Discover North Cascades National Park, Bald Eagles, astonishing 242-foot Gorge Creek Falls, hiking, exhibits on mining, logging, and farming, and great views.
This 4-hour trip, without breaks for eating and shopping, is from Sedro Woolley to Winthrop, and takes you through the truly breathtaking North Cascades National Park and surrounding national forest lands.
Begin the drive at the National Park Information Office in Sedro Woolley. Route Twenty runs east from here to the Lower Skagit River Valley. Twenty-four miles later, you go into the town of Concrete. As you leave Concrete heading east, the mountains get higher as you come close to the Skagit River. Be
sure to keep your eyes open as Bald Eagles visit the river during the winter. Continue east on Route 20 to the town of Marblemount, the doorway to the “American Alps.” You will pay a visit to the beautiful Ross Lake National Recreation Area by crossing Bacon Creek. The site is part of the North Cascades National Park. The North Cascades Visitor Center rests 9 miles from the entrance and offers information on the natural history of the area.
Just beyond the Visitor Center is the town of Newhalem. A brief drive past the gigantic Gorge Dam is the astonishing, 242-foot Gorge Creek Falls. It’s really hard to believe anything so massive could be so relaxing and so beautiful. The turn-off to Diablo takes you to the Seattle City Light’s Tour Center, where you can take tours of the place. The Diablo Lake Overlook offers vistas of Diablo Lake and displays there explain the green-blue color of the water produced by rock flour.
Continue around wondrous Diablo Lake to the turnout for the Happy Creek Forest Walk. Go through the Okanogan National Forest 4 miles later. On ahead is the 4,860-foot Rainy Pass, which has a road to Rainy Lake. The 2-mile Blue Lake Trail provides views of the 7,807-foot Early Winters Spires and the 7,720-foot Liberty Bell Mountain. You have reached Washington Pass, at 5,477 feet, the highest point of the tour. Go down through the Methow Valley to the town of Winthrop. Here you can visit the Shafer Museum, which offers exhibits on turn-of-the-century mining, farming, and logging in the area.
Starting Point:
Sedro Woolley, WA
Distance of Drive:
129 miles
Must Eat:
Iron Skillet Restaurant
100 West State Street, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
Phone: 360-855-0080
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Old home style food
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round
Points of Interest on Drive:
242-foot Gorge Creek Falls
Shafer Museum
North Cascades National Park
Tagged with: bald eagles • best time:yearround • Washington
Filed under: Best Road Trips