Washington Pass Overlook
Washington Pass Overlook sits at 5,445 feet along the Cascade Loop, facing 60 degrees toward the east-northeast. The terrain drops 897 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, indicating steep ground below the viewpoint. Two named peaks are visible: Big Kangaroo, to the east-southeast at 1.4 miles and 8,212 feet, and Silver Star Mountain, to the east-northeast at 3.2 miles and 8,749 feet. The overlook faces roughly toward sunrise, about 30 degrees off square with that direction, which may be worth noting for early-morning visits or photography. Winthrop lies 21.4 miles to the east, Twisp is 26.5 miles east-southeast, and Pateros is 47.3 miles southeast, placing the overlook well outside any immediate town. The next lookout along the route is Viewpoint Dam.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Big Kangaroo8,212 fteast-southeast · 1.4 mi
- Silver Star Mountain8,749 fteast-northeast · 3.2 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunrise — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:06 | 19:15 | 18:34 |
| June solstice | 05:01 | 21:09 | 20:19 |
| September equinox | 06:50 | 19:02 | 18:21 |
| December solstice | 07:53 | 16:10 | 15:16 |
Local time (America/Los_Angeles). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Winthrop21.4 mi east
- Twisp26.5 mi east-southeast
- Pateros47.3 mi southeast
Take the scenic way to Washington Pass Overlook.
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How high is Washington Pass Overlook?
Washington Pass Overlook sits at about 5,445 feet (1,659 m).
What can you see from Washington Pass Overlook?
From Washington Pass Overlook: Big Kangaroo (ESE, 1.4 mi); Silver Star Mountain (ENE, 3.2 mi).
Is Washington Pass Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise. The land falls away from Washington Pass Overlook toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Washington Pass Overlook?
Winthrop, 21 miles E of Washington Pass Overlook.
What is the next lookout after Washington Pass Overlook?
Viewpoint Dam is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Washington Pass Overlook.
Drive to Washington Pass Overlook with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- North Cascades National Park · 12 mi
- Winthrop · 22 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Washington Pass Overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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