North Cascades National Park is approximately northeast of Seattle. Nearly all of the national park is protected as the Stephen Mather Wilderness and it is one of the premier wilderness parks in the lower-48 states. Unlike some national parks, there is no entrance fee at North Cascades, and hiking trailheads accessed by vehicle do not require a parking pass; trailheads on some national forest properties adjacent to the park may require a pass. Mount Shuksan, in the northwest corner of the park, is often photographed, and at is the second highest peak in the park.