Thunder Creek [Neve Camp]

My jaw dropped open when my ten year old agreed to go overnight backpacking with me. No major negotiating was required (he stipulated only one night and not “far”), screen-free time with my kid, surrounded by nature – win, win, win. I knew this would be a make-or-break kind of trip, where complete misery would result in him never agreeing to go with me again, so I chose a campsite ~2 miles in from the trailhead, with a mild hike in – Thunder Creek, with an overnight at Neve camp.

North Cascades National Park is one of my favorite places to explore in Washington – the drive is beautiful on its own. After picking up our backcountry permit at the Wilderness Center in Marblemount (learn more about planning a backcountry trip to the North Cascades here), we stopped for lunch at the Upriver Grill. Both our burgers were delish and the outdoor patio and art on the walls made for a great vibe. Their business hours were a bit of a mystery – we walked up after 10am to a sign that said their hours that day were 7:30ish to 9:30ish, but they were closed. We were about to drive away when someone came to unlock the front door, so it worked out for us.

We made it to the camp location and found a site with views of the rushing water below us. The campsite had a fire pit with plenty of seating and wasn’t too far from the water source and pit toilet (glorious description, I know). We didn’t see any wildlife outside of hearing the birds and seeing what may have been a teeny hedgehog.

We had a calm, uneventful sleep and enjoyed breakfast before packing up camp. The hike out was easy and we treated ourselves to shakes from Moe’s in Darrington, which is my fave coffee spot on the way home (I got the Peanut Butter Moe). Then we grubbed on burgers at Nutty’s Junk Yard, which was a fun spot. We ended the day with “this was fun, can we do this once a month?”, and I’m taking that win.

If you’re looking for a beautiful hike with some options for distance, Thunder Creek is a great choice. There are several campgrounds to choose from, as well as several local lakes you can visit after your hike.