North Cascades
Jagged pinnacles, expansive snowfields, sweeping glacial bowls, deep ice-carved valleys, alpine meadows, evergreen forests, wildlife, waterfalls, mountain lakes, and wild rivers-all distinguish this vast wilderness region. The scenic North Cascades Highway winds past the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, through the historic town of Winthrop, and close by the popular Lake Chelan resort area. The bustling port city of Bellingham is the urban threshold to snow-capped Mt. Baker, the North Cascades' youngest slumbering volcano.  Photo -Robert Chrestensen