The dam is 550 feet in height and almost a mile in width. Grand Coulee Dam is called the Pride of Eastern Washington. The best time to visit Eastern Washington is spring when the grass on all the hills is green and the trees in the gardens are blooming. The only greenery that you will see in summer in this part of the state will be green lines along the rivers and irrigated gardens.

Western Washington is popular for its dense forests of Douglas fir, but in Eastern Washington you won’t see such lush vegetation. That’s why the climate of Eastern Washington is dryer and warmer in the summer time and colder and dryer in winter. Eastern Washington, unlike its western part, receives little rainfall due to the rain shadow that is created by the Cascade Range. It should be said that the eastern part of Washington State differs greatly from the western part. This part of the state is famous for its Grand Coulee Dam, Palouse, the Columbia River, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, Soap Lake and many other attractions. However, with all the North Cascades hiking options, from day hikes to overnight back country expeditions, you could spend days in the area.Eastern Washington is a part of Washington State which is situated to the east of the Cascades Mountains.

How Much Time: Driving the North Cascades Highway can easily be done as a day trip from Seattle or Vancouver, especially if you opt to stop only at the overlooks. So, make sure you have all the food you will need for the day in the North Cascades. And, once inside the park, only the General Store in Newhalem has snacks. Fuel is not available once inside North Cascades National Park. Services: Gas stations and restaurants are found in Marblemount, Mazama, and Winthrop. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, you don’t need to purchase the forest pass as long as you have the pass with you. The pass is $5 a day per vehicle and can be purchased in advanced here. But, if you plan on hiking, many of the parking areas require a Northwest Forest Pass. And, there is not a fee for driving the North Cascades Highway. At Rockport, 530 ends and joins the North Cascades Highway.įrom Vancouver, head south on Highway 5 taking exit 232 onto Route 20.Įntrance Fee: North Cascades National Park is free. The drive starts with rolling, open farm lands slowly becoming a mossy rain forest. For a more scenic drive, leave I-5N at exit 208 for Route 530 passing through Arlington and Darrington. Getting There: From Seattle, head north on Highway 5. Before setting out, you can check Route 20’s status here.Ĭlosest Airports: Seattle, Washington (115 miles away), Vancouver, BC (116 miles) But, the road typically is closed from November to late April/early May. From milepost 134 (east of Diablo Lake) to milepost 171 (west of Mazama), the North Cascades highway is closed.Ĭlosure and opening dates vary from year to year depending on snowfall. Road Closure: Due to the amount of snowfall received in the area, Route 20 is closed during winter. Sometimes it seems as if you’re driving straight into the mountains Need to Know: And, their grilled chicken sandwich is delicious. They have a large selection of milkshakes and handmade pies. I highly recommend the Marblemount Diner, a small, yellow building just past the Buffalo Run Inn. Lodging is available at the Buffalo Run Inn. Fill up your gas tank here as it’s another 75 miles through the North Cascades before you see another gas station. The stand is open from May to October daily until 7 p.m.Įight miles past Rockport is the small town of Marblemount. Offering homemade ice cream, fresh berries, and other organic treats, there are outside tables and a small garden to wander around. Utterly charming and fitting seemingly in with the surrounding scenery, it’s a great stop to break up the road trip. This is the site of the original Cascadian Farm that has grown into a national brand.

Starting just past the town of Rockport, the first stop needs to be the Cascadian Farm Road Side Stand. The charming and original Cascadian Farm Road Side Stand

Washington state scenery