Loading...

WINTER SALE! 50% OFF Supporter Accounts — now through January 31st. Learn More.

Diablo Lake Overlook

The Diablo Lake Overlook at North Cascades National Park near Diablo, Washington is an easy, universally-accessible 0.2-mile out-and-back walk that features panoramic views of turquoise waters and alpine mountains.

Explore the Diablo Lake Overlook

This short and easy walk is one of North Cascades National Park most-popular destinations for tourists and hikers alike. If you plan to visit the park, this overlook is a must-have on your bucket list. Starting on the east end of the overlook, you'll extend your walk a bit by exploring the "lesser" views of Diablo Lake first. While the views from the eastern end of the overlook are a bit less stunning than the westerly views, within just feet from the parking lot you'll be hit with views of turquoise water and alpine peaks that tower overhead. At the end of the eastern section, you'll find an obstructed view upstream of the Skagit River where its flow is blocked by the Ross Lake Dam.

After exploring the eastern views, a walk to the western half of the Diablo Lake Overlook provides visitors with the best views of the lake, Davis Peak, and the alpine mountains that surround the Colonial Glacier. Slowly walk along the path to take in different perspectives and panoramic views of the turquoise water and its surrounding mountains. Located to the southwest are views of the alpine peaks that surround the Colonial Glacier, however, the glacier might be blanketed by clouds if you show up on a cloudy day.

Restrooms

Visitors will find restrooms at the parking lot, located south of the main path. The restrooms might be pit toilets.

Parking & Fees

Visitors will find a very large parking lot at the coordinates provided, located along the North Cascades Highway. The lot is large enough to fit several dozens of vehicles as of June 2025. As of June 2025, there are no fees to enter North Cascades National Park, making it one of the few national parks that does not require an entrance fee.

Pets

Dogs are allowed only if leashed and must be cleaned up after.
Explore 17 trails near Diablo, WA

Know Before You Go

  • Diablo Lake Overlook is an easily accessible, 0.2-mile trail offering panoramic views of turquoise waters and alpine mountains in North Cascades National Park.
  • The overlook is divided into eastern and western sections, with the western side providing the most stunning views of Diablo Lake, Davis Peak, and the Colonial Glacier.
  • Visitors can enjoy free access to the park, ample parking, and restroom facilities, but should keep dogs leashed and clean up after them.
Interactive topographic map for Diablo Lake Overlook located in Diablo, WA. Click the "View Map" button to load GPS coordinates and trail markers.
Get directions
Distance
0.2 mi
Difficulty
Easy
Type
Out-and-Back
Est. Time
6 min
Elev. Gain
3'
Rating
5.0
Added
June 19, 2025
Updated
July 09, 2025

Weather Forecast

Overnight
Low 39°F
Mostly Cloudy
Friday
High 41°F
Rain
Friday Night
Low 38°F
Chance Light Rain
Saturday
High 44°F
Light Rain Likely
Saturday Night
Low 38°F
Light Rain Likely
Sunday
High 41°F
Light Rain
Sunday Night
Low 37°F
Rain And Snow
Monday
High 40°F
Rain And Snow
Monday Night
Low 36°F
Chance Rain And Snow
Tuesday
High 46°F
Partly Sunny
Tuesday Night
Low 38°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wednesday
High 49°F
Mostly Sunny
Wednesday Night
Low 37°F
Partly Cloudy
Thursday
High 50°F
Mostly Sunny
Loading...
Total Change
3'
Ascent
3'
Descent
3'
Loading...

Download the GPX Data for Offline Use

Supporters get exclusive access to download trail routes to the MyHikes app for offline use. Stay prepared on your adventure, even without an internet connection! Become a Supporter today to unlock this feature and hike with confidence.

Download Diablo Lake Overlook GPX Data to the MyHikes Mobile App

Features

Vista / Lookout Point
Dogs

Points of interest

  1. Parking

    48.710332, -121.095433
  2. Main Trailhead

    48.71021, -121.096244
  3. View of Diablo Lake from the eastern side of the overlook

    48.710336, -121.096358
    View of Diablo Lake from the eastern side of the overlook
  4. View / Overlook / Vista

    48.710453, -121.096306
    View / Overlook / Vista

Safety information

For your own safety: plan ahead, let someone know where you'll be, and hike at your own risk.

Hazards

Rockfalls, Ledges, or Scrambles

Availability

All seasons

Surface type

Universal Access

Trip Reports (Reviews)

Rated 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating.

Ready to help fellow hikers? Add a trip report to share your experience and provide valuable insights for other hikers!

0.2 miles / 0.3 km
June 19, 2025
Hiking
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

Popular categories

Scenic mountain view representing vista trails
Vista trails
Scenic gorge of cascades representing waterfall trails
Waterfall hikes
Rugged mountain terrain representing summit trails
Summit trails
Scenic mountain view representing dog-friendly trails
Dog-friendly
Scenic campsite with a view representing camping trails
Camping trails
Appalachian Trail logo representing A.T. hikes
A.T. hikes

You May Also Like

Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road - Discover the breathtaking beauty of Glacier National Park along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. From stunning roadside stops to picturesque waterfalls and vistas, this engineering marvel offers endless opportunities for exploration.
Explore

Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Glacier National Park along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. From stunning roadside stops to picturesque waterfalls and vistas, this engineering marvel offers endless opportunities for exploration.

Read
Colorado's Million Dollar Highway - Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.
Explore

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway

Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.

Read
🍪 We use cookies to learn about site usage and to serve map tiles. You may block cookies manually in the browser. By continuing you agree. Learn more