North Cascades Environmental Learning Center

The north cascades national park is great for camping! As part of our camping trip we decided to do the boat tour that takes our around the dams and you get to learn about the history of the area. You're on the boat for about an hour.
Did you know that about 20% of the electricity in Seattle comes from these dams?
We were able to book a tour for the day after, but I recommended calling in advance as they also have the morning tour which includes lunch and seems to book much faster. We did that one a couple of years ago.
There several hike trails, we did the one that ends by the water falls which was fairly easy.
There are black bears around but we didn't run into any.
There is also access to the water if you like to kayak or float.
Oh and near the visitor center they have WiFi!

My friend threw her wedding here this past weekend and oh my! The scenery, the green/blue Lake Diablo and the giant forest and trees were so so beautiful! You can canoe and there are trails you can hike within the learning center. We stayed in the lodges - 4 bunk beds each room and they were clean as were the bathrooms, though a bit pricey at ~$260/night for each room. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and full of jokes (i.e. porcas). The dining room served some delicious locally sources (within 150 miles) food and the facility was well maintained and cared for, including the outdoor areas and trails inside the learning center. Such a nice relaxing environment with some beautiful natural views. You can see all the stars on the dock and there is no cell phone reception but pretty good wifi within the facility. Definitely worth a trip just for the views and to see this amazing pristine lake.

I have attended a great many programs with the North Cascades Institute over the past ten years. Each program was richly rewarding - whether hiking on the beautiful trails in the North Cascades National Park, canoeing on Ross Lake nearby, climbing the surrounding mountains or attending lectures or programs at the Institute's beautiful Environmental Learning Center.

This is a beautiful spot, with magnificent views of glaciers from the Diablo Lake lakefront. Every meal has been nourishing, delicious, fresh, local. The instructional programs are inspiring, with a strong focus on the culture and the natural history of the area - and they are fun. The accommodations are very comfortable, and accommodate all ages and mobilities. The drive to the Environmental Learning Center on State Route 20, whether from the East or from the West, offers magnificent views on a well-maintained highway.

The Institute offers programs from early spring to late fall - check their website for up to date program offerings.

Great facility! The sustainability focus of the institute is great. Really enjoyed the great local food served.

Experienced a conference at the Center and everything was amazing - staff, facilities, and FOOD!!! I've never had food that was so delicious AND environmentally friendly. As the director of an environmental center in Arizona, I have had many chances to visit other facilities and programs, and none has compared to NCELC.

Searching for the perfect base camp for backcountry adventures in Washington's North Cascades (aka American Alps aka most heavily glaciated area in the lower 48)? I had the chance to visit North Cascades Institute's Environmental Learning Center located on the shores of Diablo Lake this summer - their college campus like setting comes complete with lodging, meals, library, store and learning programs. the nicest place you'll find in the area west of Mazama, WA. The campus which opened in 2005 features 16 NW styled buildings (think REI, contemporary NW ski lodges) above the north shore of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. Facilities include overnight lodging for up to 92 participants plus housing for graduate students and staff, a lakeside dining hall (serving up 3 hearty buffet style meals made daily from locally farmed ingredients), multimedia classrooms, a research library and aquatic and terrestrial labs, an amphitheater, outdoor learning shelters and trails leading into the surrounding wildlands and a dock on Diablo Lake for paddling adventures. Guest rooms are located in three lodges, each with shared gender-specific bathrooms with showers. Guest rooms contain four twin beds in a double bunkbed configuration, desk, cabinets, locker (bring your own lock or purchase one at the store). Guests can bring their own bedding and towels or rent them for $10 extra. Walls are thin so they provide ear plugs. During our stay, noise wasn't a problem but those ear plugs might come in handy during a "Family Getaway" program when there are babies or toddlers. Overnight accommodations are for paid registrants only- no pets or unregistered guests. The room and board pricing includes a learning program and varies according to the program and sleeping arrangements - but pricing begins at $95 for a single shared room or double, $160; triple, $195; quad $230 - i.e. $58 per person per night for lodging, meals and program if sharing 4 to a room. A private single room is $125. There're no additional taxes or fees (nice surprise). The library and dining hall are open 24/7 and the dining hall offers tea, coffee, fruit all day. The campus street lights go out at 11pm so bring a light to get around. I signed up with my family (3 generations) for the "Base Camp" program about Mountain Ecosystems. Since we attended during the week, there were only 3 other registered groups there who opted to do their own thing rather than participate in the program so we had the programs to ourselves. The programs are led by Western Washington U's graduate students in Environmental Studies or the like. Each day, there was a morning, afternoon and evening program. The shuttle bus took us to trailheads where we hiked, learned about forestry, fauna, etc. and to tour local sites like the dam, powerhouse, waterfalls, etc. The field guides always had reference materials and were eager to teach, answer questions. On our last day, we signed up for the Skagit boat tour of Diablo Lake guided by a National Park Ranger - the tour fee includes lunch at the Center ($30.00 adults $15.00 youth 12 & under $27.00 seniors 62 & older).

Pictures and more info here: http://thesnowtroopers.com/2012/north-cascades-institute-wa-best-base-camp/

Been meaning to write this for a bit. Special thanks to all those at the institute who helped with my daughter's wedding this September. I was continually surprised with how helpful the staff were with our every need, and their patience with our requests. I was especially impressed at how Calvin kept everything running smoothly, somehow being everywhere all the time and not only responding to, but also consistently anticipating people's needs. This place is a beautiful setting for a wedding and reception, with a useful mix of indoor and outdoor facilities. The group canoe trip was a real treat, with the right mix of play and learning, and matching of the trip to people's skill levels. The food was well above my expectations, with lots of little touches added to the meals to make them more interesting and delicious. The staff went above and beyond what they needed to do in helping with decorating for the reception, making it look extra special. People were quite surprised at how nice the lodging was, considering the lodges serve mostly as a camp. It is amazing to me how successfully they can convert a place from a kid's camp into a place for an elegant occasion overnight. The great & creative service, combined with the beautiful location made for a wonderful place to have a wedding.

Such a great facility, even in the middle of winter. I attended for a work conference and we stayed nice and warm despite the single digit temps. The dorms were clean and quiet. The staff was incredibly friendly and always accommodating, even the busy grad students running around were always willing to stop and answer a question. Justin and the kitchen staff were excellent. The food had a story and they made sure to tell it. I loved the variety of soups every day. Delicious! There's a great short snowshoe to a waterfall that's lovely in the winter too.

We spent two days in the Base Camp Program in September. We loved being able to stay within the North Cascades National Park's boundaries. Diablo Lake is a gorgeous location. Naturalist activities were great but we still had the afternoons to do our own activities and explorations. We especially liked canoeing and guided hiking. The farm to table food was delicious! There is no better place to stay if you want to be immersed in the North Cascades!

My husband and I stayed 2 nights at Base Camp in August and we can't wait to go back next summer. The setting, of course, is stunning but it's the staff, their programs, the accommodations and the food that really set it apart in my mind. People of all ages (4-92 when we were there!) enjoyed the staff led activities/talks and could interact as much or as little as they liked during meals and free time in the afternoon and evenings. For people, like me, who love the outdoors but don't love to camp this is the perfect situation. Beautiful surroundings, clean comfortable lodges to stay in, absolutely delicious food, plus expert and enthusiastic staff make for a magical experience.