3 Best Sights in North Cascades National Park, Washington

It's a 3½-mile bike ride or shuttle bus ride to popular Rainbow Falls in Stehekin. The quarter-mile round-trip Rainbow Falls Mist Trail takes you up some stairs (step carefully; it can get slippery from dampness) to a landing platform for a closer view of the 312-foot falls. When the sun hits the mist just right, you can see the rainbow—hence the name.

Dating from 1889, this restored pioneer farm includes an apple orchard, farmhouse, barn, and many ranch buildings. You can pick up a self-guided tour booklet from the drop box. Feel free to enjoy apples from the trees in season. A harvest festival is held in October. The site may not be too accessible in winter if there's a lot of snow. 

Maps and concise displays at this visitor center explain the layered ecology of the valley, which encompasses virtually every ecosystem in the Northwest. Rangers offer guidance on hiking, camping, and other activities and arrange bike tours. The center also has an arts-and-crafts gallery and audiovisual and children's programs. Campers can pick up free backcountry permits. Note that access to Stehekin is by boat or trail only.