Gorge Overlook Trail

The Gorge Overlook Trail at North Cascades National Park near Newhalem, Washington is an easy, semi-universally-accessible trail that features waterfalls and beautiful views of Gorge Lake's turquoise waters.

Universal Access

Please note that this trail is paved and universally-accessible from the trailhead until mile Gorge Dam Overlook at mile 0.25. From the Gorge Dam Overlook, the trail follows a dirt path along a more difficult grade.

Explore the Gorge Overlook Trail

This short hike begins along the south side of the North Cascades Highway, just west of Gorge Creek. Visitors will find the trailhead on the southeast side of the parking lot where a universally-accessible pathway follows the paved Gorge Overlook Trail as it follows along the super steep canyon of Gorge Creek.

Waterfall Overlook - Mile 0.08

Just down the trail from the trailhead sits a short spur path that leads to an overlook of a waterfall that cascades into Gorge Creek. This unnamed waterfall (not Gorge Creek Falls) can be appreciated from the trail as it plummets approximately 100-feet or more into the water below.

Gorge Lake View - Mile 0.13

Following the paved trail south from the waterfall overlook sits an east-facing view through the trees of the turquoise waters of Gorge Lake, where Gorge Creek converges just out of view. This is the first view of the lake from the trail and due to the crowded evergreens that fill-in the steep gorge slopes, it's more of a window view.

Gorge Dam Overlook - Mile 0.25

Further down the trail sits the Gorge Dam Overlook, near mile 0.25, where you'll find the best views of Gorge Lake's turquoise waters. You'll also have a nice views of the super-steep mountains that surround Gorge Lake in addition to distant views of snowfields that feed it. Just below your feet, however, sits the Gorge Dam which is used to generate hydroelectric power. This hydroelectric power is sent all over the state of Washington, including many areas in and around Seattle. If you can only walk universally-accessible trails, then you'll want to walk back to parking at the Gorge Dam Overlook. Otherwise, you can continue following the trail for a more secluded walk.

Moss-covered Forest - Mile 0.25 to 0.5

After passing the Gorge Dam Overlook, you'll leave the smoothed, paved surface of the universally-accessible portion of the trail and you'll start to follow a more rugged (but easy) walk to reach parking by following the loop. This section of the Gorge Overlook Trail is by far the most secluded. When we hiked this, almost every single visitor stayed on the paved section and walked back to parking and we were the only people (out of dozens) to follow the dirt path back. This seclusion was well-worth it as the moss-covered forest floor and bedrock cliffs that line the trail made for beautiful scenery with no people around. On the north side of the loop, near mile 0.43 sits a moss-covered cliff that lines the trail and makes for a fun spot to take photos. Wrap up the trail at mile 0.5 where it ends on the west side of the parking lot.

Explore Gorge Creek Falls

After exploring this trail, you should consider walking across the bridge to enjoy views of the ~390-foot tall Gorge Creek Falls.

Parking & Fees

Visitors will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided, on the south side of North Cascades Highway just west of Gorge Creek. The lot is large enough to fit a few dozen 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.

Warning

Steep cliffs: This trail follows alongside steep terrain with sheer, dangerous drop-offs with unstable slopes. Stay on-trail at all times for your safety.