The Cascade Loop is a 440-mile scenic byway that crosses the Cascades twice, over Stevens Pass on US 2 and the North Cascades Highway on SR 20, and links them through the Columbia River country, the Methow Valley, the Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island. This guide covers the Cascade Loop region by region, with the Cascade Loop Association’s mileage, the winter closure that breaks the loop, and short hikes for each leg.
Updated October 2026
Quick facts
- Length: 440 miles through 9 regions and 7 counties, according to the Cascade Loop Association.
- Roads: US 2 over Stevens Pass, Highway 97A and US 97 along the Columbia and Lake Chelan, SR 153 through the Methow Valley, SR 20 over the North Cascades and across Fidalgo and Whidbey islands, SR 525 down Whidbey, and the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry.
- Designation: a National Scenic Byway since Feb. 16, 2021.
- Season: the full loop needs SR 20, which usually closes over Rainy and Washington passes from November or December into April or May. As of Oct. 1, 2026, WSDOT hasn’t announced this winter’s closure.
- Time: the Federal Highway Administration suggests 1 day at a minimum and 2 to 4 days at an easy pace; the Association publishes a 5-day itinerary.
- Fees: no entrance fee in North Cascades National Park. Trailheads at Rainy Pass and Blue Lake take a Northwest Forest Pass ($5 a day or $30 a year), state parks such as Deception Pass take a Discover Pass ($10 a day or $45 a year), and the ferry charges a fare.
- Official site: Cascade Loop Association.
Cascade Loop map and mileage
The Association recommends driving the loop counter-clockwise, because the views are easiest to reach in that direction. From Seattle, that means heading east on US 2 first and coming home on the ferry. The table uses the Association’s town-to-town distances in that order.
| Leg | Miles | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Mukilteo to Everett | 10 | Snohomish River Valley |
| Everett to Sultan | 24 | Snohomish River Valley |
| Sultan to Stevens Pass | 42 | Stevens Pass Greenway |
| Stevens Pass to Leavenworth | 35 | Leavenworth |
| Leavenworth to Wenatchee | 23 | Wenatchee and Columbia River Valley |
| Wenatchee to Chelan | 38 | Lake Chelan Valley |
| Chelan to Pateros | 19 | Lake Chelan Valley |
| Pateros to Winthrop | 42 | Methow Valley |
| Winthrop to Newhalem | 73 | North Cascades |
| Newhalem to Burlington | 60 | Skagit Valley |
| Burlington to Anacortes | 17 | Fidalgo Island |
| Anacortes to Oak Harbor | 20 | Whidbey Island |
| Oak Harbor to Langley | 36 | Whidbey Island |
| Langley to Mukilteo (ferry) | 12 | Whidbey Island |
Seattle to Mukilteo adds 23 miles. The loop also carries 3 shorter byways: the Stevens Pass Greenway on US 2 from Sultan to Cashmere, the North Cascades Scenic Highway, 140 miles from Twisp to Sedro-Woolley, and the 55-mile Whidbey Scenic Isle Way.
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Cascade Loop road trip by region
Snohomish River Valley and the Stevens Pass Greenway
US 2 climbs 42 miles from Sultan to 4,061-foot Stevens Pass past Gold Bar, Index and Skykomish. Expect delays at the US 2 and Old Owen Road intersection near Sultan, where WSDOT is building a roundabout from Oct. 5, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027.
Wallace Falls
Photo: Wallace Falls (2) by Vineesh Devasia, CC BY 2.0, resized
5.6 mi · 1,300 ft · Moderate
The first stop east of Monroe, just off US 2 in Gold Bar. It’s 5.6 miles round trip with 1,300 feet of gain to the upper falls, and the park takes a Discover Pass.
Deception Falls
Photo: Deception Falls (18324788519) by Jonathan Miske from United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized
0.5 mi · 50 ft · Easy
A half-mile loop at US 2 milepost 56, east of Skykomish. It makes an easy leg stretch on the climb to Stevens Pass, with no pass needed.
Iron Goat Trail
Photo: Stevens Pass Greenway - Iron Goat Trail Cascade Tunnel - NARA - 7722235 by Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Public domain, resized
6.0 mi · 700 ft · Moderate
The old Great Northern grade near Stevens Pass, with tunnels and snowsheds along a 6-mile round trip from the Martin Creek trailhead. It’s usually snow-free from May to November and takes a Northwest Forest Pass.
Leavenworth and Wenatchee
From Stevens Pass it’s 35 miles down Tumwater Canyon to Leavenworth and 23 more to Wenatchee on the Columbia River. Our Leavenworth hikes guide covers the Icicle Creek trails and the 2026 road closures around town.
Icicle Ridge
Photo: Icicle Ridge hike January 2026 (30090) by Wilderness trespasser, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized
6.0 mi · 1,800 ft · Hard
The trailhead is 1.5 miles up Icicle Road from Leavenworth, below the storm-damage closure on the upper road. It climbs 1,800 feet in 3 miles to views over the Wenatchee River valley, best in spring and fall.
Saddle Rock
Photo: SaddleRock Mountain by Runderba, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized
3.1 mi · 920 ft · Moderate
A 3.1-mile round trip from the end of Circle Street in Wenatchee to a rocky saddle above the city and the Columbia. It’s open all year and needs no pass.
Lake Chelan
Highway 97A follows the Columbia 38 miles from Wenatchee to Chelan, at the foot of Lake Chelan. Stehekin, at the far end of the lake, has no road; the Lady of the Lake ferry runs daily from Chelan through Oct. 15, 2026, then on a reduced winter schedule. North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin is closed for 2026 after last winter’s flood.
Methow Valley
US 97 runs 19 miles from Chelan to Pateros, where SR 153 and then SR 20 follow the Methow River 42 miles to Winthrop. Twisp, Winthrop and Mazama are the last towns before the North Cascades Highway climbs to Washington Pass. Our North Cascades lodging guide covers the Methow Valley lodges.
North Cascades Highway
The 73 miles from Winthrop to Newhalem cross Washington Pass at 5,475 feet and Rainy Pass at 4,862 feet, then drop past Ross and Diablo lakes inside North Cascades National Park‘s Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Our North Cascades Highway guide lists every stop from Newhalem to Washington Pass.
Washington Pass Overlook
Photo: Washington pass overlook by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, resized
0.3 mi · 61 ft · Easy
A quarter-mile paved path to a wall overlooking SR 20’s hairpin and Liberty Bell Mountain. It’s free, and you can reach it only while SR 20 is open over the pass.
Maple Pass Loop
Photo: Maple Pass at North Cascades in WA by jhvanwa, CC0, resized
7.2 mi · 2,020 ft · Hard
A 7.2-mile loop from Rainy Pass with 2,020 feet of gain, at its best when the larches turn gold in late September and early October. Bring a Northwest Forest Pass and leave dogs at home.
Thunder Knob
3.7 mi · 680 ft · Moderate
A 3.7-mile round trip from Colonial Creek Campground to a forested knob above Diablo Lake. It fits a late afternoon after the drive over the passes.
Trail of the Cedars (Newhalem)
Photo: TRAIL OF CEDARS SUSPENSION BRIDGE, NEWHALEM, 1990 - Skagit Power Development, Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Project, On Skagit River, Newhalem, Whatcom County, HAER WASH,37-NEHA.V,1-26 by unknown, Public domain, resized
0.3 mi · Easy
A flat 0.3-mile loop across the Skagit River suspension bridge at the end of Newhalem’s Main Street. It’s open all year, even when the passes are closed.
Skagit Valley and Fidalgo Island
SR 20 follows the Skagit River 60 miles from Newhalem to Burlington, past Marblemount, Concrete and Sedro-Woolley, then runs 17 miles west to Anacortes. South of Anacortes, WSDOT is building a roundabout at Campbell Lake Road through fall 2027, with up to 19 days of single-lane traffic.
Washington Park Loop (Anacortes)
Photo: Washington Park, Anacortes, WA - panoramio by Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized
2.2 mi · 280 ft · Easy
A 2.2-mile loop around Fidalgo Head, about 3/4 mile past the Anacortes ferry terminal. There’s no parking fee, and the loop road closes at dusk.
Whidbey Island
SR 20 crosses the Deception Pass Bridge onto Whidbey Island and reaches Oak Harbor 20 miles from Anacortes. From there, SR 20 and SR 525 run south to Clinton, where the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry crosses in about 20 minutes. At Deception Pass State Park, Pass Lake is closed to people and pets because of toxic algae.
Goose Rock (Deception Pass)
Photo: Deception Pass Bridge 03 by J Brew, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized
4.3 mi · 484 ft · Moderate
A 4.3-mile loop from Cranberry Lake to the 484-foot top of Goose Rock, next to the Deception Pass Bridge. The park takes a Discover Pass.
Ebey’s Landing
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Photo: Ebey's Landing Bluff and Prairie by Kathleen Kitto, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized
5.6 mi · 260 ft · Easy
A 5.6-mile loop near Coupeville along a bluff above the Strait of Juan de Fuca, then back on the beach. Parking at the Prairie Overlook is free.
Map of Cascade Loop hikes
When the North Cascades Highway closes
WSDOT closes SR 20 each winter between the Ross Dam trailhead (milepost 134) and the Silver Star gate (milepost 171), and later in the season it moves the gates back to Newhalem (milepost 120) and Early Winters (milepost 178). The highway closed Nov. 18 in 2024 and Dec. 4 in 2025. The earliest closure on record came Oct. 17, 2007.
In 2026, storm repairs kept the west side closed until June 14, while the east side reopened to Porcupine Creek on April 30. As of Oct. 1, 2026, WSDOT hasn’t announced this winter’s closure date.
While the passes are closed, the loop can’t be finished; the Association calls the winter route a crescent. The Methow Valley is still reachable from the south over Stevens Pass, US 97 and SR 153, and the Skagit Valley and Newhalem from the west.
Where to stay on the Cascade Loop
The Association lists these towns along the route, region by region.
- Snohomish River Valley and Stevens Pass Greenway: Monroe, Sultan, Gold Bar, Index and Skykomish.
- Leavenworth and Wenatchee: Leavenworth, Cashmere, Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. See Leavenworth hikes for the trails near town.
- Lake Chelan: Chelan, Manson and Stehekin, which you reach only by boat, plane or trail.
- Methow Valley: Pateros, Twisp, Winthrop and Mazama. Our North Cascades lodging guide covers the east-side lodges.
- North Cascades: Newhalem, Marblemount, Rockport and Concrete, plus the park campgrounds in our North Cascades camping guide.
- Skagit Valley and Fidalgo Island: Sedro-Woolley, Burlington, Mount Vernon, La Conner and Anacortes.
- Whidbey Island: Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Langley and Clinton, with camping at Deception Pass State Park and other Washington state parks.
Cascade Loop drive times from Seattle
These are this site’s drive estimates without traffic to a trailhead in each region, except Chelan, which comes from the Lake Chelan Chamber.
| Stop | From Seattle | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Bar (Wallace Falls) | About 1 hour | SR 522 and US 2 |
| Stevens Pass area (Deception Falls) | About 1 hour 35 minutes | US 2 |
| Leavenworth (Icicle Ridge) | About 2 hours 20 minutes | US 2 over Stevens Pass |
| Wenatchee (Saddle Rock) | About 2 hours 35 minutes | US 2 |
| Chelan | About 3 hours, 166 miles | US 2 and Highway 97A |
| Rainy Pass (Maple Pass Loop) | About 3 hours | I-5 and SR 20 |
| Newhalem (Trail of the Cedars) | About 2 hours 20 minutes | I-5 and SR 20 |
| Anacortes (Washington Park) | About 1 hour 30 minutes | I-5 and SR 20 |
| Coupeville (Ebey’s Landing) | About 1 hour 45 minutes | Mukilteo to Clinton ferry and SR 525 |
Road status
SR 20 is the only road on the loop with a seasonal closure. The table below shows its current status, which this site checks against WSDOT and the national park.
| Road | Status | Note | Season | Checked | Source | Hikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR 20 North Cascades Highway (Ross Dam trailhead to Silver Star gate) | Open | Open across Rainy and Washington passes since June 14, 2026, and WSDOT had not announced the winter closure as of Oct. 1 (WSDOT and North Cascades National Park, Oct 2026). | Closed for winter between Nov. 3 and Dec. 11 and reopened between April 18 and May 12 in 2018 to 2025; it closed Dec. 4 in 2025 and storm repairs delayed full reopening to June 14, 2026. | WSDOT | 6 |
FAQ
How long is the Cascade Loop?
The Cascade Loop Association puts it at 440 miles. The Federal Highway Administration suggests at least 1 day, or 2 to 4 days if you take your time, and the Association publishes a 5-day itinerary.
Which direction should you drive the Cascade Loop?
Counter-clockwise, according to the Association: east on US 2 over Stevens Pass first, then north through Wenatchee, Chelan and the Methow Valley, west on SR 20 and home on the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry.
Can you drive the Cascade Loop in winter?
Only part of it. SR 20 closes over Rainy and Washington passes for the winter, usually from November or December into April or May, so the loop turns into an out-and-back on each side. US 2 over Stevens Pass stays open in winter.
Do you need a pass to drive the Cascade Loop?
No pass is needed for the road, and North Cascades National Park has no entrance fee. You need a Northwest Forest Pass at Forest Service trailheads such as Rainy Pass, a Discover Pass at state parks such as Deception Pass, and a ferry ticket for the Clinton to Mukilteo crossing.
What is the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway?
It’s a 440-mile driving route promoted by the nonprofit Cascade Loop Association and named a National Scenic Byway in 2021. It strings together US 2, the Columbia River highways, SR 153, SR 20 and Whidbey Island’s SR 525.
Related guides
- North Cascades Highway: stops, hikes and closure dates on SR 20.
- North Cascades National Park: the park hub, with hikes and seasons.
- Leavenworth hikes: the Icicle Creek trails and the Enchantments.
- Deception Pass State Park: trails, camping and passes on Whidbey Island.
- North Cascades lodging: where to stay along SR 20 and in the Methow Valley.