North Cascades Highway

The North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20) offers a unique opportunity to explore some of the more remote areas of the Cascade Mountains. Some 300 glaciers residing here account for more than half the glaciers in the contiguous United States. Along the way, a number of trailhead markers will beckon you to stop and explore, which is fun to do even if you hike for only short distances. Two mountain passes greet you now. The first is Washington Pass at 5,477 feet. Pull over at the lookout and take the half-mile (round trip) path around a cliff face to see just how far you’ve come! The second is 4,860-foot Rainy Pass. An easy 2-mile (round trip) paved trail at Rainy Pass is perfect if you’re conscious of time or don’t want to do any serious walking. Watch for signs for the Rainy Lake Trail and pull over. The trail will guide you through towering forest to the small, and unbelievably, blue Rainy Lake. Notice how the terrain is changing. These mountain passes mark the rain shadow divide that accounts for one climate in western Washington and another east of the mountains. About 1 mile west of Newhalem, the North Cascades Visitors Center’s audio-visual presentations offer a variety of points of view on the area. Take the short wood-planked path behind the center to a viewpoint overlooking the beautiful Picket Range. Continue west on Hwy 20 to return to I-5 and you’ll be back to Seattle in about an hour.