The Chinook Scenic Byway is among the “50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives,” according to America’s Byways and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
The trip along state Route 410 from Enumclaw to Naches, “invites travelers to experience natural beauty, outdoor recreation and an abundance of wildlife,” said the news release announcing the list.
The byway runs for 92 miles, offering views of Mount Rainier, along with access to Crystal Mountain ski area, U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, Federation Forest State Park, numerous trailheads including the Pacific Crest Trail and a trip over 5,430-foot Chinook Pass.
The byway also includes the 75-mile-long Mather Memorial Parkway. Established in 1931 and stretching from milepost 47.5 to milepost 100.4, the parkway was named after Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. It follows the portion of Chinook Pass crossing through parts of the Mount Baker- Snoqualmie and Wenatchee National Forests, as well as Mount Rainier National Park. An informational site on the parkway is located across from Sawmill Flat Campground. To learn more about the byway, visit www.chinookscenic byway.com for an interactive map of all there is to see and do along the byway. Travelers should be aware that Chinook Pass closed for the season on Nov. 16. You can get updates on when the pass wil reopen, typically in May depending on how much snow falls that winter, at www.wsdot.wa.gov.
America’s Byways is a collection of 150 roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the Federal Highway Administration. For more information, visit www.byways.org.
Also on the top 50 list are Stevens Pass Greenway along U.S. 2 and the Mountains to Sound Greenway along Interstate 90, as well as Mount Hood Scenic Byway and West Cascades Scenic Byway in Oregon.
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