North Cascades Environmental Learning Center

Azzam Alqudsi

2019-05

Had a 3 day visit there and noticed that the staffs were nice, the cook were great, and places the trail goes were amazing. The amazing color of the Diablo Lake was an amazing sight to see, emerald green. Loved the waterfall. Had a unique interaction with some of the wildlife in here, like that hybrid deer. Overall this place is great for learning, adventure, photos, and even more.

John G

2020-05

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!

Katie Foote

2019-05

Had a 4 day physics conference here. Wonderful classrooms and staff. Unbeatable location by Diablo Lake and some trailheads. Really delicious local and organic food. Coffee fit for snobs. Pretty soundproof dorms. Great experience!

Yijing Yin

2023-08

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Mark Foltz

2022-05

Wonderful resource offering delicious food, lodging and educational programs for kids and adults. Also can use as a base camp to explore the North Cascades. Highly recommend!

Susan Chan

2021-05

Stayed for 3 days 2 nights . We had a 5 star stay and enjoyed the tasty meal 3 times a day - a delightful change after over a year of cooking in. It is the perfect setting to introduce our 2 year old to the North Cascades National Park and the peaks we have skied and climbed. Perfect location right on the lake Diablo , with a view of pyramid peak , ruby mountain, and colonial peak. We got spring snow overnight and couldn’t be happier to enjoy the surrounding in the comfort of the facilities with our little one. We look forward to returning when the rest of the facility is fully reopened after COVID.

Steve Lewis

2023-07

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Pola Kelley

2017-05

I have had the pleasure of attending two retreats at the North Cascade Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake. The staff is excellent, the cooks wonderful and the food fresh and tasty, the four bunk room may take you back to your childhood camp days, but there is something fun about that. Last time rowed as part of an 18 man crew up Diablo Lake nearly to Ross Dam, what a trek, what a view, great canoe. To say Diablo Lake is a reservoir is like saving a diamond is a hunk of carbon. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere. The jade color will blow your mind and those at the center will certainly tell you why its that color. Go, enjoy, and come back refreshed.

Cindy Marzolf

2017-05

Base Camp is a great program. Wonderful place to stay in the North Cascades National Park itself. The campus is quite lovely, and the food is amazing! Wonderful setting, plenty of great trails, lots of nice places to hang out and relax and watch the stars/wildlife/sunset/read a book and relax. The lodges are very nice, immaculately clean and shoes-off. There were 6 or 7 rooms in mine (Fir Lodge) and gender-specific bathrooms. The bathroom had 2 toilet stalls, 2 sinks, and 2 showers, so going during peak season might mean a wait. The rooms each have their own climate control and windows that open to let in that fresh mountain air and hear the wildlife. The beds were comfortable and the room had everything I needed.The buildings are all fully green-built and eco-friendly; but they aren't quiet. There was constant noise of some sort from the buildings' systems, so I never had the pure quiet of the wilderness, where the only sounds I hear are the wind in the trees and the sounds of nature and wildlife. That was disappointing. As well, inside the buildings, as mentioned in another review, is not quiet. Use the earplugs the Center so thoughtfully provides. The walls are paper-thin and you hear your neighbors snoring, coughing, etc. as well as every single time a door opens and shuts (as they're spring-loaded and close with a bang) and every time the bathroom door opens and shuts, the hand dryers in the bathroom, the toilets flushing. And I was there with all adults, all of whom were quiet.The food is pretty incredible! The first night we had a salad bar with many delicious, organic, and local vegetables, a number of toppings and dressings, as well as jasmine rice and beef with peppers and onions (there were also vegan and vegetarian entrees available). Dessert was bread pudding with a plum topping -- delicious. There were a number of organic loose-leaf teas, bagged teas, coffee, and water to drink. Everything was so fresh and scrumptious. Breakfast the next morning was equally impressive: fresh blueberries and Grek yogurt, scrambled dairy-free eggs, an egg, cheese, and vegetable scramble, roasted potatoes, sausages, and gluten-free oatmeal with a variety of toppings: raisins, dates, brown sugar, fruits. Everything was delectable.Some stuff they don't tell you, but I wish they had because it's very useful to know: the parking lot is quite a ways from the Center, and all uphill with lots of steep stairs. However, once you check in, you can drive up from the parking lot and temporarily park by the office to bring your gear up to your lodge, then drive back down and park your car in the parking lot for the duration of your stay.There are also carts for wheeling your gear to/from your lodge to your car! I did not know this until I saw a neighbor with a cart upon check-out, loading up their gear. The carts are by the office, and there is an ADA-friendly trail with no stairs that leads from the office to the lodges. I sure wish I had known about the carts and the wheelchair-accessible trail when I was unloading my gear and carting it up to the lodge! Would have helped a ton.Lastly, if you have any questions, ASK. I found that the staff and students in residence seemed to assume everyone had been there before and/or magically knew everything by osmosis, so didn't need to tell us. Customer service doesn't really exist; they don't seem to care. Would have saved a lot of time and frustration if I had asked some questions about things I didn't know, as it was my first visit. For example, there was a sign on the gate that said check-in was in the dining hall; I went to the (empty) dining hall, and a student told me no, check-in is in the office. Also, I received incorrect information from one of the employees as to where and what time orientation was, almost causing me to miss my trip. Again, the employees didn't seem to care. Environmental learning and customer service are not mutually exclusive.

Scott Henderson

2020-05

Fall stewardship weekend was incredibly rewarding. The facilities at ELC are amazing. The food - mostly locally sourced within 125 miles - was very, very good. Lots of trails, views everywhere and helping out a little was a great way to spend a damp and none too warm Fall weekend.

Q Wolfert

2020-05

Beautiful location. Excellent facilities.Had put a low rating because the kitchen staff have a temper straight outta hell. There were several times they lost their temper and snapped at our group. Very uncomfortable and inconsiderateWe got stuck off site one evening and came rushing back. We ran in 2 minutes after dinner had closed and they took the food away in front of us and refused to feed our group of 40+. It didn't matter at all that we had paid for it. We tried to negotiate but there was no humanity behind those eyes.Otherwise the place is paradise.UPDATE: Also note that the owner is actively responding to 5 star ratings but has made no attempt to contact me about the problematic experience my group endured. Other owners I have dealt with tend to have the opposite approach, they do their best to fix problems.

Rodgie W Parker

2022-05

I attended a Wilderness EMT-Basic Recertification Course. Everything was planned and executed with the opportunity to see one, do one, and teach one. The ELC was the best way to get hands on training. We were able to train inside and go outside to plan and execute the training. This is a Great learning environment and beautiful location for the training. Every meal was delicious and filling, the accommodations were conducive to learning. Good study hall areas and large class rooms. I would like to visit this site again to just enjoy the sites and environment. Respectfully, RWP, SFC, RET 2009

Xiphon Roundy

2017-05

A lovely place to have a conference. The food was delicious and the staff was nice, but the walls in the dorms were very thin, which was a problem if there was anyone talking in the next room over.

Matthew Ferrell

2019-05

This place is amazing. It's quite, beautiful and relaxing. The facilities and staff are top notch and the food in incredible. Would absolutely recommend for any retreat, class or getaway.

Alisha Tsuda

2022-05

I had so much fun being on the tour. It was very informative and such a beautiful place with so much history. It was very peaceful there. I highly recommend it.

Joe Tobiason (Wedding photographer)

2020-05

An incredible place. Just beautiful, humble, and exactly what you need.

Jong Lee

2022-05

We stayed one night - great facilities although expensive. One building doesn’t have a common area.

Kevin Choy

2017-05

Great staff, facilities crystal clear emerald waters and what a great relaxing educational family weekend should be!

Rajiv JAMMULAPATI

2020-05

Great place, staff and food. Miles the Chef is the best in the NC park!

Joanne DeMark

2016-05

Peaceful, reflective, good nature walks, nice facilities, good healthy food.

Niko Manos

2016-05

Excellent food in the woods.

Julio Reischoffer

2015-05

Great and quiet environment!

John Wilson

2014-05

Great facility!!!

Smart Paren

2018-05

Beautiful lake