Ouzel Lake in North Cascades National Park, Washington state

© Ethan Welt

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

You’ve heard of Yosemite and Yellowstone, but here’s a lesser-known destination to add to your south-of-the-border national park bucket list. North Cascades National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary today. Located about 160 kilometres northeast of Seattle, and stretching up to the Canadian border, it’s not nearly as busy as the big-named parks, and that can be a good thing. Here you’ll find the most extensive system of glaciers in the lower 48 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?