North Cascades br he says it feels like br coming home to roost br br North Cascades br insects shrill to the br pulsating night sky br br North Cascades' night br crystal shrills of insects br and sparkling stars br br Often referred to as 'America's Alps, ' North Cascades is home to 318 glaciers,248 lakes, hundreds of waterfalls, and extensive old-growth forests. And it's only a three-hour drive from Seattle into the heart of this remarkable range, packed with rocky pinnacles and wide alpine valleys cut by broad, roaring rivers. With 400 miles of trails, this relatively deserted wilderness is an oversized playground for outdoors lovers and a haven for those seeking mind-clearing solitude. Hike through serene meadows carpeted with glacier lilies, paintbrush, lupine, and scores of other wildflowers in bloom through August.