Mount Rainier became our country's fifth national park in 1899. Since then, it's welcomed millions of visitors, many of which prefer to explore the area by car. And one of the best ways to take in the scenery is by taking a cruise down the Chinook Scenic Byway.
The Chinook Scenic Byway travels through the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Mount Rainier National Park.
To reach it, just jump on Highway 410 near Naches or Enumclaw.
Obviously, this isn't a drive you'll want to rush through.
There are plenty of points of interest along the way, and the scenery is unreal.
The Chinook Scenic Byway is the only highway in Washington that’s both a scenic byway and an All American Road.
To be a designated All American Road, the drive has to be so unique that it has features that don't exist anywhere else in the country. Most All American Roads qualify as tourist destinations on their own.
The views here are truly incredible.
While you can make the drive in about three hours, you should allow for a much longer day so you can stop frequently to take it all in.
Of course, if you don't want to deal with snow, you may want to go fairly soon.
This part of the state often sees cold, icy winters, and the pass will often close when the snow piles up.
There are plenty of points of interests near the road, like Boulder Cave...
... and driving through some of our small agricultural towns means you'll have your pick of whatever produce is in season.
But mainly, every Washingtonian should take this drive because it's absolutely gorgeous.
This is the perfect way to gain a whole new appreciation for our state.
The Chinook Scenic Byway has so much to see. Here are some beautiful Washington backroads to add to your bucket list.
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