We've made it to the entrance of our 45th of the 51 National Parks in the Lower 48 States.
OUR NATIONAL PARK CHALLENGE: TO VISIT ALL 51 NATIONAL PARKS LOCATED IN THE LOWER 48 STATES
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THURSDAY - This morning our batteries are down to 60% and we weren't going to get any sun on our panels sitting here in this campsite, so we did the only prudent thing we could do, we packed up and left.
By 9:00AM we were on the road with only about an hour and a half to get to our next campsite where we can't check-in until 2:00PM. That means once again we're going to need to spend several hours somewhere between here and there, preferably with some sun exposure.
We lucked out! With just 32-miles to go we spotted this beautiful roadside park.
That 8-hour time limit is just fine with us, we only need to spend about 3-hours here.
We have solar exposure and adequate cell phone reception, what more could we ask for!
The 150-mile long Skagit River flows from British Columbia in Canada into the Puget Sound.
There are some beautiful views from this little FREE roadside park.
Let me zoom in a little, in case you missed that in the last photo! Those are the North Cascade Mountains, where we are headed for the next 8-days.
Just a few miles further up the road and we were entering our 45th visited National Park in the Lower 48 States.
This time it's the North Cascades National Park in Washington state. With just short of 47,000 visitors last year, it's the second least visited National Park in the Lower 48 States. Only Isle Royale National Park in Michigan had fewer visitors with just over 29,000.
The park is home to over 300 lakes, as well as over 300 glaciers, the highest concentration of glaciers anywhere in the country outside of Alaska, even more than in Glacier National Park.
Once inside of the park, State Route 20 began traveling through a couple of tunnels.
The tunnels were very short in length.
The second one was even shorter.
Even with all the tree coverage, we have between 40-60% success with our Starlink connection.
SATURDAY - We are spending our Fourth of July Holiday going out sightseeing.
We are concentrating our morning hours checking out everything within 32-miles east of our campsite, along the North Cascades Scenic Highway (i.e. State Route 20). The National Park only extends about 10-miles east and then you'll find yourself inside of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
This entire region of Washington state is managed by the Federal Government as public land, either by the National Park Service or the United States Forest Service.
NORTH CASCADES SCENIC HIGHWAY (STATE ROUTE 20 - EAST OF OUR CURRENT CAMPSITE)
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Our first stop was just 1.5-miles east of the campground.
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At 9:20AM there were still a few low hanging clouds over the lake.
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At the far end of the lake, you can just make out the Diablo Dam that created it.
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Still at the overlook you can see quite a few of the glaciers that are located here.
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Zooming in may help you see them.
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This sign informs you that your leaving the National Park and entering the National Forest.
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Today we'll be leaving the campground at around 1400' elevation and traveling up to...
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...the Washington Pass at around 5500' of elevation.
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Along the way, everywhere you looked, there were glaciers and snowcapped mountains.
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Just a short 30-minutes later we were pulling off the Scenic Highway...
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...and driving the half mile up to the Washington Pass Overlook.
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From the overlook you could see the pass between the mountains and US-20 far below.
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Those peaks you see are called the Early Winter Spires. The North Peak is at 7760' and the South Peak is at 7807' of elevation.
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These two peaks may not compare to Mount Rainer (14,411') or Mount Baker (10,779'), but they are the highest in our travels today.
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We're back on State Route 20 and heading back home now.
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That bowl filled with snow up there appears to be another one of the many glaciers here.
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The 60MPH speed limit doesn't fare well with trying to sightsee along the route.
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The closer we get that bowl looks more like a crater from a volcano, and probably is.
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Right on the edge of the road we watched as these two waterfalls combined into one.
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We are back inside of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area now.
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Ross Lake extends 23-miles north/south from State Route 20 to just inside of British Columbia.
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Ross Lake is the result of the Ross Dam on the Skagit River. There are two others dams along the river which we'll see later.
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The .3-mile long Happy Creek Forest Walk seemed like just the place to stretch our legs.
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One whole side of the loop trail follows along what else, Happy Creek.
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The elevated boardwalk flowed through the forest without disturbing a single tree.
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We just had to make another stop at the Diablo Lake Overlook before going to lunch.
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With the clouds a little higher in the sky there was more sun which made the lake even bluer.
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The final bend in the road before we reach the campground.
After our morning sightseeing was complete, we took a break and stopped by THE POD to eat lunch. We've got some more sightseeing planned for this afternoon that will take us 7-miles west of the campground on the North Cascades Scenic Highway.
By 1:30PM we were back on the road and headed for our first destination.
NORTH CASCADES SCENIC HIGHWAY (STATE ROUTE 20 - WEST OF OUR CURRENT CAMPSITE)
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At the Gorge Overlook Trail we walked back out onto the road and saw the Gorge Creek Falls.
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From the noisy pedestrian bridge we took this side-view video of Gorge Creek Falls.
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As a bonus, just 50-yards further up the road was another, much smaller waterfall.
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No name on this one, but it too goes under the road and empties into Gorge Creek.
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Just on the edge of the parking lot is a trail that leads to two overlooks.
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The first overlook has a view of the Skagit River that is upstream of the dam.
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From the second overlook you can see the Gorge Dam down below.
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Walking back from the second overlook was an asphalt trail through the woods.
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It had cliffs on the left and the river on the right.
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Between the first overlook and the parking lot the trail is wheelchair accessible.
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Our next stop was the Diablo Dam which creates the beautiful Diablo Lake.
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This dam permits you to drive to the other side to take a tour boat to the Ross Lake Resort.
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The dam is only 1.5-lanes wide so no passing is permitted, unless you're a motorcycle.
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Heading back over the dam now. At least there's no one waiting to cross this time.
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Sightseeing is done and it's time to head home and think about what's for dinner.
SUNDAY - Late this morning we made the decision to forego our final night here at Colonial Creek South Campground due to our batteries once again being down to less than 30% SOC. It's not that we couldn't make it through another night here, but our next 6-nights also don't have any electric hookups.
Without knowing if any of those locations would allow us to obtain decent solar charging, we've elected to spend 1-night in a private RV Resort (I don't even like that word, Resort) with full hookups (water/electric/sewer) for $60, instead of the $12 we're paying here, just to top off our batteries in preparation for our future plans.
An unmentioned bonus is they should also have "unlimited hot water showers" there for our enjoyment.
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
Our first stop was just 1.5-miles east of the campground.
At 9:20AM there were still a few low hanging clouds over the lake.
At the far end of the lake, you can just make out the Diablo Dam that created it.
Still at the overlook you can see quite a few of the glaciers that are located here.
Zooming in may help you see them.
This sign informs you that your leaving the National Park and entering the National Forest.
Today we'll be leaving the campground at around 1400' elevation and traveling up to...
...the Washington Pass at around 5500' of elevation.
Along the way, everywhere you looked, there were glaciers and snowcapped mountains.
Just a short 30-minutes later we were pulling off the Scenic Highway...
...and driving the half mile up to the Washington Pass Overlook.
From the overlook you could see the pass between the mountains and US-20 far below.
Those peaks you see are called the Early Winter Spires.
These two peaks may not compare to Mount Rainer (14,411') or Mount Baker (10,779'),
We're back on State Route 20 and heading back home now.
That bowl filled with snow up there appears to be another one of the many glaciers here.
The 60MPH speed limit doesn't fare well with trying to sightsee along the route.
The closer we get that bowl looks more like a crater from a volcano, and probably is.
We are back inside of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area now.
Ross Lake extends 23-miles north/south from State Route 20 to just inside of British Columbia.
Ross Lake is the result of the Ross Dam on the Skagit River.
The .3-mile long Happy Creek Forest Walk seemed like just the place to stretch our legs.
The elevated boardwalk flowed through the forest without disturbing a single tree.
We just had to make another stop at the Diablo Lake Overlook before going to lunch.
With the clouds a little higher in the sky there was more sun which made the lake even bluer.
The final bend in the road before we reach the campground.
At the Gorge Overlook Trail we walked back out onto the road and saw the Gorge Creek Falls.
As a bonus, just 50-yards further up the road was another, much smaller waterfall.
Just on the edge of the parking lot is a trail that leads to two overlooks.
The first overlook has a view of the Skagit River that is upstream of the dam.
From the second overlook you can see the Gorge Dam down below.
Walking back from the second overlook was an asphalt trail through the woods.
It had cliffs on the left and the river on the right.
Between the first overlook and the parking lot the trail is wheelchair accessible.
Our next stop was the Diablo Dam which creates the beautiful Diablo Lake.
This dam permits you to drive to the other side to take a tour boat to the Ross Lake Resort.
The dam is only 1.5-lanes wide so no passing is permitted, unless you're a motorcycle.
Heading back over the dam now. At least there's no one waiting to cross this time.
Sightseeing is done and it's time to head home and think about what's for dinner.
