Chinook Pass and Tipsoo Lake

Chinook Pass carries Highway 410 over the Cascade crest at about 5,400 feet, and at the top sits Tipsoo Lake, one of the easiest and prettiest stops in the park. A flat path of under a mile circles the small lake, with Rainier reflected in the water on calm days and meadows of paintbrush, lupine and bistort lining the shore. The pass also carries the Pacific Crest Trail across the road, and day hikers can walk a stretch of it for sweeping views over the Cascades with no great effort. The scenic Mather Memorial Parkway that climbs to the pass from Enumclaw winds through evergreen forest, past waterfalls and viewpoints, and gives a gradual sense of the Cascades growing around you. Most visitors treat Chinook Pass as an add-on to Sunrise or Crystal Mountain, but it makes a rewarding half-day on its own for photographers and families who want easy walking and a good picnic setting.

The pass is seasonal. The highway is closed by snow for much of the winter and reopens in late spring once crews clear the road, so always check the state transportation department's pass status before you drive. In summer the lot at Tipsoo Lake fills quickly on weekends, so arrive in the morning or accept a short walk from overflow parking. Restrooms are available but there is no food or fuel.

The Naches Peak Loop starting here is a favorite short hike of about three and a half miles, circling the peak with changing views of the mountain and abundant wildflowers in July and August. It is steady but not hard and takes around two hours. In September the huckleberry bushes turn red and the crowds thin. Bring layers because wind at the pass can be sharp.

Remember that this is a high-elevation area with fragile vegetation, so stay on the trails and avoid cutting across the meadows. Wildlife includes marmots, deer and occasional black bears, and mosquitoes can be thick in early summer, so pack repellent. Drive carefully on the winding road, which is shared with cyclists and motorcyclists in summer.

Chinook Pass combines well with a morning at Sunrise or a lunch in the Crystal Mountain area. If you are doing a loop from Seattle through Enumclaw, you can return via the Yakima side or retrace your route, but remember the one-way travel time on the pass road is substantial. For visitors without a car, a few tours include the pass on the way to Sunrise, so check itineraries when you book.

Sunrise visitors often pass this way twice in a day, so consider stopping once for the morning light at the lake and again for the evening glow on the mountain on the way home. Picnic tables and pit toilets make it an easy lunch stop, and the short paths mean grandparents and toddlers can enjoy the same scenery as strong hikers, which is rare at this elevation.

Weekday visits are noticeably calmer than weekends, and sunrise light on the lake is worth the early alarm. If you are staying in Enumclaw or at Crystal Mountain, the pass is only a short drive away, making it a natural first or last stop of the day. Bring binoculars for birds and marmots on the slopes.