re: We are trying to decide between Yellowstone and North Cascades the 2nd week of July

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easily do North Cascades, Mt Ranier, Mt Baker wilderness and Mt St Helens in a trip.

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Not sure I would call that easy to do in a week with 6 people. You'd need to be constantly moving.

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Most are never really crowded

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Paradise at Rainier will be Disney World type packed. Rainier all depends on the weather, has to be clear to see the mountain. We went first week of July two years ago. We arrived there at 8am and had a little trouble parking. When we left around noon there was about a 3 mile line waiting to enter the park and people circling the lot like vultures.

OP-you'll have a great time doing either trip. Yellowstone gets crowded but it is usually between 10-3 and only the popular spots. Hit those up early or late. Old Faithful at 8 am or 6pm will have about 30 people there, same for Artist Point or Grand Prismatic. Separate the park into quadrants and tackle it that way. Make sure you drive Bear Tooth Pass to Red Lodge one day. With 5/6 days you have plenty of time to see the park and not be in any sort of hurry. From Denver west is a pretty damn awesome part of the world.

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Would a week be enough time for a day in Seattle, Cascades and Mt. Rainier?

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Depends. I say yes, if you dont spend a lot of time in Seattle.

There is also the Olympics, but I wouldnt combine them in a week with the more Eastern parks. I would do them separate.

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Looking at the map...is it best to break park into areas/loops and plan a day for each?

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Absolutely, if you don’t you will regret it. I usually spent 2 days in an area. Yellowstone is HUGE.

I move my lodging from area to area according to my itinerary as well.

Get started early and even on busy days you’ll get some relief. Everyone with kids starts later and finishes early.

I hit it early then deal with crowds then get dinner then go back out in the evening looking for bears when it’s less crowded.

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We love Yellowstone but don't go in the summer anymore.

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when is best time in your opinion?

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when is best time in your opinion?

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I would say mid-May or better yet, September/early October

Less crowds, everything still open

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Yellowstone weather turns HARD and FAST, usually by mid-September, certainly by late. I can't imagine going in October.

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Meh I hiked up and down Cascade Canyon in the Tetons late September. It was perfect.

But you’re right it can change fast. Once it hits it’s miserable.

Lived in Bellingham for 5 years and been in Spokane for a few more than that. I’ve got about 200 hiked miles in the Casades.

The only input I have about the Cascades (my 2nd favorite park behind the Hoh) would be:

1.) What will you be driving on the Mtn Hwy loop/forest roads? Some FR and a good portion of the loop will beat your arse to death with the washboard and/or potholes.

2.) Someone suggested downloading the AT app, and that’s great. But, if you’re going to be remote, get a Green Map of the area you’ll be in.

3.) If there hasn’t been a recent review on a trail that you find on AT, call the ranger station before you go and get info on conditions. There’s (most of the time) going to be a reason there’s no recent updates. Everyone and their fricking mother wants to log their shite on that app.

4.) There is real wildlife in that forest. And not the kind that you’ll see off in the distance. It’s nothing to be overly wary of, but it’s something that should be remembered. Ruby Mountain via 4th of July Pass is the only time I’ve ever been actually stalked by a cougar (the animal). I only knew about this one because my headlamp hit the eyes while I was setting out the bear can before bed.

5.) Rainy Pass (previously mentioned) is very close to Mazama. You can hike to Cutthroat Lake pretty easily from the trailhead and it’s a stunning (also very popular) hike. A few more miles to Granite Pass which is much more remote, but it would be an absolutely brutal out and back to Granite in one day. The Methow Valley is breathtaking.

6.) Get a Discover Pass. Don’t test your luck with the rangers. $30 for a year and it’s a much better deal than daily pass or a $100 ticket.

ETA:

It was a pretty low snowpack this year. The outlook for wildfires is pretty high. The Cascades may not burn that early but we often get smoke from Canada or elsewhere, depending on the wind direction.

When I’m planning a trip such as yours to backpack, I always have a backup plan in the opposite direction (in this case, Rainier/Gifford Pinchot/Peninsula) should my primary location get smoked out. It is absolutely miserable to be in even light wildfire smoke for days while you’re trying to recreate.