WA 20 or US 2 across the Cascades summer 2020?

profdant139 wrote:
Try to spend as much time as you can along 20 -- many, many world-class day hikes in North Cascades NP. Great backpacking, too, although I have never done it.

This blog post may be of some interest:

North Cascades

This is what the area looked like in September a few years ago -- July is probably even nicer:


Click For Full-Size Image.

Love that Highway!!

Try to spend as much time as you can along 20 -- many, many world-class day hikes in North Cascades NP. Great backpacking, too, although I have never done it.

This blog post may be of some interest:

North Cascades

This is what the area looked like in September a few years ago -- July is probably even nicer:


Click For Full-Size Image.

If you do 20, make sure you take a look at the viewpoint by the Liberty Bell Mountain.

Our normal route is to leave Oak Harbor Wa. early evening after work, then and stop in Newhalem Wa in the rest area for the day. (no services) From there is a 4 to 5 day to the Red apple market in Twisp. Our next night is a over night in the Loul Loop Okanogan Forest camp (no services) then it is a 40 mile trip from there you go where 97 east or west or on to Spokane -> 1-90.

Keep in mind, Leavenworth is tours trap, $100.00 KOA

Post says Summer 2020, I lived in the area 40 years, 20 is the better drive you find snow at the summit even during the summer, roads are dry. Stop in Winthrop for Ice cream. 20 will take you all the way New Port where it joins 2 at the WA?ID state line.

paulj wrote:

But in my experience WA20 from the freeway through Sedro-Woolley (about 7 miles) feels just as congested. Often I like to bypass that by leaving the freeway at Arlington, and taking 530 through Darrington. That stretch by itself is scenic and worth the drive. Or in the right vehicle, exit to Granite Falls and take the Mountain Loop Hwy to Darrington - with 15 miles of gravel forest service road!

US2 Leavenworth to Wenatchee is also pretty busy, though about half is divided.

WA20 is more remote. The 70 miles Marblemount to Mazama has no gas.

I hate WA -2.. I have seen it take 11 hours from Gold Bar to I-5, week end traffic is horrible. One crash and you are bottle up for hours.

There are 3 ways to access WA-20 from the east, I-5 to Cook Rd, to WA-20 .. I-5 to WA-20 in Burlington.
And I-5 thru WA-520 to Rockport.

all are easy routes.
Burlington to Sedro-Wooley is mostly city streets past Junction of 9. then it will open to country.

Summer: 20 for sure. One of America's most scenic roads!

Yes, US2 from Monroe through can be congested, with commuter traffic along with the people heading into the mountains. Seems the most of traffic fatalities are result of someone cross the center line, a hazard on any 2 lane highway. I don't let that deter me.

But in my experience WA20 from the freeway through Sedro-Woolley (about 7 miles) feels just as congested. Often I like to bypass that by leaving the freeway at Arlington, and taking 530 through Darrington. That stretch by itself is scenic and worth the drive. Or in the right vehicle, exit to Granite Falls and take the Mountain Loop Hwy to Darrington - with 15 miles of gravel forest service road!

US2 Leavenworth to Wenatchee is also pretty busy, though about half is divided.

WA20 is more remote. The 70 miles Marblemount to Mazama has no gas.

Take one, and back on the other!

https://www.cascadeloop.com/

http://winthropwashington.com/

Depends on when you are traveling. WA20 is beautiful but it will be closed some time this month if not already and doesn't usually open until some time in May or later. Living in WA most of my life, I prefer White Pass, US12, to US2.

In my opinion WA-20 over the N. Cascades is more scenic, is more remote than is US-2 over Stevens Pass, and is the safer of the two routes. Depending upon time of day, weekend vs. weekday, etc., US-2 west of the summit can be very congested and over the years has had many, many traffic fatalities. Both routes are scenic, but I recommend WA-20 for you.