The Long Way
King County
A crowded street in a Bavarian-style mountain town with festive flags.
Plate I. Leavenworth along Stevens Pass Greenway. From scenicwa.com
A miniature train carrying passengers on a track outdoors.
Plate II. Miniature train at Skykomish, Stevens Pass Greenway. From scenicwa.com
A rusty metal bridge crosses a river with snow-capped mountains in the background.
Plate III. Mountain view along Stevens Pass Greenway. From snohomishtalk.com
A scenic river flowing through a forested mountain valley with autumn foliage.
Plate IV. River valley along Stevens Pass Greenway. From stateofwatourism.com
A tall waterfall cascading through a lush green forest.
Plate V. Wallace Falls, Stevens Pass Greenway. From scenicwa.com

Stevens Pass Greenway

Skykomish, King County, Washington. National Scenic Byway.

Details

Map. Skykomish, King County, Washington. Larger map
Where
Skykomish, King County, WA. No street address stated. Directions
Season
Typically open for travel year-round; Stevens Pass can close temporarily in winter due to heavy snow.
Getting there
The official byway spans from Monroe to Peshastin; travelers often connect in Mukilteo or Everett and end in Wenatchee to the east.
Fees
No fees are listed along the byway.
Access
If traveling during the winter, check the Washington State Department of Transportation's mountain pass conditions page before heading out.
Phone
360-677-2030
Established
2005.

Part of the larger Cascade Loop; passes through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee national forests, through the Skykomish Valley and over Stevens Pass.

Notable Events

  1. 1890John F. Stevens, Great Northern Railway surveyor, noticed the "gap" in the Cascade Range which now bears his name. hmdb.org
  2. 1893By the time the railroad was completed in 1893, the Tote Road had become an established track through the forest. hmdb.org
  3. 1900Avalanche hazards forced the Great Northern to build miles of snowsheds over the tracks and to bore the Cascade Tunnel 2.6 miles through the mountains. hmdb.org
  4. 1911An automobile highway over Stevens Pass was first envisioned in 1911. hmdb.org
  5. 1925The highway opened in July 1925, a one-lane road averaging 14 feet in width with turnouts for passing. hmdb.org
  6. 1929The Great Northern further reduced the grade and constructed a 7.8-mile tunnel beneath Stevens Pass, the longest in the Western Hemisphere for 60 years; the switchbacks and earlier tunnel were abandoned. hmdb.org
  7. 1992Stevens Pass Greenway was designated a National Forest Scenic Byway on April 14, 1992. web.archive.org
  8. 2005Designated a National Scenic Byway on September 2, 2005, after applying for the higher designation in the America's Byways system. web.archive.org

People

  • John F. Stevens, Great Northern Railway surveyor; noticed the gap in the Cascade Range which now bears his name (1890).

Sources

  1. scenicwa.com/stevens-pass-greenway
  2. fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byway/2231
  3. snohomishtalk.com/2025/08/02/family-friendly-trails-stevens-pass-greenway-short-hikes