North Cascades Scenic Byway

The North Cascades loop, north entrance, begins at Interstate-5 Exit 230. It heads east on WA-20 (SR-20) from Burlington, WA across the Skagit River Valley into the Cascade Mountains. It goes through the cities of Sedro Woolley, Concrete, Rockport, Marblemount, Newhalem, Diablo, through the North Cascades National Park and over Washington Pass, the Okanogan National Forest and the towns of Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp to the Junction with WA-153.

You will see the designation SR-153 (State Route) for clarity we use WA-153 to not get confused with State Routes in other states on this web site.

WA-153 is a 31 mi. long highway which heads south down the Methow River Valley from the WA-20 / WA-153 junction east of Twisp to join with US-97 just south of Pateros, WA on the west shore of the Columbia River. The towns of Carlton and Methow are located on this highway.

US Highway 97-A goes down the west side of the Columbia River from its junction with Washington photo is loading...... State Highway 153 to the City of Wenatchee where it has a junction with US Highway-2.

The North Cascades Loop then heads west on US-2 over Stevens Pass and back to Interstate-5 Exit 194 in Everett, WA. This leg of the North Cascades Loop goes through the cities of Wenatchee, Cashmere, Leavenworth, then the villages of Coles Corner, Nason Creek, Merritt, and Berne, then over Stevens Pass, then through the cities of Index, Gold Bar, Startup, Sultan, Monroe, and Snohomish before arriving at Interstate-5 Exit 194 in Everett.

Form mile by mile information visit our highway pages listed in the green bar.

Should you be traveling from the south entrance at Everett to the north entrance go to the bottom of this page and work up to the north entrance at Burlington.

In winter Washington Pass is closed and you must use the southern route to reach the Methow Valley for winter sports and relaxation.

Burlington

Mount Vernon

Restaurants

Lodging

City Page

The north entrance – The Skagit Valley

The western foothills of the Cascade Mountains

State Highway-20 eastbound

Burlington

The north entrance of the loop begins in Burlington at Interstate-5 Exit 230. Burlington has become a regional shopping area in recent years with its regional mall, outlet center, and several malls, most of which are visible from Interstate-5. Burlington and Mount Vernon run together with only the Skagit River separating them. Both towns offer a wide variety of tourist facilities and attractions.

Burlington is located along the banks of the Skagit River. State Highway-20 runs from here eastward up the Skagit River Valley. Originally, the logging industry and agriculture was the basis of the economy in this area. The western end of the valley is broad and flat with rich alluvial fan soils that made rich, prosperous farmlands. Eastern Skagit River Valley gets narrower as the foothills of the Cascade Mountains close in on it and logging and the lumber industry has been the mainstay of the economy. In recent years the logging industry has been in decline.

You will find yourself in the flatlands in the center of the Skagit River Valley as you head east from Burlington toward Sedro Woolley.

Sedro Woolley

Sedro Woolley

Sedro Woolley has historically been a logging and forest products town. There is still one forest products mill located south of town and many of the residents work in the logging industry. The Skagit River lies about a mile south of town.

State Highway-9 intersects Sedro Woolley west of town on its way south to Snohomish and east of town it heads north to Sumas and the Canadian Border.

Lyman

You don’t go through the town of Lyman on WA-20 any more. This small town has few facilities for the tourist. The highway is flat and level in this area as you travel up the Skagit River Valley.

Hamilton

You don’t go through the down of Hamilton on WA-20 any more. This small town has few facilities for the tourist. The highway is flat and level in this area as you travel up the Skagit River Valley.

Birdsview

You will only find a country store in Birdsview.

Concrete

Concrete

Concrete is the last small city you will pass through when headed eastbound. There is gas food, and lodging here. As you leave Concrete you will find the foothills closing in on the Skagit River Valley.

Rockport

Rockport

You will find a beautiful state park just west of Rockport and a great county RV park right on the river in Rockport. Other than that, you will find a gas station and a convenience store.

Marblemount

Marblemount

Marblemount is your last chance to get fuel before heading over Washington Pass. You will also find restaurants and lodging in this small town.

National Park Visitor Center

North Cascades National Park

Wilderness Information Center

Marblemount

360-856-5700

http://www.nps.gov/noca/

Just east of Marblemount you enter the North Cascades National Park.

Newhalem

Newhalem

As WA-20 winds through the Cascade Mountains foothills you really find yourself in the mountains in this area.

National Park Visitor Center

Tours of Seattle City Light Dams

North Cascades National Park

National Park Service

Newhalem on US Highway-20

http://www.nps.gov/noca/

Seattle City Light gives tours of the hydroelectric facilities and dams in the summer months. Reservations are a must. The tour operates Saturday and Sunday in the months of June and September, and Thursday though Monday in July and August.
Tours depart from the Skagit Information Center across the street from the Skagit General Store in Diablo.

Skagit Tours

http://www.seattle.gov/light/tours/skagit/

Diablo

Diablo is a company town owned by Seattle City Light.

Thunder Arm Campground

This large campground lies on Thunder Arm which is a long narrow bay that projects south from Diablo Lake. WA-20 crosses over Thunder Arm and heads up the side of a mountain above Diablo Lake and then Ross Lake.

North Cascades National Park

http://www.nps.gov/noca/

Diablo Dam

From the highway a steep roadway leads down to Diablo Dam. You can drive across the dam to the Diablo Lake Resort area. The highway is cut out of the side of a mountain along here. You can look straight down to Diablo Lake.

Ross Dam

In this area there is the Ross Dam trailhead and the Ross Lake Viewpoint.

Closed in Winter

Washington Pass

There is a parking area at Washington Pass with picnic areas and trails to viewpoints.

Highway

WA-153

WA-20

Winter Access

Use the southern access, US-2, of the North Cascades Loop from Everett, WA in the winter.

It must be noted that that Highway WA-20 (The North Cascade Scenic Byway) is closed in the winter so the only access to the Methow Valley and the winter recreation area located there is from Interstate-5 is over Snoqualmie Pass ( I-90 ) or Stevens Pass (US-2) then north on US-97 to WA-153 at Pateros, WA then north and west up the Methow Valley on WA-153 and WA-20.

Mazama

Winthrop

The Methow Valley

The eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains

Highway WA-20, The North Cascades Scenic Byway, runs through the Methow Valley in the eastern slopes of the North Cascade Mountains on its journey from Washington Pass to the Columbia River. The first Village you will find after crossing Washington Pass is Mazama Junction. The next towns you will encounter are Winthrop and Twisp.

By far the main recreational activity in this area centers around the trails of the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association. In winter it is cross-country skiing and in the summer it is hiking. There are more than 120 miles of groomed alpine trails in this area. They were created in a partnership with the Okanogan National Forest, several Washington State Agencies, and funds from many sources of private funding.

Twisp

The web of trails in the Methow Valley is maintained by the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association. You will find trails in this system to challenge the professional level hiker, off-road bicycling, horseback riding and for those who are looking for a low impact walk in the summer and any level of cross-country ski enthusiast in the winter. You can access the towns and nearly every tourist facility in the valley from the trails. It is mind boggling how many places there are to access these trails.

The Methow Valley ski trail system is divided into three areas; Mazama, The Rendezvous, and Sun Mountain. The Methow Community Trail connects are three areas and the communities of Mazama and Winthrop.

During the winter a ski pass is required on the groomed trails. See the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association web site for more information.

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association

http://www.mvsta.com/

The Methow Community Trail

http://www.mvsta.com/metcommtrail.html

WA-153 from Twisp to the Columbia River

WA-153 is a 31 mi. long highway which heads south down the Methow River Valley from the WA-20 / WA-153 junction east of Twisp to join with US-97 just south of Pateros, WA on the west shore of the Columbia River at the confluence of the Methow and Columbia Rivers. The towns of Carlton and Methow are located on this highway.

Carlton

Carlton

Carlton is a small village in the Methow Valley. You will find the scenery in this area typical of Eastern Washington with a fertile and lush valley surrounded by sun scorched hills.

Methow

Methow

The town of Methow lies on the banks of the Methow River. The town is named after an Indian Tribe, MET-how. Methow is part of the Methow Valley all seasons sports area.

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association

http://www.mvsta.com/

Highways

US-97A

US-97 goes down the west bank (US-97A) and the east bank (US-97) of the Columbia River from here to Wenatchee, WA

Azwell

Azwell is a small village on the west bank of the Columbia River.

Chelan

City of Chelan on Lake Chelan

If you leave the banks of the Columbia and drive a couple of miles west to Chelan you will find one of the busiest vacation spots in eastern Washington. Lake Chelan is a 50 mi. long lake in the Cascade foothills with a vast array of tourist facilities. Lake Chelan is over 1,500 feet deep and goes through the deepest gorge in the United States.

Entait

Entiat

Entiat has been around since 1896. The town has been moved twice, the last move caused by the building of the Rocky Reach Dam and the lake formed behind the dam. Entiat is on the west bank of the Columbia River and has a good variety of tourist facilities.

Rocky Reach Dam

Highways

US-97A

US-2

US Highway-2 from Wenatchee to Everett, WA

Wenatchee

City of Wenatchee

Wenatchee is located in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers. Wenatchee lies along the west bank of the Columbia and the river is the county line. On the other side of the river lies East Wenatchee, a separate city in a different county yet connected to Wenatchee by more than simple bridges. Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are the largest cities in the north central region of Washington State.

Visit our Wenatchee City Page

You will travel up the Wenatchee River Valley from Wenatchee to Leavenworth. The terrain is fairly flat but you will see high hills on the sides of the valley from here to east of Cashmere. By the time you arrive in Leavenworth you will feel like your are in the Alps.

Cashmere

The City of Cashmere

A photo is loading...... The photo to the right is from the Cashmere tourism web site. The photo is of downtown Cashmere. To visit the site see the link on our attractions page.

The City of Cashmere, WA lies on the banks of the Wenatchee River in Eastern Washington. Actually, it is at the geographic center of the State of Washington.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth

A photo is loading...... When you enter the City of Levenworth you will think someone has magically transported you to the Austrian Alps. This City located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains has taken on the theme of a Bavarian Alps. city and done it well.

Whether it is Christmas in the Alps or a warm summer day along the Wenatchee River you will find what you are looking for in Leavenworth.

From Leavenworth to Stevens pass you will wind through the eastern Cascade Mountain foothills. You will climb steadily through this section of the road if traveling west and of course head downhill from the pass if headed east.

Just west of Leavenworth the roadway winds along the rapids of the Wenatchee River. This is one of the best river rafting areas in the United States.

Stevens Pass

Stevens Pass

The main attraction at Stevens Pass is the snow and the ski area. The hills here are rugged and the skiing is good most of the winter. Elevation is 4061 feet and ski lifts will take you up another 1800 feet or so. Stevens Pass is located on the North Cascades Scenic Byway Loop on the US Highway-2 portion. The pass is open year round.

If you are traveling west from Stevens Pass you will go through a series of small towns and villages in the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. If eastbound you will find yourself steadily climbing into the foothills. The three miles immediately west of the pass are very steep.

Skykomish

Skykomish

Skykomish is a railroad city founded when the Great Northern Railroad was digging tunnels and improving its tracks in the late 1800’s. Today the railroad has little presence in this small town.

Skykomish Ranger Station

74920 NE Stevens Pass Highway

PO Box 305

Skykomish, WA 98288

360-677-2414

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/about/srd.shtml

Grotto

This village consists of a country store and a few houses in this area.

Baring

Index

Index

Gold Bar

Gold Bar

This town of over 2,000 was incorporated in 1910. Gold Bar hugs the main line of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, from its inception it has been a railroad town in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

Startup

Sultan

Sultan

Sultan is located on the Sultan River at its confluence with the Skykomish River. Sultan is 45 mi. NE of Seattle. It has become a bedroom community and its population is fast approaching 5,000.

Sultan has several great parks and is a wonderful place to stop and let the kids stretch their legs in one of their parks. See our attractions page for a listing.

Monroe

Monroe is located on the banks of the Skykomish River. The Skykomish River empties into the Snohomish River about 4 mi. west of Monroe.

Snohomish

Snohomish is known as the “Antique Capital of the Northwest”. Snohomish is located on the banks of the Snohomish River

Lake Stevens

At the end of the Snohomish River causeway that heads east out of Everett across the Snohomish River delta you will find an intersection. To the north east is Lake Stevens. In years past Lake Stevens was ringed with summer cabins. There was a small village at the north end of the lake where a log mill was located also called Lake Stevens. Today primary residences line the shoreline and the City of Lake Stevens has grown into a medium sized town.

Follow US-2 by turning to the right at the end of the causeway and you are headed up the Snohomish River Valley to Snohomish.

Everett

South Entrance to the North Cascades Scenic Loop

Everett, WA – Interstate-5 Exit 194

Everett is located at the mouth of the Snohomish River. About 4 mi. west of Monroe the Skykomish River empties into the Snohomish River. State Highway-20 (WA-20) follows the Skykomish River through the Cascade Mountain Foothills to Stevens Pass.

If you are traveling the North Cascades Loop in winter you must use the South Entrance at Everett as Washington Pass is closed in winter. Use this site from here and work up.

Cascade-loop.htm