I am a firm believer that without connecting with nature we cannot truly connect with ourselves. For 100 years the National Park Service has provided people with the opportunity to experience the outdoors in some of America's most beautiful areas. We are all familiar with the "famous" parks such as Yellowstone National Park and Zion National Park. However, tucked away in the Northwest corner of the country is a severely underrated place known as North Cascades National Park. A trip here is a must for any summer bucket list and here's why:

1. No Park Entry Fee

Unlike many of our nation's national parks, North Cascades National Park does not have a park entrance fee. Which means that there is no cost to explore this amazing place. Other national parks such as Yellowstone charge around 30 dollars for a non-commercial vehicle to access the park. For the broke college students or the money-conscious penny pincher, North Cascades National Park is the ideal getaway.

2. Close to Other Attractions

Although the park is reason enough to travel to the west coast, for those who may be visiting the region for other reasons, the park offers the perfect day trip. It is located a mere three hours from Seattle and only about an hour away from the Pacific Ocean.

3. Abundant Wildlife

There are more than 75 mammal species located in the park including endangered species such as the grizzly bear and Canadian Lynx. The park is also home to cougars, mule deer, river otters, mountain goats and the elusive wolverine. Bird watchers will be thrilled to see bald eagles, thrushes, hummingbirds and various raptors soaring in the skies. North Cascades National Park not only has abundant wildlife on land and in the air but its mountain lakes and rivers are home to salmon and various species of trout.

4. Breathtaking Mountain Views

Geologists argue over the specifics of the mountain formations in North Cascades national Park, but there can be no arguing that the park offers some of the most dramatic and breathtaking mountain views in the Northwest. Many of the park's deep valleys and jagged rock formations were carved by glaciers.

5. Relatively Few Visitors

In comparison to other national parks, North Cascades National Park is relatively secret which means no lines, traffic jams or people crowding your pictures! It is not uncommon to drive through the entire park and only see a handful of other vehicles. This allows you to enjoy the serenity of the park without the disturbance of people.

6. Amazing Hikes

North Cascades National Park offers hiking trails for experts and amateurs alike. The park includes over 40-day hikes as well as countless overnight trips. The famous Pacific Crest Trail also runs straight through the park.

It is clear that North Cascades National Park is severely underrated. This beautiful place offers great views, chances to see wildlife and so much more. So get out there, reconnect with nature and enjoy our national parks!

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers but as fountains of life.”
― John Muir, Our National Parks