Scenic stops | Cascades Field Guide

This guide is for planning a practical 1-2 day drive on Highway 20 through the North Cascades with the best stop order, realistic time budgets, and backup options if parking is full or weather shifts.

Read more about Driving Highway 20 Through the North Cascades: Best Stops and Scenic Highlights

Washington Pass Overlook is the highest-payoff “short walk” stop on the east side of the North Cascades Highway. If SR 20 is open through the pass, you can get iconic Liberty Bell and Early Winters Spires views with an easy, paved walk; if SR 20 is closed west of the pass, you cannot reach it from the west side, so do not gamble your day on it

Read more about Washington Pass Overlook: Short Walk, Best Views, Wind Tips

This page is for people driving SR-20 who want the highest-payoff waterfalls with the least walking and the least chance of wasting time. The top “doable in any itinerary” picks are Gorge Creek Falls (big waterfall, short walkway) and Ladder Creek Falls in Newhalem (short loop with a real waterfall), with Falls Creek Falls as a strong east-side option near Winthrop if you are already going that direction.

Read more about Best Waterfalls Near Highway 20: Short Walks and Viewpoints

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Driving Highway 20 Through the North Cascades: Best Stops and Scenic Highlights

Washington Pass Overlook: Short Walk, Best Views, Wind Tips

Best Waterfalls Near Highway 20: Short Walks and Viewpoints

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