Cascade Loop WA questions
 

I posted on another thread and got some very good input, and from that input decided that on our four day venture from the Seattle area we will do the Cascade loop.

We will be doing this from Monday 9/29 to Thursday 10/2. Hopefully it will still be fall weather, not yet an early winter.

A couple of questions, first any preference in doing the loop in one direction or the other, clockwise vs counter clockwise? We will be starting out from Issaquah.

We will have four nights to spend when on the trip. Any areas or towns better or worth staying in over others. We are not campers, but like B&Bs and inns. Price is not too much of an object as with this vacation half of it we will be staying with relatives.

I have a travel guide on the Cascade loop and they include Whidby island and up through Anacortes. If we go counterclockwise, maybe thinking of taking the ferry over to Whidbey, wandering up and staying the first night somewhere along the water, then starting in on route 20 and around.

As I said in the other post, we like sightseeing, moderate hikes, scenery, hanging out, dining from fine dining to local places. My husband is into brew pubs, and we both like wineries. One of our trips with my brother when in Issaquah will be over to Chateau St. Michele and Red Hook so we will be seeing them.

Also I realize that this is a big loop covering much differant terrain. But any idea of temps at this time?

Also someone did mention that if it is an early winter we could encounter some winter type of driving. Would roads be closed? If not, how bad would they be? We live in NJ and are used to driving in ice and snow. Also if the weather is nasty, we know to take it slow.

Any guidance and help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.
KathyH

I really think the clockwise route shows the scenery at its best, especially on Highway 20. As you approach to Washington Pass, the mountains become more and more dramatic. Then over the crest, there is a broad sweeping turn. . . just lovely.

There are several places to stop for a short walk---the Rainy Pass picnic area has a short nature trail; Blue Lake (trailhead at milepost 161, just west of Washington Pass) is a famous and much-photographed lake surrounded by larches with Liberty Bell and Early Winters Spires soaring above. This is a 4 mile RT walk. Here is a photo to entice you:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getawa...2_hike26.shtml

The stop at Washington Pass overlook for another short (1/2 mile or so) walk.

The town of Winthrop and the tiny "town" of Mazama offer several choices in B & B's and small inns. There is a brewpub in Winthrop, and I think another one in Twisp.

If you have 4 nights, you could still include Anacortes on the clockwise route; just start with a night there. Then one night each at Winthrop/Mazama, Chelan, and Leavenworth.

Enzian....you should be a Travel Guide LOL!

Hmmm... I never thought of Whidbey Island as part of a Cascades trip myself. We just head north, then east from the city.

I love the area around Winthrop and Mazama, andincluding the Methow river. Sorry no lodging suggestions as we always go in the summer and do camp out.

Langley and Coupeville are two charming little towns on Whidbey Island and the drive along Penn Cove, north of Coupeville, is quite beautiful.

Driving clockwise, I would stay in Coupeville at Captain Whidbey Inn (1), in Winthrop at Sun Mountain Lodge (2), and in Chelan I would book a "sunset suite" at Best Western Lakeside Inn (1).

LOVE the Captain Whidbey Inn!

Thanks all for the replies so far. You have no idea how helpful you are. I spent all last night, until way too late, all over the internet and my travel books researching the cascade area.

I am not sure yet if we will do the Whidbey island end of things or not. I have small travel guide called the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway and that is considered part of the loop. So we may start with a night there.

Then I think we might spend two nights in Winthrop. Would this give us a good jumping off point to do hikes such as the one to Blue Lake, yeah the picture enticed me, and also include areas along Washington's pass?

When In Winthrop considering staying at Sun Mountain Lodge. Looks like a good place for a two night stay where we can relax and be pampered. Also they have horseback riding which might be fun in that area for a trail ride.

Not sure about Lake Chelan. How is the boat trip up the lake and back. It is an all day thing, so not sure if it is worth spending a day doing.

Think we want to spend a night in Leavenworth. Looks fun, touristy and a bit hokey but still fun. Lots of places in Leavenworth are already booked for the week we are going by I have found a few places.

From Leavenworth it is not too far a drive back to Issaquah, so we'd easily make it there by noon.

I will say that the little travel guide I have on the Cascade loop says that the road along 20 has much more impressive views going counterclockwise. Though probably doesnt' make that much of a differance.

What do you think so far?
KathyH

We go to Whidbey Island as a day trip from Seattle, and when we do the Cascade Loop we go clockwise via Darrington.

Your plans look fine. Having stayed several times in Leavenworth and in Chelan, I prefer Chelan and dinner at
The Winemaker's Grill at Wapato Point Cellars in nearby Manson. I haven't found any equivalent experience in Leavenworth, but perhaps others have.

Whichever direction you drive, when you are given a choice between 97 and 97 Alt., take 97 Alt. which gives better views of the Columbia River Gorge.

We so enjoy the drive between Sultan and Winthrop that we sometimes retrace the route rather than cross the North Cascades.

johnthedorf---you discovered my secret! I long to be a travel guide. But alas, for now I must keep my day job.

KathyH---I'm curious what travel guide you are using that recommends going east to west over Highway 20 as producing more impressive views. I drive that road a lot to access hiking, skiing, and mountain biking; it is one of my favorite areas. I drive Highway 20 both directions and always feel so uplifted and awed by the mountains at the pass as I head east.

Possibly, I am just too tired to appreciate the views on the way back? But I don't see any way that huge switchback below Washington Pass could be half as dramatic going up rather than down. Coming down, you have all the peaks and ridges---Kangaroo ridge, Vasiliki ridge, Silver Star Mountain---right in your face. If you are heading east, you would have to look back to see them.

Perhaps the guide is thinking more of the scenery farther west, as you drop down. I think there are places on the road from which you can see Ross Lake or Diablo Lake if you are heading west. But there is a pullout where you can stop and look if you are going east.

Anyway. . . I'm curious which guide recommends counterclockwise. I'm always willing to learn and change my opinions!

Sun Mountain Lodge is an excellent choice. It is a nice place and the views from there are terrific. Another place to consider, if you really want to backtrack to hike to Blue Lake, would be the Freestone Inn in Mazama:

http://www.freestoneinn.com/

It would save about 45 minutes off you drive in each direction. There is horseback riding nearby, although not onsite. However, I just noticed that their dining room is currently closed, which would be disappointing to me---their dining room is a big part of the attraction of the place. So I guess I'll have to reverse myself on that recommendation, unless the dining room will be open by the time of your visit. It is worth calling and asking.

It definitely should be fall weather, not winter. I've been over there many times for their Fall Bike Festival the first weekend in October (you will just miss it---it begins on October 3). The weather has always been warm and sunny at midday; cool or even cold (almost down to freezing) at night. If you are lucky, the larches will be starting to turn at the higher elevations.

Thanks again all for the info so far, it has been helpful

Enzian, the guide I have is published by the Cascade Loop Association (a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information on the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway). Their website is www.cascadeloop.com.

Their loop has you counterclockwise starting in Everett and heading east on route 2, then turning northward on 97, to 153 to route 20, which at that point you are headed from the east to the west on 20.

I quote from their guide "as you head west out of Winthrop you'll immediately see why this Cascade Loop Travel Guide presents the route in a counter-clockwise direction. The easter approach to Washington Pass is absolutely magnificent providing dramatic views you don't get when your drive from west to east."

But it seems that most people do the drive in the clockwise direction. So that is why I asked. Books can tell you some things, but I like to hear it from people who have had the experience.

And honestly, going in the clockwise direction sort of works better for us regarding getting back to Seattle by noon on Friday.

I looked at the website for Freestone Inn and it looks very nice. I will call tomorrow to check regarding the dining room.

Another question, what about a boat tour of Lake Chelan? We can take the Lady of the Lake tour which will take an entire day or hire a private boat, at a lot more money but we'd have much more flexibility timewise. On vacations I don't mind spending money if something is worth doing. I spoke with the boat captain and he said it is an awesome trip. So any input?

Again thanks for all your help so far. I will probably start making reservations tommorrow.
KathyH

<i>I looked at the website for Freestone Inn and it looks very nice. I will call tomorrow to check regarding the dining room.</i>

The Freestone Inn does look nice on the web sight, but the setting is not equal to Sun Mountain Lodge, and neither is the dining room. At SML the dining room and bar have wonderful mountain views; a Freestone Inn the restaurant is in the lobby--not in a room off the lobby, but in the lobby.

Perhaps FI is adding a real dining room. I note on their web site that &quot;the dining room is not open at this time.&quot;

happytraisl has a good point. The views from Sun Mountain Lodge are indeed very scenic, and the property itself is very nice.

Freestone Inn is newer, and I am only familiar with it from winter visits, since it is right on the ski trails. I think their dining room is a work of art in itself, even tho it is &quot;in&quot; the lobby. But it does not offer views over the landscape like the Sun Mountain DR does. Plus Sun Mountain has an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub.

The main reason I suggested Freestone is for the location.

I'll have to check out the Cascade Loop Travel Guide, and pay more attention next time we are driving east to west. I guess as you are coming up, you would have Early Winters Spires and Liberty Bell above you. But having hiked and skied all around there. . . in my mind's eye I am still preferring the views you get as you drop down that sweeping switchback.

Anyway, if you drive back up to hike Blue Lake you'll get both. Let us know what you think.

Okay, it's done, rooms booked and trip figured out.

We are arriving in Seattle on Saturday and heading right away north instead of stopping to see my brother.

First night we are staying in La Connor at the Heron Inn and Watergrass Day Spa. It was the only room available in that entire area. Apparently this weekend is oyster run and there will be 20,000 Harley's in the area. It will be crowded, but I wanted to stay on the coast and I hope to make it over to Deception Pass Saturday afternoon.

Any good suggestions for a casual but good dinner in that area?

Sunday we leave and head out on route 20 east. We have booked the Lake Diablo Dam tour, it is the last tour of the season. I thought it would be a fun way to start our cascade trip.

After the tour, which takes three hours we will wander over to Winthrop. Depending on the time and weather we will stop here and there to catch the views or take a short hike.

We are staying in Winthrop for two nights at Sun Mountain Lodge. I think on our day there we will back track and do the Blue Lake Hike. Is the trail well marked? Also going to do some horse back riding when there. The first night at the Lodge and will find a place for dinner the second night. I think there is a brewpub in town so maybe there.

Our next two nights will be in Leavenworth at Abendblume B&amp;B. We will meander from Winthrop to Leavenworth, probably stopping in Lake Chelan for lunch. We can do some other hikes during our stay in Leavenworth.

I have this week to look into hikes and other little side trips or things to do when on this adventure.

Thursday we will head over to Issaquah to spend the next 5 days with my brother.

I am very excited about our trip. Any suggestions or input again welcome. It was through everyone's help and ideas I decided on doing the Cascade loop so thank you.
KathyH

Sounds good. Enjoy.