North Cascades Highway: what to know before you drive it
The North Cascades Highway is Washington State Route 20 across the North Cascades between the Skagit Valley and the Methow Valley, crossing Rainy Pass and Washington Pass. It is a fast, sweeping mountain road with big alpine scenery, and its high section closes every winter, usually from late fall until spring.
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What it's like
A modern, well-surfaced road with long sweepers and steady climbs rather than tight switchbacks, past Diablo and Ross Lakes and up to Washington Pass, where the overlook below Liberty Bell Mountain is the classic stop.
There are no services across the mountains, so fuel up in the towns on either side — Marblemount to the west, Mazama or Winthrop to the east.
When it's open
The section over the passes is closed in winter for avalanche danger, typically from November until WSDOT clears it in spring. Dates change every year; check WSDOT's pass reports before you go. Summer and early fall are best.
The Cascade Loop
Drivers often make a loop of it: SR 20 east over the passes, then south through the Methow and Chelan valleys and back west over US 2 and Stevens Pass.
Mapped routes in the North Cascades
Curated drives first, then by how much they bend.
Questions
- When does the North Cascades Highway open?
- Usually in spring, once WSDOT has cleared the snow from the pass section. The date varies by year, so check WSDOT's road and pass reports.
- Is there gas on the North Cascades Highway?
- Not on the mountain section. Fill up in Marblemount to the west or Mazama and Winthrop to the east.
Keep reading
- How do I find twisty roads near me?How to find the best curvy driving roads near you: what makes a road good to drive, how to measure it, and how Road Finder scores every road in an area on curvature and flow.
- Historic Columbia River Highway: what to know before you drive itThe Historic Columbia River Highway winds through the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland past Vista House and Multnomah Falls. What it is, what to see, when to go, and how to drive it.