Approaching the Cascade Mountains via the Methow Valley, you will cross up and over the scenic Washington Pass and Rainy Pass. To the north and south are the two sections of North Cascades National Park. The road drops down into the thick woods of the Skagit Valley and comes out onto the coastal flats in Burlington. If you travel the byway in the fall you will see the roadside trees come alive with beautiful combination of reds, oranges, and vibrant golds.

The North Cascades Scenic Highway will take you through a rich diversity of broad valleys and towering forests and through a narrow river gorge with the nickname, "America's Alps." Along the way, native cultures, fisheries, and trade routes over the mountains showcase a piece of North Cascades history.

Traveling up to the Washington Pass, take the chance to see magnificent mountain views of Liberty Bell and Early Winters Spires. For areas to rest and enjoy the scenery, try Colonial Creek Campground on Diablo Lake and Lone Fir Campground which rests amid old-growth western hemlocks and silver firs.

Customizable Directions