North Cascades Highway
Highway 20 crosses the North Cascades. The emerald waters of Diablo Lake and the switchbacks of Washington Pass make it one of the most spectacular mountain drives in the Pacific Northwest.
The North Cascades Highway is the section of Washington State Route 20 that crosses the North Cascades. It was not completed until 1972. It runs from Sedro-Woolley in the Skagit Valley in the west to Winthrop, a Western-style town in the Methow Valley in the east. The core scenic section is about 225 km long. Heading east: the Skagit River (where bald eagles gather in winter); the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem; Gorge Creek Falls; the Diablo Lake overlook, with its emerald-green water colored by glacial silt; Ross Lake and Ross Dam; then a climb up the canyon to Rainy Pass (1,480 m), the starting point for the Rainy Lake and Maple Pass loop. Next is the Washington Pass overlook (1,669 m), where you can look down on the road's huge switchback below Liberty Bell Mountain. Finally, you descend to Winthrop. Driving straight through takes about 3.5 hours. Plan a full day, or stay overnight in Winthrop. The mountain pass section (about 60 km) closes in winter; check WSDOT announcements for details. There are no gas stations for about 120 km between Newhalem and Mazama. Summer wildfires may close the road temporarily.