Guides/Overland routes/Washington
Overland route90 midifficulty: easy

Stevens Pass Greenway (US 2)

RegionWashingtonAgencyU.S. Forest ServiceLast verified—
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
90mi
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
Standard passenger car. Fully paved, four-lane in places, two-lane through the pass. Trailers and RVs handle the route comfortably.
Best months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Cell coverage
Patchy through the forest stretches. Service returns near Skykomish, Stevens Pass Resort, Leavenworth, and Wenatchee.
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The Stevens Pass Greenway is a 90-mile National Scenic Byway running US-2 from Monroe to Coles Corner near Lake Wenatchee, crossing Stevens Pass at 4,061 feet. The route is the central east-west crossing of the North Cascades and ties together the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests. The Skykomish Ranger District handles the western half; the Wenatchee River Ranger District handles the eastern half through Tumwater Canyon and Leavenworth.

The pass stays open year-round. WSDOT plows and applies traction control through the winter, with chain requirements during heavier storms. Stevens Pass Ski Area sits at the summit and operates from late November through April. The Greenway is one of three signed byways within the larger 400-mile Cascade Loop, alongside the North Cascades Highway and Whidbey Scenic Isle Way.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Winter conditions. Chain requirements common November through March.
  • Construction. Major reroute and pavement projects every summer.
  • Crowds. Leavenworth weekends fill in summer and during fall festivals.
  • Tumwater Canyon traffic. The canyon is two-lane with limited passing; plan slow holiday weekends.
  • Wildlife. Watch for deer, elk, and bear at dawn/dusk.
  • Wildfire smoke. Late-summer fires sometimes affect visibility.
  • Cell coverage gaps. Bring offline maps.
  • Avalanche control closures. Stevens Pass closes for short windows during heavy storms.

Location

90 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 47.747, -121.087

Current conditions

Live weather

Trail facts

4 fields
AgencyU.S. Forest Service
Nearest townSkykomish, Washington
Websitewww.fs.usda.gov/r06/mbs/recreation/us-highway-2-skykomish-area-east-stevens-pass
Approx. location47.747, -121.087

Getting there

Directions

Western end. From I-5 at Everett, take US-2 east through Monroe and Sultan. The Greenway is signed throughout.

Eastern end. From Wenatchee, take US-2 west through Cashmere and Leavenworth. The Greenway proper starts at Coles Corner heading west.

Spurs worth taking. SR-207 at Coles Corner runs north to Lake Wenatchee State Park (10 miles). Icicle Road at Leavenworth heads south into the Wenatchee River drainage and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness trailheads.

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The western end of the Greenway leaves I-5 at Everett and runs east through Monroe, Sultan, Gold Bar, and Index before entering Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest near Skykomish. The Skykomish Ranger Station, the Forest Service's information stop on the western half, sits in town along the highway. Past Stevens Pass, the highway drops through Tumwater Canyon to Leavenworth, then continues to Cashmere and Wenatchee on the Columbia River. The Greenway proper ends at Coles Corner, where US-2 meets SR-207 to Lake Wenatchee.

Trail Overview

Ninety miles of paved highway, point-to-point. The first 30 miles are flat farmland and small Snohomish County towns. From Index east, the highway tightens against the South Fork Skykomish River and climbs into the Cascades. Stevens Pass at 4,061 feet is the high point, with the ski area on the south side. The east descent drops through Tumwater Canyon, a narrow gorge along the Wenatchee River with multiple roadside pullouts. Leavenworth is a Bavarian-themed tourist town that sits at the canyon's east end. The route is two-lane through most of the forest sections with limited passing.

Points of Interest

  • Wallace Falls State Park. Roadside park at Gold Bar, with multiple waterfalls.
  • Index. Climbing destination at the base of Mt. Index, with the Index Town Wall.
  • Skykomish Ranger Station. USFS information stop in town.
  • Iron Goat Trail. Rail-trail along the abandoned Great Northern Railway grade, accessed from the highway near the pass.
  • Stevens Pass Resort. Ski area at the summit; summer trail access.
  • Pacific Crest Trail. Crosses US-2 at Stevens Pass.
  • Tumwater Canyon. Tight gorge with the Wenatchee River.
  • Leavenworth. Bavarian-themed town with full services and lodging.
  • Lake Wenatchee. Spur off Coles Corner via SR-207, with state park camping.
  • Icicle Road. Major spur south of Leavenworth into Wenatchee NF.

Where to Camp

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie campgrounds on the western half include Money Creek, Beckler River, and Troublesome Creek. Eastern Okanogan-Wenatchee campgrounds include Tumwater (canyon-side), Eight Mile, Bridge Creek, and Johnny Creek along Icicle Road. Lake Wenatchee State Park has the largest reservable developed camping in the area. Dispersed camping is permitted on national forest land off the side roads. Skykomish, Leavenworth, and Wenatchee all have commercial lodging.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • The pass stays open year-round but chain requirements are common from November through March. Check WSDOT.
  • Leavenworth is the most-visited town in central Washington in summer; weekends fill quickly. Book lodging well ahead.
  • Stevens Pass Resort is the standard winter destination; the ski-area parking fills by mid-morning on powder days.
  • Iron Goat Trail and Wellington avalanche site are interpretive history stops, not active recreation.
  • Cell coverage drops in Tumwater Canyon and the higher forest stretches.
  • Wildlife (deer, elk, occasional bear) crosses the highway at dawn and dusk.
  • Wildfire smoke can affect views in late summer.
  • Tumwater Canyon has limited pull-outs; plan stops in advance.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Stevens Pass Greenway (US 2)?
Stevens Pass Greenway (US 2) is rated easy. The route runs 90 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Stevens Pass Greenway (US 2)?
Standard passenger car. Fully paved, four-lane in places, two-lane through the pass. Trailers and RVs handle the route comfortably.
When is the best time to visit Stevens Pass Greenway (US 2)?
The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Is there cell service at Stevens Pass Greenway (US 2)?
Patchy through the forest stretches. Service returns near Skykomish, Stevens Pass Resort, Leavenworth, and Wenatchee.