Region 4 – Cascade Loop Byways

The Cascade Loop National Scenic Byway is a 440-mile love letter to Washington State, praising her natural beauty and charisma. The route contains three of the state’s designated scenic byways—the Stevens Pass Greenway, North Cascades Highway and the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way. From the waterfront cities of Mukilteo and Everett, head east over Stevens Pass where alpine villages welcome and snowy spires beckon.  Drop from pine forests into fertile orchards and take in the pink haze of apple blossoms in the spring. Pick up luscious seasonal fruit from roadside stands, then take a dip in the Columbia River or Lake Chelan as the sun bakes high desert hills. Play cowboy in the Methow Valley.

Head back west past iconic Liberty Bell Mountain through the North Cascades National Park, and then descend into Skagit Valley with its acres of bulb fields and farmlands and abundant bird life. At last, cross over dramatic Deception Pass to Whidbey Island, where gentle hills and seaside towns offer a soft place to land. No matter if you take in the entire loop, or just visit portions of it, you will come to learn that the Cascade Loop is Washington State’s Ultimate Road Trip!

Key points of interest:

• Leavenworth – Known around the country as Washington’s Bavarian Village, Leavenworth has amazing festivals in the spring and fall, and during the winter is alight with over half a million Christmas Lights! Nestled at the mouth of the Wenatchee River where it exits the Tumwater Canyon (plan to visit when the autumn leaves are changing!) and merges with the Icicle River – Leavenworth is a mecca for summer and winter recreation with river rafting, hiking, rock climbing, and snow sports. Enchantment Park offers a pump track, skate park, wooded trails along the river, and kids playground equipment. Looking for a great variety of dining options? You won’t be disappointed!
• Lake Chelan – The Lake Chelan Valley offers four distinct seasons of recreation, including a ski hill and groomed ridge-top cross-country and snowshoe trails in winter, and amazing hiking and mountain bike trails the rest of the year. The long-time apple and grape producing area is now the 11th AVA in the state, and along with great wineries and tasting rooms has a charming shopping district and a century-old movie theater in the historic downtown. The 50-mile lake is a mecca for watercraft during the summer, and 5th generation run Campbell’s Resort with its Pub & Veranda has been the perfect place to wrap up a long day in the sun or snow since 1901!
• Winthrop – Welcome to Winthrop – a tiny old Western town with old-time boardwalks, fabulous boutiques, restaurants, luxurious to cozy overnight options, and every outdoor recreational pursuit you could ask for! The pristine Okanogan National Forest is our backyard and your playground. Winthrop is a year-round wonderland acclaimed for the largest network of cross-country ski trails in the Western Hemisphere. We are a year-round getaway destination you’ll want to experience for yourself.

Follow the route of an old Great Northern Railway line while clinging to the banks of the Skykomish and Wenatchee rivers. On this leisurely slice of the Cascade Loop, travelers will wind through tiny hamlets and discover what travel used to be like before all the best places were bypassed.

Key points of interest:

• Everett – From a hike through the woods or calm walk by the waterfront to a great show at Everett’s wonderful local theatres, the beautiful and historic city of Everett has a lot to offer. Visitors can enjoy everything from the warm, sandy beaches of Jetty Island to a fascinating trip to Funko, maker of the famous Funko Pop! figures. In the summer months, catch some minor league baseball with the Everett Aquasox, affiliate of the Seattle Mariners or attend an exciting Everett Silvertips hockey game in the fall and winter months. This is just a sampling of what Everett has to offer visitors and locals alike.
• Wallace Falls State Park – Wallace Falls State Park is a 4,735-acre camping park along the shores of the Wallace River, Wallace Lake, Jay Lake, Shaw Lake and the Skykomish River. Located on the west side of the Cascade Mountains, the park features a 265-foot waterfall, old-growth coniferous forests and fast-moving rivers and streams.
• Wenatchee – Wenatchee is located at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers and seated by the foothills and towering peaks of the North Cascades. Come see the “Apple Capital of the World” and its many orchards. The 11-mile Apple Capital Loop Trail is a paved route that takes you across the Columbia River and back again, Ohme Gardens is a lush garden oasis perched on a hill overlooking the valley, and Rocky Reach Dam’s Discovery Center is a newly renovated experience, where you can steer a paddleboat down the river! Visitors can fly into this region of the Cascade Loop at Pangborn Memorial Airport.

As the North Cascades Scenic Byway loops between massive peaks and along lakes colored turquoise by glacial silt, you’ll see why these mountains are called “the American Alps.” Many argue that the North Cascades Highway is the most scenic in Washington State. Of all the passes that traverse the Cascades, this is the most mountainous, with high hairpin turns and jaw-dropping vistas. It’s so rugged, it closes during winter months. And it’s so stunning that travelers line up before sunrise on the day it reopens in the spring to be among the first across. Here you’ll find 1920s-era company towns, organic farms selling their produce and, at journey’s end, one of Washington’s most beautiful outdoor recreation destinations—the Methow Valley. Load up your mountain bike, grab your hiking boots, bring your appetite, and enjoy.

Key points of interest:

• Washington Pass Overlook – Quite possibly one of the most scenic rest areas in Washington – with iconic Liberty Bell Mountain towering over Highway 20 as you approach from east to west. Pull over at the overlook and follow a wheelchair accessible, paved trail to a lookout with incredible views of the mountains above and the valley below. Many hiking trails are in the area, including access to the famous Pacific Crest Trail. This roadway closes every winter for several months between Mazama and Diablo, so be sure to plan your trip accordingly. Mother Nature sets her own schedule on when conditions will mean time to close. The area can receive 700 inches of snow in a season!
• Diablo Lake Overlook – Enjoy views of glacial-fed Diablo Lake, located within the heart of the North Cascades. See rugged mountains that rise around the lake and the historic Diablo Dam in the distance. Learn about water, geology, glaciers, and the plants and animals that call this place home. In summer, the distinctive turquoise color of the lake is the result of suspended fine rock particles refracting sunlight. These rock particles, called glacial flour, enter the lake when rock from the surrounding mountains is eroded by ice and flows into the water through glacial streams. The color is most vibrant on sunny days in July, August, and September when seasonal glacial melt occurs.

Located entirely on a single island and a mere hour from downtown Seattle, this byway is as accessible as it is leisurely; twenty minutes of the journey includes a relaxing Washington State ferry ride. The transformation from mainland to island is not just physical—it is also psychological. The pace of life slows, traffic jams are non-existent, tension vanishes.

Welcome to “island time.” You’ll find art studios and galleries tucked in among small boutiques, coffee shops, wineries, and microbreweries. Take a walk on a sandy beach or watch whales from the shore. The salt air, friendly people and local fare allow you to renew yourself for whatever life tosses your way next.

Key points of interest:

• Fort Casey State Park – a 467-acre marine camping park with a lighthouse and sweeping views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A coast artillery post features two 10-inch and two 3-inch historic guns on display. The park features 10,810 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound (Admiralty Inlet), and includes Keystone Spit, a two-mile-plus stretch of land separating Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake.
• Coupeville – The state’s second-oldest community, Coupeville, sits on the edge of Penn Cove, and the mussels harvested here are world famous! Stroll down the dock to the wharf or boat into the public marina. Downtown shops feature the work of local artists, and the restaurants offer the freshest seafood you can get! Nearby Meerkerk Rhododendron Garden is open all year, but spring and summer you will see the most variety of color. Fort Casey State Park and Admiralty Head Lighthouse are visitor favorites. Take the Langley Loop to nearby Langley By The Sea for more great dining options and view of Camano Island.