North Cascades highway

[Peter McLennan]

Washington Pass has a viewpoint, turn north off the highway just west of the summit.  Great view from there.  If you cross Rainy Pass, you're too far west.

Halfway down the west slope there are some good views of Whistler Mountain to the north.  (don't confuse with Whistler, the village in BC)

Farther west there are some good viewpoints of Ross Lake from Diablo.

Much of the higher elevations is conifer, so there's not much colour.  You'll find  better colour in the lower elevations to the west, along the Skagit River.  On the east slope, the valley bottom between Winthrop and Mazama should also be good.

The San Juans should be gorgeous that time of year.  Good shooting!

Peter

[Jim Parsons]

Greetings all, long time lurker, first time poster.  ::

We're going to the San Juan Islands (WA state) in October and I'd like to see if anyone here is familiar with the North Cascades highway? I've heard it can be stunning in the fall, and assuming the highway isn't closed like it was 2 years ago from a mudslide, I'd really like to spend at least a day shooting the trees.

Any recommendations for "can't miss" spots?

[Jim Parsons]

Thanks Peter, that's very helpful. Hopefully it won't rain the entire trip like it did 2 years ago.