While not the most famous national park, the North Cascades stands out among them. Known as the "American Alps," It has the largest glacial system in the lower 48 contiguous US, with over 300 glaciers. NCNP has more plant species in its boundaries than any other national park in America. It contains four of the ten tallest waterfalls in the US including Hawaii and Alaska. NCNP is the second least visited national park but has the highest death rate, simply because it attracts rock climbers.
Historical Milestones
1872 Yellowstone becomes the first national park in the US
1891 Forest Reserve Act establishes the Washington Forest Reserve, two years after Washington became the 42nd state.
1905 US Forest Service established.
1916 National Park Service established
1931 The Whatcom Primitive Area established by the USFS.
1937 FDR appointed a study of the North Cascades which ultimately determined that the area would "outrank in its scenic, recreational and wildlife values any existing national park and any other possibility for such a park in the United States". However, local economic interests again prevented the creation of a national park.
1940 the US Fish & Wildlife Service established
1946 the Bureau of Land Management was established.
1957 North Cascades Conservation Council (NC3) founded by Patrick Goldsworthy, Polly Dyer, Phillip and Laura Zalesky, partially in response to a plan to log the Agnes Creek valley.
1960 Under pressure from the NC3, the NFS created the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area , but boundaries were drawn to keep valleys open to logging. 1964 After 60 drafts over 8 years, the Wilderness Act became law establishing the highest category of protected public land allowing the most minimal human imprint.
1963 the NC3 proposes a 1,308,186 acre North Cascades national park.
1965 a two-year federal study of the North Cascades was completed, recommending a 700,000 acre National Park
1967, Senators Henry M. Jackson and Warren G. Magnuson introduced Senate Bill 1321, proposing a 570,000 acre national park, the Ross Lake National Recreation area of 100,000 acres, and the Pasayten Wilderness. The bill was the subject of heated debate that year.
1968 North Cascades National Park established when the above bill was signed into law by President Lynden Johnson. Since then, several dam sites had been successfully excluded from the NCNP boundaries for Seattle City Light.
1984 President Reagan signed the Washington Wilderness Act, adding 1,031,758 acres to the wilderness system.
1988 President Reagan signed the Washington Parks Wilderness Act, declaring 93 percent of North Cascades National Park Complex a wilderness, enforcing stricter conservation measures.
2025 the North Cascades Park Complex is composed of a national park (505,000 acres) made up of northern and southern units; Ross Lake National Recreation Area (117,000 acres between the two units); and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (62,000 acres).
Photo: Patrick Goldsworthy, founder of the North Cascades Conservation Council (NC3) 1957
