Highway 20 Through Cascades

US2 from Spokane to Wenatchee mostly crosses flat wheat fields, with possible side trips to Grand Coulee dam, Banks Lake and Dry Falls. You can also take WA155 from GC to Omak.

From Wenatchee, US2 passes through orchards, Leavenworth, and into the mountains. The drive over Stevens pass is scenic. Traffic picks up as it passes through towns like Sultan, Startup and Monroe.

WA20 after crossing the Lake Roosevelt at Kettle Falls climbs to Sherman Pass, and continues through low mountains to the intersection with US97. Sherman Pass is higher than the Cascades passes, but over all these mountains aren't as scenic as the Cascades.

WA20 through the Cascades (after Wintrop) is somewhat more scenic than US2. Area Chambers like to promote a loop trip that includes both US2 and WA20.

http://www.cascadeloop.com/

We like WA 20, better viewing. Road has lots of curves especially around Ross Lake on the western end in the North Cascades NP. Just take your time and enjoy the views. This highway has less traffic than US 2 and you won't have to mess with the urban stuff around Everett and Wenatchee. But if you do take US 2, stay at the state park near Orondo on the Columbia River. There's good camping in the North Cascades NP near Newhalem and near Ross Lake. Another nice place is Bridgeport SP, a little south of WA 20 at Rufus Woods Lake on Chief Joseph Dam. More camping near Newport, Colville, Republic, and other towns along the way. A suggestion might be to take US 2 westward from Spokane and then when you get to Wenatchee, turn northward on US 97 and head to Brewster and Twisp where you will eventually tie in with WA 20. Suggest that you get on USFS web sites for more complete info or stop in one of their offices along the way.

Although they are both beautiful, in my opinion WA-20 is a more scenic route over the Cascades than is US-2. WA-20 passes through the heart of the rugged North Cascades and its NP. That said, you will not be disappointed regardless whether you travel the breadth of the State via just ome of the highways or a combination of both.

There is camping all along Lake Roosevelt Nat Rec area. More Nat Park camping on the west side of North Cascades Nat Park, and in the Mt Baker Rec area.

There is Nat Forest camping along WA20 on both sides of Republic, also a nice at the summit between Omak and Twisp. Several more on 20 as it climbs to the pass west of Winthrop.

There are a number of state parks along both routes. Check the state website.

We prefer Hwy 20. More natural beauty. Like Twisp, Winthrop, Diablo, New Halem. My signature pic is from just below Washington Pass.

MaverickBBD wrote:
We prefer Hwy 20. More natural beauty. Like Twisp, Winthrop, Diablo, New Halem....

To be picky, none of the listed places are entirely natural. Twisp is a town of shops and motels. Winthrop is a Western themed tourist town. Diablo is a reservoir, one of 3 that tamed a wild river to give Seattle electricity. Newhalem was the company town, headquarters for that dam project.

Winthrop is a pleasant stop. The dirt roads to the east of Twisp/Winthop are interesting in suitable vehicle. Views over Diablo lake are impressive. Colonial Creek Campground looks like a nice place to stay, though I've only made day visits there. There is nice camping near Newhalem, pretty rock gardens behind the power plant, and a nice forest walk across the river to a smaller power plant.

US2 also has a themed town (Leavenworth), a lake (Lake Wenatchee, with state park and forest service campgrounds), a scenic mountain pass, old growth forest walks (Deception Falls rest stop), historic railroad trail, trailheads for longer hikes.

Nice state campground at Pearygin Lake right outside of Winthrop. Shady spots, wide apart, nice lake. On highway 20. And, 20 will take you the turnoff for the ferry to Port Townsend. Don't forget reservations and watch the tides. Fort casey is a nice place to rest before the ferry. Old battle stations and quarters.

Pearygin Lake is a popular state park, particularly with families seeking warm weather lake side play.


Coupeville/Port Townsend ferry is one of the few WA ferries that takes reservations. I don't think reservations are quite a important now that they have 2 new boats on that route. When I took it last summer, mid day, mid week, the boat was only half full.


reservations

Congestion prediction by day/time

Tides mater on this route because at the lowest of the low tides there isn't enough depth at the Coupeville terminal. At this time of the year these tides are around full moon (next set around July 22)

Low tide cancelations this summer