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Scenic route

The Cascade Loop

Everett loop, WA · ~440-mile loop · 4–5 days

The Cascade Loop strings three of Washington’s scenic byways into one ~440-mile circle — over Stevens Pass into the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, along glacier-fed Lake Chelan, across the “American Alps” of the North Cascades, and back through the Skagit Valley to Puget Sound and Whidbey Island.

Numbered pins mark the 5 stops on this route with a detail guide, in driving order — the full stop list is below.
The Cascade Loop — Everett loop, WA~440-MILE LOOP · 4–5 DAYS · 5 SIGNATURE STOPSWAEverett loop, WAScenic loop
The Cascade Loop corridor, west-to-east order of travel. Tap a signature stop below to open its guide.
Distance~440-mile loop
Time4–5 days
States1
Stops5
Best timeJune–Oct (full loop open)

Good to know: The North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes over the high passes in winter (roughly Nov–Apr), breaking the full loop — the other segments stay open year-round.

Why drive it

Washington’s mountain-to-sound circle.

One loop bundles alpine passes, a faux-Bavarian town, the jagged North Cascades, and a Puget Sound island — Washington’s road trip in a single circuit.

States on this route

The signature stops

What to pull over for.

01Stevens Passa 4,061-ft Cascade-crest pass and ski areaWA02Leavenwortha Bavarian-themed alpine village, the loop’s marquee townWA03Lake Chelana 50-mile, glacier-fed lake reaching into the wildernessWA04North Cascades National Parkturquoise lakes and hanging glaciers in the “American Alps” — open the guideWA05Whidbey Islanda long Puget Sound island and the cliffs of Deception PassWA
Planning this drive?

Keep driving

Related scenic routes.

North Cascades HighwayMarblemount → Winthrop, WA (WA-20) · ~75 milesOlympic Peninsula Loop (US 101)Port Angeles loop, WA · ~330-mile loop

Plan the drive

Build your Cascade Loop trip.

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More to explore in Washington

National parks

Forests & wild lands

Camping

Scenic routes

Ballparks

Lighthouses

More Washington guides

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