Best Time to Visit North Cascades National Park
Best time to visit North Cascades National Park: July and August. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit North Cascades National Park
Go in July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, November and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in North Cascades National Park month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21° | 10° | 10,0 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| February | 20° | 7° | 8,0 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| March | 25° | 12° | 11,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| April | 31° | 17° | 4,0 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| May | 38° | 23° | 3,0 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| June | 46° | 30° | 3,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 57° | 38° | 1,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 58° | 39° | 2,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 51° | 34° | 2,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| October | 36° | 23° | 8,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| November | 24° | 14° | 11,5 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| December | 22° | 13° | 17,2 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Polar. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How North Cascades National Park compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against North Cascades National Park.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deception Pass State Park | 67 mi | 51°F | +54°F warmer | 42 in |
| Gastown | 89 mi | 51°F | +55°F warmer | 72 in |
| Vancouver | 90 mi | 51°F | +55°F warmer | 72 in |
| Vancouver International Airport | 90 mi | 52°F | +55°F warmer | 72 in |
| Stanley Park | 91 mi | 51°F | +55°F warmer | 72 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, November and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
North Cascades National Park is a national park in Washington. North Cascades National Park is a US national park known for alpine glaciers and turquoise lakes.
Right now it is 39°F (4°C) in North Cascades National Park with clear. It feels like 34°F. Today runs from 37°F to 42°F. Chance of precipitation is 63%. Sightseeing conditions score 6.3/10 - fair - plan around the weather.
The best time to visit North Cascades National Park is July and August. The climate is polar. January, November and December tend to be the least comfortable months. August is the warmest month with average highs near 58°F, while February is the coldest with lows near 7°F.
The closest major airport is Vancouver International Airport (YVR), about 90 mi away. Nearby highlights include Deception Pass State Park, Stanley Park, Space Needle and Garibaldi Provincial Park.
In plain terms. Today is much colder than average for August. The forecast high of 42°F is 16.2°F below the 58°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 3 PM to 6 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. running is the strongest bet in North Cascades National Park today at 8.1/10. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in North Cascades National Park right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 1:02 PM, Aug 24 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌦️ 42° / 37°
Drizzle · 63% rain · wind 11 mph
☁️ 45° / 31°
Overcast · 38% rain · wind 4 mph
Things to do in North Cascades National Park
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around North Cascades National Park.
Quick facts about North Cascades National Park
| Type | National park |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 48°46′18.5″N 121°17′54.6″W (48.7718, -121.2985) |
| Established | 1968 |
| Known for | alpine glaciers and turquoise lakes |
| Local time | 1:02 PM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | July and August |
| Climate | Polar |
Explore North Cascades National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is North Cascades National Park?
North Cascades National Park is a national park in Washington. Its coordinates are 48.7718, -121.2985. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in North Cascades National Park right now?
It is currently 39°F (4°C) with clear. Humidity is 77% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit North Cascades National Park?
July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in North Cascades National Park, which has a polar climate. January, November and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is North Cascades National Park in?
North Cascades National Park observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 1:02 PM.
What is the nearest airport to North Cascades National Park?
The closest airports are Vancouver International Airport (YVR), 90 mi away, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), 103 mi away and Portland International Airport (PDX), 228 mi away.
What are the top things to do in North Cascades National Park?
Popular options include Deception Pass State Park, Stanley Park, Space Needle, Garibaldi Provincial Park, Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (national-parks) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 24, 2026 at 1:02 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
