North Cascades Highway

State Route 20 climbs through North Cascades National Park Service Complex and over Rainy Pass and Washington Pass before dropping into the dry Methow Valley. Overlooks at Diablo Lake and Washington Pass are the highlights, and larch trees turn gold in October. It suits photographers, hikers and anyone who likes a mountain drive with real wilderness on both sides.

The stops

1. Start

   Sedro-Woolley

2. Park

   Rockport State Park

   Old-growth forest right off the highway

3. Town · Overnight

   Marblemount

   Last fuel stop before the pass

4. Town

   Newhalem

   Visitor centre and the Trail of the Cedars

5. Viewpoint

   Gorge Creek Falls

   A waterfall of roughly 75 m that the road crosses on a bridge

6. Viewpoint

   Diablo Lake Overlook

   The turquoise lake is the signature view of the drive

7. Viewpoint

   Rainy Pass

   Pass at 1,486 m with a paved path to Rainy Lake

8. Viewpoint

   Washington Pass Overlook

   Short paved walk to a view over Liberty Bell and the road

9. Town

   Mazama

   Tiny valley town with a good bakery

10. Town

    Winthrop

    Old West style town with riverside food and drink

11. Finish

    Winthrop

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Marblemount

  Marblemount Campground

• Night 2

  Winthrop

  Pearrygin Lake State Park

When to go

Jun-Oct; larches turn in early to mid October

On the road

The pass closes in winter (typically late November to April). Check WSDOT for the status of SR 20 before you go. There is no fuel between Marblemount and Mazama.