Chinook Pass - Washington - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

The highway [SR410] pierces the main divide by way of CHINOOK PASS some 20 miles south of the old immigrant crossing through Naches. The pass offers the first good opportunity to see glacier-ribbed MOUNT RAINIER (see Rainier National Park). From the summit of the pass, 66.6 m., (5,540 alt.), a tumbled rampart of mountain peaks is visible to the west. To the east is the deep valley of the American River; northward is an orderly staircase of cliff-sided peaks, dropping away from the summit; and to the south are jagged hills, their snowy slopes stubbled with sparse green forests.

The pass is named for the warm wind that comes from the southwest, melting depths of snow in a few hours. The Indians had so named the wind because it came from the direction of the Chinook tribe, who lived near the mouth of the Columbia River (see Tour 7b).

The sharp broken peaks around the pass, vestiges of old lava flows, were tilted to an acute angle by intrusions from below. Only rock pyramids resting on a solid foundation escaped the abrasion of glaciers. Red rock, andesite, and gray granite occur in patches along the roadside.

The forest becomes more dense, as the highway follows the western slope down from the summit. Douglas fir and western hemlock, the dominant species in this humid area, attain a thickness from 4-8 feet at the base and tower to more than 200 feet in height. At higher levels the lodgepole pine and species of fir mingle with the Douglas fir and hemlock. Lower down are found many red cedar and white fir.

The Chinook Pass is one of many beautiful passes over the Cascades in Washington State, however, it's my favorite because I grew up near its western entrance and spent a lot of time in its forests. It is a seasonal pass and is closed each year from about November through March due to snow fall and the treacherous nature of the road near its summit.

Each side of the Cascades is unique and beautiful in its own way. The differing moisture level and plant types give each a specific smell that is amazing to experience after a winter stuck down in the suburbs. On the west side, the forest is more dense, and the undergrowth is thick and impassable. The rich smell of the mouldering leaves and needles on the ground give the air a sweet, earthy smell. On the east side the sharp smell of pine fills the air and the trees thin out.

The above coordinates are for the summit, an especially beautiful spot along the pass with territorial views of the American river valley and the jagged bare ridges of the Cascades. Drive west about 1/4 mile and you'll be at the beautiful little Tipsoo lake with its amazing vista of Mt. Rainier. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the Tipsoo area, crossing the highway on a combination pedestrian bridge and Mt. Rainier National Park entrance arch built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

I've uploaded several pictures, some from the summit, and others showing other spots along the pass. Be sure to open up the gallery to see them all and read my descriptions because there are some great ones that you can't see above in the gallery preview section.