Guides/Overland routes/Washington
Overland route119 midifficulty: easy

White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12)

RegionWashingtonAgencyU.S. Forest ServiceLast verified—
White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12) — overland route near Packwood, Washington, Washington
Steven Pavlov — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
119mi
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
Standard passenger car. Fully paved.
Best months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Cell coverage
Sporadic. Service drops in the higher forested stretches.
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The White Pass Scenic Byway is a 119-mile National Scenic Byway running US-12 between I-5 (south of Chehalis) and Naches in central Washington. The route crosses White Pass at 4,500 feet and traverses parts of three national forests (Gifford Pinchot, Okanogan-Wenatchee, and the southern edge of Mount Rainier National Park). The byway sits between three major Cascade volcanoes: Mt. Rainier to the north, Mt. Adams to the south, and Mt. St. Helens to the southwest.

The pass stays open year-round. WSDOT plows and salts through winter, with chain requirements during heavier storms. White Pass Ski Area at the summit operates from late November through April. The byway is the southern alternative to the Stevens Pass Greenway and the Chinook Scenic Byway, with less weekend traffic than either.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Winter conditions. Chain requirements common November through March.
  • Steep grades on both sides of the pass.
  • Mount Rainier National Park spur (Stevens Canyon). Seasonal; closes mid-October through late May.
  • Wildlife. Watch for elk and deer.
  • Wildfire smoke. Late summer.
  • Sporadic cell coverage.
  • Crowds at Goat Rocks Wilderness trailheads. Summer weekends.
  • Tieton River whitewater traffic. Spring and early summer.

Location

119 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 46.636, -121.392

Current conditions

Live weather

Trail facts

4 fields
AgencyU.S. Forest Service
Nearest townPackwood, Washington
Websitewww.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot
Approx. location46.636, -121.392

Getting there

Directions

Western end. From I-5 exit 68, take US-12 east. The byway is signed throughout.

Eastern end. From Yakima, take US-12 west to Naches; the byway begins climbing west out of town.

Mt. Rainier spur. SR-123 turns north off US-12 at Packwood and runs through the Stevens Canyon entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.

Most drivers run east-bound from I-5 for the more dramatic descent into central Washington.

Photos

1 photo

Photos · 1

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The western end leaves I-5 at exit 68 (Mary's Corner / Mossyrock), runs east through Packwood and Randle, climbs over White Pass, and drops to Naches on the eastern descent. The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District (Gifford Pinchot, Randle office) handles the western half; the Naches Ranger District (Okanogan-Wenatchee) handles the eastern half. Mount Rainier National Park's southern entrance (Stevens Canyon) sits on a spur off the byway near Packwood.

Trail Overview

One hundred and nineteen miles, point-to-point. The first 50 miles east of I-5 climb gradually through the Cowlitz River valley, with rural farmland and second-growth forest. Past Randle, the byway enters Gifford Pinchot National Forest and climbs to Packwood, the only mid-route service stop. From Packwood, the road climbs to White Pass at 4,500 feet, with the ski area on the south side. The eastern descent drops along the Tieton River into the Yakima River drainage, ending at Naches. Roadside pullouts offer Mt. Rainier and Goat Rocks Wilderness views on the western half.

Points of Interest

  • Mossyrock Dam Park. Public park near the western end on Riffe Lake.
  • Cispus Learning Center. Educational facility off the byway south of Randle.
  • Mount Rainier National Park, Stevens Canyon entrance. Spur off the byway at Packwood.
  • Packwood. Mid-route gateway town with limited services.
  • Goat Rocks Wilderness boundary. South of the byway between Packwood and the pass.
  • White Pass. 4,500 feet, ski area at the summit.
  • Pacific Crest Trail. Crosses near White Pass.
  • Rimrock Lake / Tieton Reservoir. On the eastern descent, with USFS campgrounds.
  • Boulder Cave. Roadside attraction near the eastern end.
  • Naches. Eastern gateway town.

Where to Camp

The byway has multiple developed campgrounds: White Pass Lake (NF), Indian Creek, Dog Lake, Hause Creek, Wild Rose, and Cottonwood (USFS). Most are reservable through Recreation.gov in summer. Mount Rainier National Park's Ohanapecosh Campground sits on the SR-123 spur off the byway. Dispersed camping is permitted on national forest land off side roads. Packwood and Naches have small commercial bases; full services in Yakima or Centralia.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • The pass stays open year-round but chain requirements are common November through March.
  • A Northwest Forest Pass is required at trailheads.
  • Mount Rainier National Park's Stevens Canyon Road (the spur from Packwood) is seasonal and closes from October through May or June.
  • Cell coverage drops at the higher elevations.
  • Goat Rocks Wilderness trailheads see heavy summer use; weekend parking is tight.
  • Wildfire smoke can affect visibility and occasionally close the byway in late summer.
  • White Pass Ski Area is smaller and less crowded than Crystal Mountain or Stevens Pass.
  • Boulder Cave near Naches needs a flashlight; bats inhabit the cave seasonally.
  • The Tieton River canyon is popular for whitewater rafting in spring and early summer.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12)?
White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12) is rated easy. The route runs 119 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12)?
Standard passenger car. Fully paved.
When is the best time to visit White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12)?
The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Is there cell service at White Pass Scenic Byway (US 12)?
Sporadic. Service drops in the higher forested stretches.