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Washington, the Evergreen State, has a rich and diverse natural setting. The state’s borders are defined by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Canada to the north, Idaho to the East, and Oregon to the south. The sea carves up the northwest corner of the state and the meandering Columbia River separates Washington from Oregon. Washington is well known for its beautiful mountains, vast forests, stunning waterfalls, and fertile agricultural land. Driving through the state affords sweeping views of these invaluable natural resources, which include the numerous peaks of the Cascade Mountains; the Olympic Mountains’ serrated ridges; the lush vegetation and streams of the Willapa Hills; the forested bluffs and network of islands within the Puget Sound Basin; the rounded, broad, low hills of the Okanagan Highlands; the Columbia Basin’s sage and scablands; and the domes and valleys of the Blue Mountains.
Explore los sitios del patrimonio latino en dos recorridos separados, en la Area Metropólitana de Seattle y en el Valle de Yakima, que reflejan los lugares históricos, negocios, eventos culturales y museos que celebran las muchas contribuciones y la diversidad dentro de la población que habla español en el estado de Washington.
Explore Latino heritage sites in two separate tours—in Seattle and in the Yakima Valley—which reflect the historic places, businesses, cultural events, and museums celebrating the many contributions of and diversity within the Spanish-speaking population of Washington.
Explore historic sites from the thriving communities built by Japanese Americans on Vashon Island, despite pervasive racism, barriers to citizenship and land ownership, and wartime mass incarceration.
The tour follows the wooded eastern shore of upper Hood Canal, cuts through logged-off land to Sinclair Inlet, and skirts the numerous bays and coves of the west shore of Puget Sound. The tour twists and turns through wooded areas alternating with truck farms, berry fields, and grazing land.
The tour follows the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway along a relatively flat coastline with broad sandy beaches. Multiple state parks provide access to the coastline for recreation and several port cities abound with fresh seafood.
This tour follows the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway through the Olympic National Park and with frequent access to beaches along the Pacific Coast.
This tour follows the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway along SR 101, leaving the well-settled industrial and agricultural region at the head of Puget Sound, heads northward through sparsely populated prairies and logged-off hills to Hood Canal, and then pursues a quiet way along the wooded western shore to Quimper Peninsula and Discovery Bay.
This tour follows SR 101 along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway with side trips along the Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway National Scenic Byway and the Cape Flattery Tribal Scenic Byway.
The tour runs almost due north/south through a green and pleasant region of truck gardens, orchards, woodland patches, and meadowlands, and neat, attractive houses and well-built barns.
The tour follows the Okanogan Trails Scenic Byway through a variety of terrain ranging from rugged mountain valleys to arid coulees.
This tour follows the Yakima River through both narrow, rugged and expansive agricultural valleys as the river shaped the area’s development patterns. The tour climbs the Horse Heaven hills between the Yakima River Valley and the Columbia River Gorge.
This tour extends between Laurier and Spokane through narrow mountain valleys in the rugged Colville National Forest crossing the Columbia River and following the twisting Kettle River.
This tour extends between Spokane and Pasco through coulees and through wheat fields along the flat open landscape of the Palouse.
This section of US 195, known as the Inland Empire, or Palouse Highway, traverses one of the most fertile farming areas in the United States. Practically the entire route runs through rolling hills, treeless except for clumps of willow and brush along the creeks and in the swampy lowlands.
The northern section of the route winds through sparsely settled foothill country cut by small streams, dotted with lakes, and interspersed with prairies and shallow valleys. A hundred years ago these hills were covered with open forests of lodgepole and ponderosa pine, tamarack, and fir; the prairies were unbroken expanses of bunch grass; and the watercourses ran full and clear.
Follow the last segment of Lewis and Clark’s adventure along the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. This tour follows the Columbia River as it winds out to the ocean.
The tour climbs over the Cascade Mountains north of Mount Rainier affording spectacular views from both directions and traversing dramatic topography and changing vegetation on both sides of the mountain range.
This tour follows the White Pass Scenic Byway between Mary’s Corner and White Pass. The tour crosses the fertile flats of the Chehalis and Newaukum Rivers and then roughly parallels the winding Cowlitz River, which, although seldom visible, is never more than a few miles from the highway.
Winding through the Palouse this tour follows parts of the Palouse Scenic Byway through miles of the rolling hills and wheat fields of the Palouse.
The tour follows the wooded eastern shore of upper Hood Canal, cuts through logged-off land to Sinclair Inlet, and skirts the numerous bays and coves of the west shore of Puget Sound. The tour twists and turns through wooded areas alternating with truck farms, berry fields, and grazing land.
The main route to Mount Rainier National Park, the State’s greatest mountain recreational area, the tour leads from prairie lowlands upward through rugged, thickly wooded foothills to the southwest entrance of the park. A portion of the tour follows the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway along SR 410.
This tour follows the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way, following state routes 20 and 525 through farmland and historic towns on Whidbey Island along a portion of the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway.
This tour follows the Mount Baker Scenic Byway between Bellingham and Artist Point at the base of Mount Baker, the northern most peak of the Cascade volcanoes. The tour passes through cedar forests, and by spectacular waterfalls and rugged peaks.
This tour follows the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway. Follow the historic canoe route of the Coast Salish people aboard Washington State Ferries from Anacortes to the beautiful San Juan Islands. Once there, the Islands are easily accessible by multiple modes—walking, bicycling, transit, automobile, and even by kayak.
This tour follows the White Pass Scenic Byway between Mary’s Corner and White Pass. The tour crosses the fertile flats of the Chehalis and Newaukum Rivers and then roughly parallels the winding Cowlitz River, which, although seldom visible, is never more than a few miles from the highway.
The main route to Mount Rainier National Park, the State’s greatest mountain recreational area, the tour leads from prairie lowlands upward through rugged, thickly wooded foothills to the southwest entrance of the park. A portion of the tour follows the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway along SR 410.
This tour follows the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way, following state routes 20 and 525 through farmland and historic towns on Whidbey Island along a portion of the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway.
This tour follows the Mount Baker Scenic Byway between Bellingham and Artist Point at the base of Mount Baker, the northern most peak of the Cascade volcanoes. The tour passes through cedar forests, and by spectacular waterfalls and rugged peaks.
Tucked into the northeast corner of the state, this tour follows the North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway and the International Selkirk Loop along the Pend Oreille river through the heart of the Colville National Forest. Small communities line the glacially carved valley with multiple side trips to explore sites tucked deep into the surrounding mountains.
This tour skirts along the base of the Cascade Mountains passing through former coal mining and lumber towns before climbing up the Mowich River valley to the Mowich entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.
The tour follows the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway as it skirts the many-fingered upper reaches of Puget Sound, and then cuts across to Hood Canal, which it follows to Quimper Peninsula. Swinging in a westerly direction, the route roughly parallels Juan de Fuca Strait then turns to the south following the Pacific Coast.
The tour crosses the state between Maryhill and the Canadian Border passing sacred sites of Native American Tribes, as well as former gold camps, sawmills, and cattle ranches. The north portion follows the Okanogan Trails Scenic Byway.
This tour traverses a region of mountains, rolling prairies, and sagebrush wastes. From the Laurier near the Canadian Border to Pasco, the highway curves through mountain-flanked highland valleys before cutting across the farmland of the Palouse.
The tour traverses two distinctly contrasting regions, different in topography, vegetation, climate, economy, and cultural development, but held together by a common dependence upon Spokane, the hub city of the Inland Empire. The southern portion follows parts of the Palouse Scenic Byway.
This tour spans the state from the fresh water harbor along the Snake River across the rugged Cascade Mountains to the saltwater of Grays Harbor.
The tour follows the course of the Lewis and Clark scenic byway along the Columbia River along the Oregon border. The landscape changes dramatically between the east and west sides of the state and passes through several scenic areas.
Beginning among brown, treeless hillsides, the Lewis and Clark Highway threads downstream along the Columbia River through a deep and spectacular gorge which, laying open a cross section of the otherwise unbroken 2,000-mile Cascade-Sierra mountain chain, separates the states of Washington and Oregon.
Tucked into the northeast corner of the state, this tour follows the North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway and the International Selkirk Loop along the Pend Oreille river through the heart of the Colville National Forest. Small communities line the glacially carved valley with multiple side trips to explore sites tucked deep into the surrounding mountains.
This tour covers 52 miles, starting with the state capital of Olympia, through the lumber town McCleary, the bulb farms of Satsop, timber-wealth-built Montesano on to Aberdeen and Hoquiam.
Explore the farming communities and rich heritage of the lower Yakima Valley as you follow the gently twisting path of the Yakima River.
This tour skirts along the base of the Cascade Mountains passing through former coal mining and lumber towns before climbing up the Mowich River valley to the Mowich entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.
One of the four routes across the Cascade Mountains, US 2, known as Stevens Pass, traverses rugged, sparsely settled territory almost from its eastern point of departure near Leavenworth. This tour follows the Stevens Pass Greenway.
One of the four routes across the Cascade Mountains, US 2, known as Stevens Pass, traverses rugged, sparsely settled territory almost from its eastern point of departure near Leavenworth. This tour follows the Stevens Pass Greenway Scenic Byway into the heart of the North Cascade Mountains.
Travel through dry wheatlands and occasional patches of scab rock and sagebrush. The route rises slowly with curves and dips, reaching the Columbia River, then descending dizzily by a winding three-mile grade into the canyon carved by the river to one of the wonders of the world, Coulee Dam, a project begun in 1933 and completed in 1941.
Large, well-cultivated farms alternate with stretches of uninhabited range; at widely spaced intervals small towns, ganglia of settlement, are strung along the highway. Travel through large, well-cultivated farms alternating with stretches of uninhabited range and dots of small towns.
Travel through the jagged glaciated peaks of the North Cascade Mountains between the lower Skagit and Methow valleys. The tour winds through rich agricultural lands, dense forests and alpine mountain passes along the North Cascades Scenic Byway.
This route traverses one of the most sparsely settled and most isolated parts of the state. The route travels through scablands and along the Columbia River to the Canadian border.
From the Idaho Line and bustling Spokane through the Cascade Mountains.
This tour crosses Snoqualmie Pass, traveling from rugged mountains to the shore of Puget Sound along the Mountains to Sound Greenway. This tour offers multiple side trips extending out to explore the national forests and rich lowland farming communities.
Travel through the Cascade Mountains along the North Cascades Scenic Highway between the lower Skagit and Methow valleys. The tour winds through rich agricultural lands, dense forests and alpine mountain passes.
A constantly varying panorama unfolds on the cross-state route between the Idaho Line and Seattle, from Eastern Washington’s fields and orchards, ancient lava flow outcroppings, and powerful hydroelectric history, crossing the mountains of the Cascade Range to Western Washington’s forests, lakes, and populous Puget Sound communities.
Travel through dry wheatlands and occasional patches of scab rock and sagebrush. The route rises slowly with curves and dips, reaching the Columbia River, then descending dizzily by a winding three-mile grade into the canyon carved by the river to one of the wonders of the world, Coulee Dam, a project begun in 1933 and completed in 1941.
This route traverses one of the most sparsely settled and most isolated parts of the state. It travels through scablands and along the Columbia River to the Canadian border.
Large, well-cultivated farms alternate with stretches of uninhabited range; at widely spaced intervals small towns, ganglia of settlement, are strung along the highway. Travel through large, well-cultivated farms alternating with stretches of uninhabited range and dots of small towns.
Explore the maritime and agricultural history of Bainbridge Island. The tour loops around the full island with side trips out to notable points, forts, and waterfront communities. The core tour can be done by car or by bicycle, though there are frequent hills on the island.
The deep, glacially sculpted channels of the Puget Sound are rich in islands. This tour explores three of the major islands. Each island tour is geographically separated and best approached as individual trips due to the logistics of ferry travel. The San Juan Island tour follows the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway.
Like the verdant crest of a young mountain, Vashon Island stretches for 14 miles along the west shore of the Sound, midway between Seattle and Tacoma, its fertile heights, above the timbered slopes, dotted with orchards and fields.
