Chinook Pass Scenic Byway

Enumclaw to Naches

Central Cascades · Washington · United States

Key measurements

Distance

94.8 miles

Elevation gain

5,185 ft

Elevation loss

4,513 ft

High point

5,440 ft

Low point

797 ft

Net change

668 ft (797 ft to 1,465 ft)

Surface

Paved

Route type

point-to-point

Route Overview

This 95-mile west-to-east trans-Cascade crossing departs the Puget Sound lowlands at Enumclaw, climbs over the summit of Chinook Pass along the northeastern shoulder of Mount Rainier, and descends into the arid volcanic canyons of the Naches River.

The route provides one of the sharpest environmental transitions in the Pacific Northwest. You move from lush, temperate Douglas-fir rain forests on the western slope, through alpine pass terrain above 5,400 feet, to eastern Washington's sunny rain-shadow country dominated by ponderosa pines, basalt cliffs, and orchard valleys.

Key Segments & Geographic Transitions

WA-410 (Chinook Pass Highway) — Miles 0.0–90.3

Leaving the pasturelands around Enumclaw, WA-410 enters the Greenwater and White River drainages, ascending gradually through dense timber along the border of Mount Rainier National Park along the Mather Memorial Parkway. As the elevation increases past the Crystal Mountain turnoff, the forest thins into subalpine parkland, and the highway begins a tighter climb up to Chinook Pass (elevation 5,440 feet at mile 43.3).

East of the summit, the road plunges down a dramatic series of shelf curves and switchbacks carved into the alpine rock faces above Tipsoo Lake. The descent traces the American River and subsequently the Naches River, where the dense coastal forest rapidly gives way to dry pine woods, open canyon walls, and exposed basalt formations.

US-12 (Naches Highway) — Miles 90.4–94.8

At the junction near the mouth of the Naches River canyon, WA-410 merges onto US-12 East. This final four-mile stretch flattens out into the widening river basin approaching Naches, where the landscape transitions fully into eastern Washington's shrub-steppe and irrigated agricultural fruit-growing valley.

Seasonal & Environmental Context

Chinook Pass is a seasonal highway. Standard seasonal closures implemented by WSDOT typically run from late autumn (November) through late spring (May or early June) due to heavy avalanche danger and extreme snowfall at the 5,440-foot crest.

Temperature differentials on this route can be severe. Even in midsummer, morning temperatures near the high point at Chinook Pass can be 30 degrees cooler than the western lowlands or the sun-baked eastern canyon in Naches. Shadowed corners near the summit can retain morning frost or moisture well into the summer season.

Logistics & Services

Fuel and services are readily available in Enumclaw at the start and in Naches at the terminus. Between Greenwater on the west side and the small communities near Nile or Naches on the east side, there are no dependable, full-service commercial gas stations along the high pass corridor. Ensure a full tank before leaving Enumclaw.

Cellular service is non-existent or spotty through much of the central mountain stretch, particularly within the deep river corridors and high alpine areas around the pass.

Important Considerations

Traffic & Wildlife: High alpine recreation traffic, including slow-moving RVs and camper vans, is heavy on summer weekends along the Mather Memorial Parkway. Watch for elk and deer in the timbered corridors along the White and Naches Rivers, particularly at dawn and dusk. * Road Hazards: Rockfall is common along the carved basalt cliffs on the eastern descent along the Naches River. Spring thaw and summer thunderstorms often wash loose gravel and pine needles across the mountain lanes. * Seasonal Closure: Chinook Pass closes each winter because of heavy snow and avalanche risk and normally reopens in spring after snow-clearing operations are complete. Check current WSDOT mountain-pass conditions before travel, as opening and closing dates vary by year.