National Scenic Byway · Washington

White Pass Scenic Byway

US 12 from Marys Corner near I-5 over 4,500-foot White Pass to Naches, passing lakes, forest and the south edge of Mount Rainier National Park.

Also known as US 12 over White Pass

White Pass Scenic Byway: Riffle Lake View

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length120 miles[1]FHWA's older byway page says to take US 12 east for 119 miles from I-5 exit 68.
  • Drive timeAllow three to six hours to enjoy the byway[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsUS 12[2]
  • Start and endMarys Corner, near Interstate 5, to Naches[4]
  • Fees and passesNo fee to drive the byway.[1]Mount Rainier National Park, reached from the byway, charges its own entrance fee.
  • Best seasonOpen all year; early fall is a good time for hiking, with snow-free trails and changing color up high[1]Summer is the busiest season, per FHWA's older byway page.
  • SurfaceTwo-lane rural highway[3]
  • Vehicle notesTwo-wheel-drive passenger cars can drive the whole byway. Take care in winter, as on any mountain pass, and pass slower traffic only when it is safe.[3]
  • Seasonal closuresWhite Pass is maintained as an all-season highway and is typically open year-round, but it can close for short periods in winter due to heavy snow.[4]

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

The White Pass Scenic Byway follows US 12 east from Marys Corner, near Interstate 5, through the Cowlitz River valley and over White Pass to Naches. It runs through the Gifford Pinchot and Wenatchee National Forests, past lakes, rivers and waterfalls, and comes close to the southern tip of Mount Rainier National Park.

Towns along the way include Mossyrock, Morton, Randle and Packwood, which is a common place to stay the night. From the summit at about 4,500 feet the road drops into drier country, with orchards around Naches. FHWA notes wildlife viewing at Oak Creek Wildlife Area and the Cowlitz River fish hatcheries.

The highway is kept open all year, though heavy snow can close the pass for short periods in winter. Summer is the busiest time; early fall brings snow-free trails and changing color in the high country.

Stops along the way

  1. Ike Kinswa State Park

    State park near Mossyrock, a picnic stop between Mayfield and Riffe lakes.

    Official information · 46.55101, -122.52572 · about 1.3 mi from the route line

  2. Morton

    Former timber town with a historic train depot.

    Official information · 46.55845, -122.27512 · about 0.4 mi from the route line

  3. Randle

    Gateway to the Mount Adams side of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, with a ranger station.

    Official information · 46.53512, -121.95705 · about 0.0 mi from the route line

  4. Packwood

    River town on the Cowlitz, a common base for trips into Mount Rainier National Park.

    Official information · 46.60651, -121.67066 · about 0.0 mi from the route line

  5. White Pass

    The 4,500-foot high point of the byway and home of the White Pass ski area.

    Official information · 46.63873, -121.38954 · about 0.0 mi from the route line

  6. Naches

    East end, where the land opens into orchards near the Yakima Valley.

    Official information · 46.73096, -120.69953 · about 0.2 mi from the route line

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

  • Packwood Farmers' Market, WA · about 0.1 mi from the route
  • Toledo Thursday Market, WA · about 7.3 mi from the route
  • Chehalis Farmers MarketChehalis, WA · about 9.3 mi from the route
  • West Valley Farmer's Market, WA · about 10.8 mi from the route
  • Centralia Farmer's MarketCentralia, WA · about 11.2 mi from the route

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Sep, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in Washington

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: White Pass Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. White Pass Scenic Byway: Driving Directions, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. White Pass Scenic Byway: Visitor Services, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. White Pass Scenic Byway (State of Washington Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
  5. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

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