Boatycall
Tacoma, WA
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ok, so, I've lived in WA all my life and never done it. Just saw on the news they're cutting through the snow to get the North Cascade Hwy open in the next week or two.
Those who have done it---
What campgrounds/places to park overnight would be open along the way? Doesn't matter to me if it's boondock or full service. Boondock would actually be better.
What are the "pull off the highway must-see's"?
I live near Tacoma, about 2 1/2 hours from I5/Hwy20 interchange. How long should I budget for time? Couple days, a week, etc?
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ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
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Snow will be your main issue. Did a little drive up along hwy 2 last week and there were lots large patches of lingering snow around 1800 feet. In years past, the parking area for the Pacific Crest Trail was still snowed in early July.
Maybe some open CG's around Newhalem and Winthrop.
Not sure how many turnouts will be cleared this quickly. You'd need snow shoes to venture beyond the wall of plowed snow.
When the snow clears, I like to visit:
Hike in to Ross Lake Resort
Ross Lake Dam
Drive up to the highest parking lot in WA state. Slate Peak
Enjoy the view of Liberty Bell and valley from the rest area trails
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Rasar state CG is one of our favorites and is a first class facility with full H/U's. It's about a dozen or so miles west of Concrete. It's a great place to start your trip from.
Then you can rive on to Winthrop to spend another night and look around the town. I would make it at least a 3 day weekend but if you want to stop and see lots of sights then budget maybe 5 to 7 days
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the tc life
colbert wa.
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silverline resort in winthrop is a great place. i would go back there for sure....and will. no help over the pass as i have never done that stretch either.
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Snow River TC
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Do the fall colors caravan in October over that pass. It's a lot of fun, usually about 35 TC's. Columbus day weekend.
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louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
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Once hwy 20 is open, it will take a week or two before they get the overlook parking area at Liberty Bell plowed out. (You can park at the gate and if the snow isn't too deep, you can walk to the overlook.)
The parking area at Rainy Pass will not be plowed out yet either.
Lone Fir and Klipchuck cg's on the east side of the pass will not be open yet.
Early Winters cg should be open. It's right on hwy 20.
Perygin State Park (outside of Winthrop) should be open and it's beautiful.
Forget driving to Harts Pass and driving out to Slate Peak just yet. I doubt the road is open since it's more snowed in than the pass by Liberty Bell on hwy 20.
But the drive will be spectacular so don't let the above info stop you from driving it. This is the phone number for the USFS office in Winthrop for the Methow Valley Ranger station. Methow Valley Ranger District Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (509)996-4021 they will know what's open.
Take the road into Mazama and stop at the gas station...inside you'll find great sandwiches, hot soup, a wonderful bakery (home made stuff) with great coffee...and if you're lucky, some of the BEST chocolate truffels.
If you go later in the season, two of the BEST hikes are Maple Loop (out of the Rainy Pass parking lot...just west of Liberty Bell) and the Grasshopper Pass hike up by Harts Pass. (These hikes are both high elevation hikes and if there is snow/ice on the trail, it's too dangerous for most to do them.)
Take a tour at the Methow Valley fire jumpers training center (between Winthrop and Twisp) on the back road (not hwy 20) connecting the two towns.
the best breakfast is served at The Duck Brand in Winthrop. If you are there for lunch/dinner... go for the Cranberry Sauce Chicken...or the nachos.
Kathy
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Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli
Seattle
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On the west side of the mountains is Colonial Creek CG I think it's called on Diablo Lake. It's the only CG till Early winters and perhaps two others on the east side and at least 40 miles from colonial creek. Silverline is a nice place to stay. Much better than Perrigan state park which is nearly next door. It might be a little early for this trip other than to just drive and stay in the low lands where there is no snow. Rasar is nice and so is ?howard Miller ?Steelhead Park in Rockport farther east from Rasar.
Have fun.
We are hoping to go to either Twin Harbors or Greyland Beach state parks tomorrow night for the wknd.
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RichieC
Gig Harbor - Cave Creek
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Lots of good tips here - but snow will be the limiting factor at this time.
The North Cascades Highway is a regular route for the Fall Colors Rally and you don't have to be a club member to go.
In the North Cascades from 2011 rally:
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mockturtle
WA
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Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:On the west side of the mountains is Colonial Creek CG I think it's called on Diablo Lake. It's the only CG till Early winters and perhaps two others on the east side and at least 40 miles from colonial creek. Silverline is a nice place to stay. Much better than Perrigan state park which is nearly next door. It might be a little early for this trip other than to just drive and stay in the low lands where there is no snow. Rasar is nice and so is ?howard Miller ?Steelhead Park in Rockport farther east from Rasar.
Have fun.
We are hoping to go to either Twin Harbors or Greyland Beach state parks tomorrow night for the wknd.
I like Colonial Creek. It's a NPS campground on Diablo Lake. Not boondocking but very nice dry camping.
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revump
Las Vegas
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Great trip ... you will enjoy ... take your time. There are never enough days or time.
Bob
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