Happy Creek Forest Walk

The Happy Creek Forest Walk at North Cascades National Park near Diablo, Washington is an easy, universally-accessible 0.3-mile loop trail that features small waterfalls within a peaceful woodland setting.

Explore the Happy Creek Forest Walk

This very short trail begins at the main parking area and follows a boardwalk through the northern half of the loop. Along the way, you'll find a fern and moss-filled forest with very few visitors around. The trail meets a junction with the Happy Creek Falls Trail near mile 0.14 before it circles back as it runs along Happy Creek. Near the junction are small cascades in the crystal-clear turquoise-hued waters of Happy Creek. Further down the trail is a small lookout platform that sits above another beautiful waterfall within the creek, which is only a couple of feet tall but spills into a scenic pool of turquoise-tinted water. The trail wraps up back at the trailhead for an easy 0.3-mile, universally-accessible walk.

Parking

Visitors will find a small parking lot at the coordinates provided, located on the south side of the North Cascades Highway. The lot is large enough to fit about a dozen vehicles, if not slightly more than a dozen, 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.