North Cascades Institute Skagit Tours- Day Tours
North Cascades Institute Skagit Tours- Day Tours
North Cascades Institute Skagit Tours- Day Tours
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North Cascades Institute Skagit Tours- Day Tours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
15 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
2
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Bob J
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Friends
North Cascades Institute is great. Tour was great great captain and crew. I did hear that there was no backup captain to pull the passenger boat to safety in an emergency this weekend due to poor management decisions. It was very windy. Wish i would have known that before I got on. Kudos to the crew operating under such pressure.
Written July 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hippely
Gilbert, AZ430 contributions
Aug 2019
Book your tour well ahead of when you want to go as the morning tours that include lunch fill up quickly in the summer. We ended up on an afternoon tour as the mornings were sold out on the days we could go. The lake and setting is stunning. The boat is clean and comfortable. There is some outside seating which was nice on a warm summer day. The information presented on the tour is interesting, though some of the presentation is a little cheesy. The actual boat ride is not all that long (a little over an hour), but the beautiful scenery on a lovely day was quite enjoyable.
Written August 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NurseNancy12
Green Valley, AZ144 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We took the afternoon boat tour and enjoyed it. Very informative talk by the North Cascades NP Ranger Amos and the Environmental Institute representative Billy. Boat ride was smooth and scenic and beautiful. Very much worth it.
Written July 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Daniel F
North Pole, Alaska, United States11 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
The drive across the dam was fun and gives one and excellent view of the lake from another perspective. We were just day tourists, so there was nothing at the institute for us except to walk around and look at it. The tours were not running the day we were there. I would recommend booking the boar tour or taking a course/workshop at the institute, otherwise there is really no reason to go there
Written August 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
normana53
Bothell, WA174 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
We decided to take one of the many courses offered by the Institute and were very pleased with the course, the setting, the food and the entire experience. Learning about Crows, Ravens, Magpies and Jays from two amazing experts was enjoyable, entertains and educational. We love the remote beauty and the smoke free and cell phone free campus. We plan to return for more educational opportunities. This is a great environment for families and learning!
Written June 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AAZ
Seattle, WA13 contributions
Sep 2016 • Family
We met at 10:45 outside of the dining hall, then walk a short distance to boat dock. The institute provides van shuttle for this very short walk. The boat is clean and comfortable. The guides are nice and knowledgable. The Diablo lake with deep emerald green water is gorgeous. We stopped during the tour and visited through one of the three dams. We came back before 1pm and the lunch is ready. Lunch included salad bar, turkey soup, lentil soup and Sheperd's pie, good comfort food.
Written September 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NancyLee D
Seattle4 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
We boarded the tour boat @11, and it was a gorgeous day to be on the water in the Cascades!!! The tour guides were VERY knowledgeable and made the trip very interesting. Several of us had questions, and these were answered efficiently. There were a few questions that even the tour guides wanted to know the answer, as they had never been posed before. It was a fun ride, and we were surprised how the time had flown by when the captain said we had to put a rush on it to get to lunch on time. Going with a purpose across the glass surface of the dam was fun. However, most of us would rather have stayed out on the lake and forgone the lunch. We arrived about 1:15 to a very warm eating area in the lodge. ( This area should have been opened up to catch the morning coolness and to let the breeze through, because the outside seating was insufficient for all to eat in a comfortable setting). The quality of the salad buffet was very good--too bad the dressings were spicy. Ranch Dressing is probably the top requested dressing all over, and they were out of it. Since this was a senior group many ate their salad without, as spicy and a 2.5 hour drive home is not desirable. Dry salad is not my idea of a good meal, no mater how fresh the ingredients are. Both soups were spicy--one was quite spicy, in fact. The main course was an unidentifiable chicken dishall mixed up as a casserole-type serving. They offered hot coffee, hot tea, and tepid water on a 90+ degree day. There should have been pitchers of iced water, but we had to ASK for ice to cool the water!!! The cookies were too hard, and who wanted to dunk them in water or hot coffee; however, we did hear on the bus going home that a few more cookies were put out, and those were not teeth breakers. $40 on a fixed income for this tour plus our transportation up and back is no small amount to shell out, and in this case, it wasn't worth it, in my opinion. Many of us were expecting the traditional "chicken dinner" that this tour is known for, but unfortunately it is no longer its signature.
Written August 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
John H
Saint Louis, MO16 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
My family (2 adults, and 12 & 14 yr old boys) stayed at North Cascades Institute for two nights as part of the Base Camp program. My boys were keen to return (we had been there in 2013 as well) - partly because the food is so great, partly because the central location in the National Park is accessible to so many high country day hikes, and partly because of the activities run by the staff. A great way to experience North Cascades National Park, especially if your kids are a little too young to backpack
Written August 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul R
Kent, WA134 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
The tour started in the Visitor Center in Newhalem. We boarded a large van with lousy air-conditioning. We visited the Gorge Powerhouse, the Gorge Dam, the Diablo Powerhouse and the Diablo Dam. We went on a nature walk on a level trail. We had picnic lunch served in the company town of Diablo. Our guides were amazing--Becky and Erika--so knowledgeable and personable. This tour took almost 6 hours.
Written August 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Woodsdweller1
Sedro Woolley, WA94 contributions
Sep 2014
The Diablo Lake boat trip is marvelous! We have been on this trip twice and have reservations to go again next month. We have enjoyed taking out-of-town guests on this tour, particularly those who have never been to Washington and the North Cascades. The scenery is spectacular, so be prepared to take some photos. Photos taken on these trips have been on photo Christmas cards sent both by us and our visitors. They show the scenery and us having a great time! The tour guides from the National Park Service and Seattle City Light are very knowledgeable, informative, and friendly. A very good lunch is served at the North Cascades Institute facilities as part of the ticket price. They have been very good about accommodating special dietary requirements. This year lunch is being served after the boat trip, a change from previous years when it was served before. I think this will be an improvement. There are other walking tours you can register for as well.
Written July 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Foolhardyone
Kirkland, WA42 contributions
Are these tours scheduled regularly? Do you need reservations? Is there a fee?
FromPortlandOregon
Portland Oregon80 contributions
How's the food?
Is the lunch worth the extra charge, or is it just convenient?
How about all the sitting around and waiting? If you don't do the lunch, are you just sitting around watching others eat?
Thanks for your experience!
normana53
Bothell, WA174 contributions
The food was very good - organic, healthy and yummy!