Some key views to look for are the Cascade Mountains by way of the Methow Valley, will drive through the Washington and Rainy Pass where you will be able to enjoy this beautiful country. You will see the magnificent colors of red, orange and gold along this stretch of road. The scenery includes rough peaks, cavernous valleys, waterfalls, and glaciers embellish that is part of the National Park located in the North Cascades. There are other parks that you can visit with adventures through the North Cascades Highway. Travelers can visit a large variety of pleasing views and a 400-mile driving tour that will take them through the Cascades and if interested there is also a virtual tour that you can access from your computer. Places that are included on your drive would be; Diablo Lake Overlook, Happy Creek Forest Walk, Rainy Pass, Rainy Lake National Recreation Trail and Washington Pass these are just a few of the spots to hit while going through North Cascades Highway.

When the weather conditions are bad in the North Cascades the highway is close to traffic for safety purposes. The snow is known to get so high that snow plows are not able to clear it and there is also the danger of avalanches to occur since it is in the mountains.
The Highway is normally opened again in the spring when the weather is more suitable and the roads are passable.

One of the most interesting natural features of the Coulee is the Lake Lenore Caves, made of volcanic rock eroded by water.This/tag helps explain it more. Prehistoric Indians may have lived or camped there. And Steamboat Lake State Park, where one can camp, is dominated by a huge column of basalt, and other high mountains that one can try and climb. But be sure not to litter or to remove any natural feature. You want to be able to come back next year and find looking just as attractive as before.

Walking, riding, skiing or canoing trails and other activities expose visitors to the area’s natural environment. Travelers may also tour natural areas of particular interest like Gardner Cave in Crawford State Park, the coastal dunes at Ocean City State Park and old growth timber at Federation Forest or Lewis and Clark State Parks.

The parks also preserve historical structures including numerous furnished historical homes at Fort Worden, Lewis and Clark and Cape Disappointment state parks, the lighthouses at Cape Disappointment and Fort Casey State Parks and military fortifications in various states of restoration at any park with the word “fort” in its name.

Cultural heritage is another area of substantial offerings, including petroglyphs left behind by ancient residents in what is now Riverside, Ginkgo Petrified Forest and Yakima Sportsman State Parks, archaeological excavations at Palouse Falls and exhibits on the lifestyles early European immigrants and of CCC volunteers as well as native peoples at parks throughout the state.