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U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2940

Pubs Warehouse

### Prepared in cooperation with Washington State Division of Geology and Earth Resources, U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service

# Geologic Map of the North Cascade Range, Washington

#### By Ralph A. Haugerud and Rowland W. Tabor

| Introduction
The North Cascade Range, commonly referred to as the North Cascades, is the northern part of the Cascade Range that stretches from northern California into British Columbia, where it merges with the Coast Mountains of British Columbia at the Fraser River. The North Cascades are generally characterized by exposure of plutonic and metamorphic rocks in contrast to the volcanic terrain to the south. The rocks of the North Cascades are more resistant to erosion, display greater relief, and show evidence of more pronounced uplift and recent glaciation. Although the total length of the North Cascade Range, extending north from Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, is about 200 mi (320 km), this compilation map at 1:200,000 scale covers only that part (~150 mi) in the United States. The compilation map is derived mostly from eight 1:100,000-scale quadrangle maps that include all of the North Cascade Range in Washington and a bit of the mostly volcanic part of the Cascade Range to the south (fig. 1, sheet 2). Overall, the area represented by this compilation is about 12,740 mi2 (33,000 km2).

   The superb alpine scenery of the North Cascade Range and its proximity to major population centers has led to designation of much of the area for recreational use or wilderness preservation. A major part of the map area is in North Cascade National Park. Other restricted use areas are the Alpine Lakes, Boulder River, Clearwater, Glacier Peak, Henry M. Jackson, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Mount Baker, Noisy-Diobsud, Norse Peak, and Pasayten Wildernesses and the Mount Baker, Lake Chelan, and Ross Lake National Recreation Areas. The valleys traversed by Washington State Highway 20 east of Ross Lake are preserved as North Cascades Scenic Highway.

The map area is traversed by three major highways: U.S. Interstate 90, crossing Snoqualmie Pass; Washington State Highway 2, crossing Stevens Pass; and Washington State Highway 20, crossing Washington Pass. Major secondary roads, as well as a network of U.S. Forest Service roads and a few private roads mainly used for logging, are restricted mostly to the flanks of the range. Although much of the mountainous core is inaccessible to automobiles, numerous trails serve the foot or horse traveler. | Last modified October 15, 2010 First posted September 29, 2009
     Files for plotting and viewing-  **Sheet 1** PDF  (31.5 MB) 
-  **Sheet 2** PDF  (6.8 MB) 
-  **Pamphlet, technical** PDF  (1 MB) 
-  **Pamphlet, nontechnical** PDF  (1 MB) 
-  **Photo presentation** .  Over 100 photos of the geology and landscape of the North Cascades are available with this report.    The photos can be viewed three ways:  --linked to their location as shown on a simplified map  --linked to the Correlation of Map Units diagram  --Linked to geologic unit label, in alphabetical order.    A few photos are presented with multiple captions that emphasize different geologic map units. The date of photography is given for some photos in which temporal changes in the extent of snow cover may be of interest. 
     Digital database for GIS-  **Readme** .txt file  (12 kB) 
-  **Metadata** .txt file , Text-format, FGDC-style (32 kB) 
-  **Metadata** .xml file , XML-format, FGDC-style (28 kB) 
-  **Digital database package** .zip file  (77-MB file that expands to a 441-MB folder) 
- This report is also available in print from:    USGS Information Services, Box 25286,   Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225  telephone: 888 ASK-USGS; e-mail:  infoservices@usgs.gov 

**For additional information:**Contact Information, Western Region Geology and Geophysics Science Center—Seattle, WashingtonU.S. Geological SurveyDept. Earth & Space SciencesUniversity of Washington, Box 351310Seattle, WA 98195-1310http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/

Part of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. |
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### Suggested citation:

Haugerud, Ralph A., and Tabor, Rowland W., 2009, Geologic map of the North Cascade Range, Washington:  U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2940, 2 sheets, scale 1:200,000; 2 pamphlets, 29 p. and 23 p. 

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### Contents

Introduction

Geology of the North Cascade Range

Description of map units

References cited

Glossary of geologic terminology

two plates

photograph presentation

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U.S. Department of the Interior |		U.S. Geological Survey		URL: *http://    pubsdata.usgs.gov    /pubs/sim/2940/index.html*		Page Contact Information: USGS Publications Team		Page Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Dec-2016 17:17:12 EST