Skip Diablo Lake Trail: Hike These Instead

I have a hot take: Diablo Lake Trail in North Cascades National Park is overrated. Not Diablo Lake itself, just the 7-mile hiking trail that runs beside it. I wish someone told me to skip this trail and hike another one instead before I went, but you live and learn, right?! So that’s why I’m writing this blog post for y’all.

In this guide, I’m going to tell you why the Diablo Lake Trail in North Cascades National Park is overrated and what trails you should hike instead. The trails on this list feature jewel-colored water, jagged peaks, and glacier-fed waterfalls!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!

NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE

Before diving in, here are a few highlights for planning a trip to North Cascades National Park.

Getting There: The closest major airport to North Cascades is Seattle-Tacoma International. Find affordable flights here.
Entrance Fee: FREE. Some forest trailheads (like Maple Pass) cost $$$ so bring your America the Beautiful Pass for those.
Where to Stay: Camp in the park or stay at Ross Lake Resort, a hike/boat-in resort and campground.
How to Get Around: You’ll need to rent a personal vehicle to get around the North Cascades National Park complex.
Best Time to Visit: July – October
How Long to Visit: 3-5 days

Table of Contents

Why Diablo Lake Trail Is Overrated

hiking the diablo lake trail in washington

The trail views are subpar.

Looking at the trail on a map, it seems the Diablo Lake Trail would have epic views. Since it follows Diablo Lake fairly closely throughout the entire trail, I figured we’d have constant, unobstructed views of the sparkling turquoise waters.

But that wasn’t the case!

The trees block the view of the water throughout most of the trail. So instead of constantly seeing the bright blue waters, we were given brief glimpses now and then.

As we hiked, I thought the trees would open up and reveal the water, but they never really did – not entirely, and not consistently, anyway.

PRO TIP: If you’re going to hike this trail, I’d recommend only going until you reach the ridge. These are the best views on the entire trail.

It’s steep – with little reward.

The trail starts at Diablo Lake, ascends the ridge, and drops to Ross Lake. With about 1,500 feet of elevation gain in just 3.5 miles, the trail is pretty steep.

Don’t get me wrong; I love a steep, challenging trail. However, there wasn’t a huge reward on this one like there is with other trails in the North Cascades National Park complex. So if you are short on time, I’d recommend saving your steps for another hike.

The parking lot and trail are usually crowded.

The parking area on Diablo Dam Road is a very popular day-use area, so it fills up quickly. The Diablo Lake Trail was quite crowded when we hiked it.

If you’re in the area and don’t mind the crowds, consider parking in the lot and spending the day at the nearby rocky beach instead! Just off the Diable Lake trailhead parking area is a beautiful stretch of Diablo Lake, perfect for swimming, paddling, sunbathing, etc.

Skip Diablo Lake Trail: Hike These Instead

mountain peaks and trees on the thunder knob trail

Okay, the part you’ve all been waiting for! Here are four great alternatives to hiking the Diablo Lake Trail in the North Cascades National Park complex.

Maple Pass

Maple Pass is one of those quintessential trails that everyone must hike in the North Cascades. This epic trail that twists through wildflower-laced meadows, snowcapped peaks, shimmering lakes, and picturesque glaciers will satisfy your every hiking desire.

lake ann on maple pass loop — Lake Ann off the Maple Pass Loop

As you meander through the picture-perfect valleys, you’ll be surrounded by jagged peaks that rival the Alps, jewel-colored alpine lakes, and sky-high fir and spruce forests. You won’t want to miss this hike of a lifetime!

maple pass loop hike north cascades washington

hiking the maple pass loop in north cascades national park

From the trailhead, the forest opens quickly, and as soon as it does, prepare for your jaw to hit the floor. And just wait: the views get better and better as you climb to Heather Pass, and finally, Maple Pass.

READ NEXT: Maple Pass Trail Guide

Rainy Lake

Rainy Lake Trail shares the same trailhead as Maple Pass Loop, making it convenient to tackle both. Since Rainy Lake is much easier and shorter than Maple Pass, this is a perfect warm-up or cool-down hike before/after you conquer Maple Pass.

rainy lake in north cascades national park washington

Rainy Lake is an easy 2-mile out & back trail that ends at a sparkling alpine lake. Even in the middle of summer, this lake is freezing cold! A dip in this frigid body of water backdropped by frosty peaks is exactly what you’ll need to soothe those sore, post-Maple-Pass-hike muscles.

Keep your eyes peeled for massive waterfalls tumbling off the peaks and into the lake! (There are several of them in the photo above!)

Ladder Creek Falls

The Ladder Creek Falls Trail not only offers striking views of the turquoise Skagit River but boasts a picturesque boulder-choked creek dotted with spectacular waterfalls.

This 0.5-mile loop is located near the Gorge Powerhouse. You’ll cross a fun swinging, suspension bridge that spans the Skagit River. This is where you can stop and soak in the river views before retreating under the woodland canopy. Then enjoy exploring the falls and endless rapids of the glacier-fed Ladder Creek.

Thunder Knob

If you’re looking for a hiking trail with better views of Diablo Lake than the Diablo Lake Trail, look no further than Thunder Knob!

Not only are the viewpoints at the end wildly scenic, but the entire hike is great! You’ll hike through a boulder field, a picturesque creek, a forest backdropped by jagged peaks, and the beautiful turquoise waters of Diablo Lake.

The trail deadends at Diablo Lake, and there are plenty of spots to sit, munch on snacks, and draw in the incredible views. If the trees block your view of the lake and surrounding peaks, keep wandering around; plenty of spots have unobstructed views of the turquoise water! Like this epic viewpoint below.

hiking the thunder knob trail in north cascades national park

Summary

So should you hike the Diablo Lake Trail? The Diablo Lake hike could be worth it for you if:

You have extra time on your itinerary, and you don’t know how to fill it.
You don’t mind crowds.
You live in the area.

If any of those things apply to you, by all means, go for it! But if you want a superior hike, consider hiking one of the other trails on this list first!