Washington East on 20 or West on 20 -- US2

Much of 20 is Nat Park or Rec area, which prohibits camping outside of established campgrounds. The Forest Service allows dispersed camping, but in heavy forest suitable sites can be hard to find. At the peak of the summer knowledgeable locals will have claimed the best ones. Others are too rough, too far off the main highway, or trashed. It's easier to find dispersed sites on the east side of the mountains. West side FS campgrounds are nearly all concessionaire operated, and on the reserve system. The NP is putting more of their sites on reserve.

Good hiking close to the highway is more abundant along 20, ranging from short paved trails to the Pacific Crest. Most of the US2 trailheads are someways off on FS roads.

If you like to hike, plan on spending several days along 20 -- so much to do and to see. We did not find much boondocking (which is what we prefer), but the campgrounds were uniformly excellent.

Do the “Cascade Loop” counter-clockwise starting from Everett. The N. Cascades Hwy (WA-20) is spectacular heading west into the Mts. coming from the dry country in Winthrop/Mazama. About the only thing you miss going counter-clockwise is the awesome views of the Wenatchee River Valley orchards backed up to the Cascades on the clockwise route between Monitor, west of Wenatchee, and Leavenworth on US-20. Going the counter-clockwise route into the N. Cascades is a good trade-off in my opinion.

Kettle Falls and Gifford are quite a ways beyond Grand Coulee (the dam and town). There's one Nat Rec area campground just upstream from the dam - it's open and hot in the summer, over looking the reservoir. But anything at that altitude on the east side with hot and dry in August (which may a plus for a west-sider).

The campground at the Keller Ferry has more shade, and is closer to the water. But the grade down is substantial. I've taken that ferry across the lake, and then through the Coleville Resevation to the Gifford Ferry and on to Canada. But that's more like driving paved forest service roads.

Can't comment on which hwy and which direction is best, but we feel that 20 is nicer and more visual (?) on the east side of the divide!! West from the lakes is basically a corridor through the tall trees, in my opinion. Spent 3 weeks last May/June over there and around Winthrop.

As to camping, great areas north of Winthrop, along the Chewuch River. Many open free sites, and some good NFS sites that you could get into. All are 6-12 miles out of Winthrop on good paved roads. Can see lots of them on freecampsites.net. Another nice spot (but not a dry site) is Bridgeport Marina RV Park in Bridgeport (!!). Clean, quiet, fair price ($25 a year ago) and hookups! From there to Coulee on 17 & 174 is definite eastern high desert, but good roads.

If you are going 20 to Kettle Falls, the Lake Roosevelt campgrounds are good, although we felt the ones around K-Falls were tight, close together, somewhat older sites without any hookups, but had dumps. Our trailer is 34 ft and we had to maneuver carefully just driving through to see the sites. We felt the best one was Gifford, about halfway down the lake. Newer, sites more spread out, very clean. Hunters, further south, is pretty good, but a bit more condensed than Gifford. Just a few thoughts for you to consider!!!

As a couple others on this thread can testify - in August taking US-2 west bound from Leavenworth to Monroe/ Everett can likely have multi hours long delays. Especially on a weekend.

Regarding grades, the most significant one 2 is the loop on the west side of the pass. Climbing you are on the inside; descending on the outside with big views of the valley below - and maybe just a bit scary in the winter when you aren't sure of traction.

East bound through Tumwater canyon is slightly better - you are on the outside looking on to a nearby river (no big drops), and then emerge dramatically into Leavenworth. The town's a nice break after the mountain driving (though you could have taken a side trip to Lake Wennatchee).

After crossing the Columbia, 2 follows it for a while, and then climbs to the Waterville Plateau. This climb may be as significant as the last part of Stevens Pass. In a big vehicle it is probably more fun climbing.

On 20 climbs are gradual to Colonial Creek (Diablo Lake). Then an inside climb to the Lake overview. More gradual the rest of the way to Rainy Pass. The east side of Washington pass is dramatic, and worth stop at the overview regardless of which way you are going.

East of Twisp you have several choices - south along a river to the Columbia and 17 east, or east over Loup Loup. Then south on 97 or SE on 155. Either way be prepared for some grades where the highway leaves the river and climbs to the plateau.

Camping:

- 20 has Nat Park camping a Newhalem and Colonial Creek, and Lake Roosevelt. Nat Forest camping east of Washington Pass, and at Loup Loup. Check the state parks site for their parks - at Winthrop and various places along or near the Columbia.

- 2 has a few forest service campgrouds, but most are on side roads Lake Wenatchee has both FS and state. County parks near Wenatchee, as well as state or power company along the river. Also along Banks Lake.

Overall it's easier to find rustic camping a day's drive east of Puget Sound along WA20.

Traffic around I5 and 20 gets a bit heavy. I like to go through Arlington and Darrington for a more rustic drive (or even Mountain Loop to Granite Falls if I'm feeling adventurous, and right car). There are even paved back roads on the south side of the Skagit River as far east as Marblemount.

I love the North Cascade hwy, you won't have prettier sights. Plan returning time on 2 to avoid work travel times. I might be a bit procedure as I lived off 20 on the west side for about 30 years.

Islandman wrote:
Think that I'd do US 2 going east (southern leg) as it gets you into the nicer part of the country and away from Everett first, rather than having to face the challenge of heading west and the traffic getting worse as you head west from Stephens Pass toward Monroe and eventually Everett. WA 20 (your northern leg) is enjoyable going either way and traffic isn't a big deal; take your time and have a good trip! Stop at Marblemount if you can and learn the history of the dams and Seattle Light and the landscaping in the community; and if they have a boat ride on one of the lakes take that too; it's fun!

I agree traffic wise, and also think that east on 2 has a better view of the river going down Tumwater Canyon, and the views heading west on 20 are better too...JMO

paulj wrote:
How soon? Plan on any camping. Constraints on day of week and time?

20 is currently closed. Weekend and commuter traffic is a bigger issue on 2 - and on I5.

It will be in August some time. I am still looking for a place to dry camp between Seattle and Grand Coulee.