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The North Cascades have long been known as the North American Alps. Characterized
by rugged beauty, this steep mountain range is filled with jagged peaks,
deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and glaciers. North Cascades National
Park Service Complex contains the heart of this mountainous region in three
park units which are all managed as one and include North Cascades National
Park, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. Each area offers
different experiences and contains wilderness. Over 93% of the park complex
is managed as the Stephen T. Mather Wilderness, which was established by
Congress in 1988. The wilderness area was named in honor of the first director
of the National Park Service.
Long before North Cascades National Park Service Complex was established
in 1968, this area was a home. Not only to an astounding diversity of plants
and animals, it was the home to Native Americans and a trade gateway between
the Plateau tribes to the east and the Coast Salish tribes to the west for
over 8,000 years. More recent settlers came in the nineteenth century to
establish homesteads in places like the Stehekin Valley, or to mine elusive
minerals – like gold, or to trap furbearing animals such as the beaver,
otter, and marten. Now it is preserved as a national park for all to enjoy.
Please explore this website to learn more about the history, natural
resources, and visitor services offered here at North Cascades. We look
forward to welcoming you!
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