Ouzel Lake in North Cascades National Park, Washington state, USA

© Ethan Welt

Hidden gem of Washington turns 50. North Cascades National Park at 50

North Cascades National Park in the US state of Washington celebrates its 50th anniversary today. Located about 100 miles north-east of Seattle, and stretching up to the Canadian border, it’s not nearly as busy as the big-named parks in the country, and that can be a good thing. Here you’ll find the most extensive system of glaciers in the contiguous United States – more than 300. It’s the glaciers that lend a lovely turquoise hue to freshwater lakes, like Ouzel Lake on today’s homepage. The 500,000-acre park also boasts spectacular wildlife, alpine forests and waterfalls. See you there?