North Cascades Scenic Highway
Newhalem, Washington. Designated byway.
Details
- Where
- Newhalem, WA. No street address stated. Directions
- Season
- Weather and road conditions reported November 1 to April 1.
- Access
- SR 20 North Cascade Highway is open as of Sunday, June 14. Traditionally, weather and road conditions are reported from November 1 to April 1.
- Managed by
- Washington State Department of Transportation.
Drive approximately 30 miles across the park on the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), and experience the old growth forests, cascading waterfalls, and mountain scenery of North Cascades.
Notable Events
- 1893The Washington State Legislature appropriated $20,000 for a road from near Glacier to Marcus. historylink.org
- 1895The State Road Commission selected a route from Marblemount through Cascade Pass and Stehekin to Twisp and named it the Cascade Wagon Road. historylink.org
- 1899Flood damage and the steep Cascade Pass grade halted work, leaving a pack trail. historylink.org
- 1920sBusinessmen from Skagit and Okanogan counties organized promotional horseback trips for legislators and the media. historylink.org
- 1932Munson surveyed a route through Winthrop, Mazama, Washington and Rainy passes, and the Skagit drainage to Marblemount. historylink.org
- 1953Local boosters formed the association to campaign for the highway; it became the North Cascades Highway Association in 1971. historylink.org
- 1959Construction began with a 5.3-mile project from Diablo Dam to Thunder Arm. historylink.org
- 1962Rockslides buried two workers one week apart, prompting contractors to install protective screens around equipment cages. historylink.org
- 1968Creation of North Cascades National Park did not derail the highway, but construction was modified to protect scenery and blend structures into the landscape. historylink.org
- 1968Nearly 1,000 people reached Rainy Pass by four-wheel drive, motorcycle, dune buggy, and horse to dedicate the rough dirt road. historylink.org
- 1972The recently renamed highway opened with ceremonies in Winthrop, Newhalem, and Sedro-Woolley after $23.9 million in construction from 1959 to 1972. historylink.org
People
- Bill Lathrop, State patrolman and Governor Evans's regular driver (1972).
- Dan Evans, Washington governor taken on a promotional trip and leader of the opening caravan (1925-2024).
- George Zahn, Methow orchardist, former state senator, and highway proponent (1897-1971; proponent from 1956).
- Ike Munson, Highway engineer who identified the northerly route (1898-1996).
- Jeannine Gill, Miss Washington Highways who cut the ribbon at the Rainy Pass dedication (1968).
- John Pierce, Bellingham representative in the symbolic east-west handshake at the dedication (1968).
- Les Holloway, Twisp representative in the symbolic east-west handshake at the dedication (1968).
- Ted Bundy, Dan Evans campaign worker who attended the opening ceremonies and later made a disputed claim about crossing the highway (1946-1989).
- Warren Magnuson, U.S. senator who attended the dedication (1905-1989).