Stevens Pass

Stevens Pass is named after John Frank Stevens, who surveyed the region in search of a pass across the Cascades for the Great Northern Railway. The railway was built here shortly after, becoming one of the few connections of Western Washington to the rest of the country. Keeping the railway clear of snow was a great challenge, as the pass is prone to large snowfalls and frequent avalanches. The railroad founded the service town of Wellington on the west side of the pass, to help keep the railway clear in winter. However, in 1910 a massive avalanche buried a train already stuck in snow, the deadliest avalanche in US history. A tunnel was soon built to bypass the worst avalanche terrain, and Wellington (renamed Tye) was abandoned. US-2, commonly called the Stevens Pass Highway, crosses the pass. The pass is 64 miles east of Everett. From Seattle and Bellevue, the most direct way is to take SR-522 north to Monroe, where it ends at US-2. For Seattle residents, Leavenworth is a popular weekend getaway, and Stevens Pass is a major ski resort. Because of this, traffic is notoriously bad on weekends. Expect traffic delays eastbound on Saturday mornings, and westbound on Sunday afternoons. Stevens Pass Highway sometimes closes for avalanche control. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation website for winter travel information. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada....