The sound of the river and richness of the forests, along with the proximity to the Visitor Center and some easier hikes, combine to make Newhalem a convenient stopping point for me as I crossed the North Cascades. It's located along the Western side of the park, so I made sure to stop as I drove East to West, checking out the sites, stops, and hikes that are more "in" the mountains.

The site was roomy, felt private, and led me easily to the trail behind it. Some of the walk-in sites I saw as I took the trail looked really nice: close to the glacier-blue river and slotted into densely forested pockets.

I spent the morning taking trails that criss-cross the campground, leading along the river, up the Visitor Center, and back to the historical "town" of Newhalem.