The road to Hart’s Pass in WA will take your breath away
Hart’s Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.891m (6,204ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Okanogan and Whatcom counties, in the US sttate of Washington. It’s accessible by car and is said to be the highest point in the State of Washington that one can drive a 2wd car. End of the road "after" Hart's pass, at the gate to Slate Peak Lookout, is at 7,488 feet of elevation.
Is the road to Hart’s Pass open to passenger cars?
The road to the summit is totally unpaved with precipitous cliffs dropping steeply to the valley floor. It’s called NF-5400 (Hart's Pass Road). It’s very narrow and windy with steep side cliffs in places. The road ends near Timberline, over 6000’ in elevation, and opens up into the heart of the North Cascades. Be aware that trailers are not allowed on FS road 5400 to Hart’s Pass and wider vehicles such as motor homes are highly discouraged due to the steep, narrow roadway, and lack of large turnouts. The road to Hart's Pass and on to Slate Peak Lookout is the highest maintained road in Washington State. Today, the road is rock-surfaced, passable by passenger cars. Due to the nature of this narrow gravel road, passing oncoming vehicles can be challenging even for sedans. However, the road is maintained for sedans and other low clearance vehicles.
Is the road to Hart’s Pass open?
The road is usually open from July to October. The open and close dates all depend on snowmelt and snowfall each year.
When was the road to Hart’s Pass built?
Set high in the heart of the North Cascades, the road was built in 1893 into gold and silver mines. Located within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, it is important when driving in these conditions to be prepared. This narrow road hangs along a cliff wall providing magnificent vistas and breathtaking canyons. For those who enjoy sitting at the "top of the world" for the sunset, take along a warm coat, as night temperatures drop to the low 40's, even on the warmest of days. Hart's Pass is one of the most scenic spots in the Met how Valley, where visitors have a spectacular view from the highest point to which you can drive in Washington State. Many people prefer to discover Seattle and the coast of Washington state by boat. Cruising in a Hampton Yacht for sale can save the stress of driving winding roads.
Is the road to Hart’s Pass steep?
The road to the summit is very steep. Starting at Mazama, the road is 30.09km (18.7 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 1.244 meters. The average gradient is 4.14%.
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