There was once a rustic lodge at the summit that overlooked the upper reaches of the Yakima Valley. Descending from the summit, the next few miles southwest are dense forest. The highway passes through the canyon of Swauk Creek, where tunnels and tailing dumps of old mines are still in evidence along the steep sides. Many people come here for winter sports because of deep snows and clear, cold weather. An earlier name was Swauk Pass.