North Central Cascades

Understand

The Cascade Mountains stretch some 700 mi from British Columbia down the center of Washington and into Oregon and northern California. Moist Pacific air drops rain and dries out as it blows across the mountains into the interior, transitioning from the wet west to the arid east.

Cities

This region consists of Kittitas, Chelan and Okanogan counties.

Kittitas County

• Ellensburg — home of Central Washington University and the Ellensburg Rodeo. County seat of Kittitas County
• Cle Elum — where Northern Exposure was filmed
• Vantage

Chelan County

• Wenatchee — the "Apple Capital of the World". County seat of Chelan County
• Cashmere — town with a candy factory
• Chelan — ride a ferry up 50-mile Lake Chelan to the historic and unique town of Stehekin
• Leavenworth — a Bavarian-themed village

Okanogan County

• Okanogan — county seat of Okanogan County
• Brewster
• Conconully
• Elmer City
• Nespelem
• Omak
• Oroville
• Pateros
• Tonasket
• Twisp
• Winthrop — a town with the feel of the Old West frontier

Other destinations

• Colville Indian Reservation
• Grand Coulee Dam — the largest hydroelectric producer in the country
• North Cascades National Park — Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the scenic North Cascades Highway
• Snoqualmie Pass — a ski resort along I-90
• Stevens Pass — a ski resort along US-2

Get in

By car

East-west highways through the region include:

• Interstate 90 (I-90) over Snoqualmie Pass and through Ellensburg, from Seattle, Moses Lake and Spokane.
• US Highway 2 (US-2), the Stevens Pass Highway, through Wenatchee and Leavenworth, from Everett, Coulee City and Spokane.
• State Route 20 (WA-20), the North Cascades Highway, through Winthrop and Omak, from Northwest Washington and Northeast Washington.

From the Seattle area to the west, you can reach the North Central Cascades by I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass to Ellensburg or US-2 over Stevens Pass to Wenatchee. Either way it is about a 2-2.5 hour drive.

From Spokane to the east, you can take either US-2 or I-90 to the region.

US Highway 97 (US-97) connects the region to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, across the border to Canada.

By train

• Routes stopping in the region:

• The Empire Builder starts in Seattle, goes to Edmonds and Everett then heads east towards Spokane through Leavenworth, Wenatchee and Ephrata. In Spokane the train is joined with the other branch coming up from Portland for the eastbound trip (split if going westbound) to Chicago.

By air

There is only one commercial airport in this region:

• Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT) in Wenatchee is mostly for general aviation except the thrice-daily commercial flights from Seattle/Tacoma with Alaska Airlines.

It is often easier just to take a flight to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and then drive 2-4 hours across the mountains.

By bus

Get around

US-97 is the major north-south route, connecting Ellensburg, Wenatchee and Omak.

Public transportation is limited, especially between counties and through mountainous areas. Driving is the only practical way to see multiple places within this region.

By bus

The following are intercity buses that connect Sea-Tac to cities in the region. As public transport options offer limited to no intercounty connections, they can also be useful for travel between cities in the region.

By public transit

• Tonasket to Aeneas Valley
• Oroville to Tonasket
• Okanogan to Chelan
• Okanogan to Omak
• Okanogan to Pateros
• Tonasket to Okanogan
• Twisp to Winthrop/Mazama
• Twisp to Pateros
• Twisp to Okanogan

Stay safe

On the North Cascades Highway, there is no gas between Marblemount and Mazama, about 70 mi. There is also no cell phone coverage from Ross Lake to Mazama.

Winter driving conditions can be dangerous and slippery, as snow can fall in feet per hour. Mountain passes sometimes close for avalanche control and may effect travel plans. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation for current conditions. Snoqualmie Pass, to the south, closes less frequently than Stevens Pass.

Wildfires burn parts of the North Cascades nearly every summer, as the Pacific Northwest receives very little rain during that time. Respect campfire bans and park closures, and don't be careless with fire. When the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning, plan your hike carefully, as a new fire might block your path out. Smoke from wildfires can also cause respiratory distress.

In the Cascade Mountains there can be significant snow accumulations during the late fall and winter months. This poses a danger for avalanches whenever these areas experience warm up periods, regardless of how brief they may be. If going into the mountains during winter and early spring months, refer to the Northwest Avalanche Center for current avalanche information.

Go next

• Columbia River Plateau
• Northeast Washington
• Northwest Washington
• Puget Sound – The most populous region of the Pacific Northwest, with the Emerald City of Seattle and the massive Mount Rainier.
• The Thompson-Okanagan region of British Columbia – Canada's destination for wineries and fun-in-the-sun.