Getting Oriented
The Cascade Loop starts and ends in Everett, working its way clockwise (or counterclockwise; the loop works either direction) through five distinct legs: the Stevens Pass corridor east to Leavenworth and the Wenatchee Valley, the Columbia River run north to Lake Chelan, the Methow Valley around Twisp and Winthrop, the North Cascades Highway back over the mountains, and the Skagit Valley run to the coast with an optional detour to Whidbey and the San Juan Islands. Most drivers give it three to four days; a week leaves room for the side trips that make the loop worth doing.
Trail Overview
The road surface is paved and maintained for the entire 440 miles, including the two mountain passes. The one seasonal wrinkle is the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) between Mazama and Newhalem, which Washington closes to vehicle traffic every winter due to snow and avalanche danger and reopens on a schedule that shifts year to year with snowpack. Drivers doing the loop outside summer should check the Washington State Department of Transportation's mountain pass report before committing to the route in that direction.
The loop's one real off-highway detour sits just past Mazama: Forest Service Road 5400, a 4x4 out-and-back that climbs to Hart's Pass. Built in the 1800s to reach gold and silver claims, the road gains elevation fast, breaks above treeline around 6,000 feet, and ends at the highest point in Washington reachable by vehicle. It's narrow, unguardrailed in places, and not built for trailers or long-wheelbase rigs.
Points of Interest
- Wallace Falls State Park (Gold Bar). A 265-foot waterfall a short walk from the trailhead, near the start of the Stevens Pass climb.
- Stevens Pass. Ski area and alpine viewpoints. Deception Falls and Alpine Falls sit just west of the summit.
- Leavenworth and Cashmere. A Bavarian-themed tourist town and the self-styled "Apple Capital of the World," both in the Wenatchee Valley.
- Lake Wenatchee State Park. Camping, hiking, and boating on the lake.
- Lake Chelan. One of the deepest lakes in the country, reachable by a short detour at the town of Chelan. Floatplanes and ferries run to Stehekin, a roadless town at the lake's head inside the North Cascades.
- Twisp Pass Trail. A 4.8-mile out-and-back into the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, near Twisp.
- Methow Ranger District. Extensive mountain-bike trail network around Winthrop and Twisp.
- North Cascades Highway (SR-20). The loop's mountain crossing between Mazama and Newhalem, closed in winter.
- Hart's Pass Road (FS 5400). The loop's one technical 4WD side trip, described above.
- Deception Pass State Park. Sea cliffs, tidepools, and old-growth forest at the bridge connecting Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands.
Where to Camp
Developed campgrounds sit at Lake Wenatchee State Park, around Lake Chelan, and at Deception Pass State Park. The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests both allow dispersed camping off the loop's forest roads, including in the Methow Valley and the approach to Hart's Pass, subject to the usual national-forest dispersed-camping rules (existing sites only, 300 feet from water, no cutting live vegetation).
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Check the WSDOT mountain pass report for North Cascades Highway status before planning a shoulder-season crossing; it closes most winters and the reopening date varies
- A Northwest Forest Pass covers day-use parking at national-forest trailheads along the route, including Twisp Pass and other Methow-area trailheads
- If detouring to the San Juan Islands or Whidbey Island, check Washington State Ferries schedules and reserve ahead in summer
- Fuel and services thin out between Mazama and Newhalem on the North Cascades Highway; top off before that stretch in either direction
- Watch for deer and elk on the highway at dawn and dusk, especially through the Methow and Wenatchee Valleys
- Hart's Pass Road has no guardrails on its exposed sections and isn't recommended for trailers, long-wheelbase vehicles, or drivers uncomfortable with exposure
Fuel and Water
Fuel and services are available in Everett, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Wenatchee, Chelan, Twisp, Winthrop, Sedro-Woolley, and Burlington. The longest gap is the North Cascades Highway between Mazama and Newhalem, which has no fuel or services; top off in either town before crossing.
Nearby
Stehekin, reachable only by floatplane, ferry, or trail from Lake Chelan, sits inside the North Cascades and makes a worthwhile detour for drivers with an extra day. The San Juan Islands are a ferry ride from Anacortes, just off the loop's Skagit Valley leg. North Cascades National Park borders the highway corridor between Mazama and Marblemount, with overlooks at Washington Pass and Diablo Lake.
