Scenery greater than Switzerland: that’s how activists described this majestic region when first pushing for a North Cascades National Park in 1892. It finally became a national park in 1968, but remains one of the least visited national parks in the country.

The park sits on 500,000 acres of land in the Cascade Range, near the border between Washington State and Canada, and the inspiring view of Lake Chelan in front of snow-capped mountains certainly exudes a Swiss vibe that’s worth the visit itself.

Highway 20 is the only road through the park, cutting it into north and south sections along the Skagit River. The most most popular attractions sit along this route but it’s well worth adventuring beyond the paved road.