Less than three hours from Seattle, North Cascades is an alpine landscape with communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east, jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers, cascading waters in forested valleys, and a landscape sensitive to the Earth's changing climate. The best weather for visiting generally occurs between mid-June and late-September, with summer daytime temperatures averaging in the 70's F and snow off most trails by mid-July. Autumn and Spring are popular for color and wildlife, but storms are common, so visitors should be prepared for a few days of rain and wind. The east side of the Cascade Mountains, including Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, is drier and warmer in the summer than the west side, and summer temperatures at Stehekin reach the 90's F.