The North Cascades Institute, a non-profit educational institution working cooperatively with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, offers adult seminars and environmental education programs for children in and around the North Cascades. San Juan Island National Historic Park Mount Rainier National Park Olympic National Park Mount St. Helens National Monument Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve Okanogan National Forest. The Pacific Crest Trail, stretching from Mexico to Canada, passes through the area. Wenatchee National Forest Chelan Ranger District 428 W. Woodin Ave. Regularly scheduled programs during the summer range from talks and demonstrations at the visitor centers, to guided hikes, children's programs, and evening presentations in the campgrounds.
Topics span a wide range of natural and cultural history.
The park complex has many wayside exhibits, museum exhibits at both visitor centers, and five self-guiding interpretive trails. It is located off state Route 20 near the town of Newhalem, in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. The Golden West Gallery in the visitor center at Stehekin features a new exhibit of locally and regionally produced arts and crafts related to the experience of people in the North Cascades every three weeks during the summer. The park maintains 386 miles of trails throughout the North Cascades Complex. The trails vary in degree of difficulty and access.