North Cascades Highway

Highway 20 east from Burlington is the route to some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Washington state. The road follows the Skagit River valley through Concrete and the small towns of Rockport and Marblemount before climbing into the North Cascades National Park complex and crossing the Cascades at Washington Pass.

The drive takes about 2.5 hours from Burlington to the Methow Valley on the other side, but allow more if you plan to stop — Gorge Creek Falls, the Diablo Lake overlook (the lake's improbable turquoise colour comes from glacial flour), and the viewpoint at Washington Pass are all worth time. The highway is open from roughly late April to mid-November; check Washington State DOT for current status before going.

things to do sight
A story
Highway 20 over the North Cascades Pass was the last major road completed across the Cascades and only opened in 1972. The crossing reaches 1,667 metres at Washington Pass, where the jagged granite spires of the Liberty Bell massif rise straight from the roadside. The highway closes each winter under snow and reopens in spring — the exact date varies year to year, and the first opening is treated as a regional event.