is one of the most spectacular drives in the country, passing Diablo Lake, Rainy Pass (4,855 feet), and Washington Pass (5,477 feet).
What is Deception Pass and why is it called that?
Deception Pass is the narrow, turbulent tidal strait separating Fidalgo Island (where Anacortes sits) from Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. The name dates to 1792, when British explorer Captain George Vancouver thought Whidbey was a peninsula rather than an island — and felt “deceived” when he discovered it was in fact separated from the mainland by this passage. Today a dramatic bridge (built in 1935 by the CCC) spans the pass at 180 feet above the water, offering a vertiginous view of the tidal currents rushing through the narrows below. The surrounding Deception Pass State Park is Washington’s most visited state park, with beaches, forest trails, and views toward the San Juan Islands. Walking across the bridge is free and highly recommended.
How tall is Snoqualmie Falls and what is the best way to visit?
Snoqualmie Falls plunges 282 feet — about 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls — on the Snoqualmie River about 30 miles east of Seattle. It’s one of Washington State’s most visited natural attractions, drawing around 1.5 million visitors annually. The upper viewpoint is free and accessible from the parking lot with almost no walking. A paved 0.6-mile round-trip trail descends about 300 feet to a lower viewpoint at the base of the falls, where the spray and sound are immersive. The trail is dog-friendly. The historic Salish Lodge sits at the rim of the falls (it appeared as the Great Northern Hotel in the television series Twin Peaks) and has a highly regarded restaurant and spa. To avoid crowds, arrive before 9am or visit on a weekday. The falls run year-round but are most powerful in spring when snowmelt peaks.
What makes Anacortes a good base for exploring northwest Washington?
Anacortes sits on Fidalgo Island at the northern end of Puget Sound and functions as the gateway to three very different Pacific Northwest experiences. To the west, the Washington State Ferry terminal provides service to the San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Lopez Island) — some of the most scenic island cruising in the country. To the south across Deception Pass bridge is Whidbey Island — 55 miles long with beaches, farms, historic Coupeville, and Fort Casey. To the east, Highway 20 leads directly into the North Cascades — about 45 minutes to Concrete and roughly two hours to Washington Pass. Add La Conner (25 minutes south) and the RV infrastructure in Anacortes, and it’s one of the most strategically located bases in the Pacific Northwest for a road trip covering both coast and mountains.
