# Cascade Pass

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{{Short description|Mountain pass in Washington}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Cascade Pass
| photo = Cascade pass.jpg
| photo_caption = Sahale Arm north of Cascade Pass, looking towards [Pelton Peak](/source/Pelton_Peak), Yawning Glacier and Magic Mountain
| elevation_ft = 5392
| elevation_ref = 
| traversed = Cascade Pass Trail
| location = [Chelan](/source/Chelan_County%2C_Washington) / [Skagit](/source/Skagit_County%2C_Washington) counties, [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)), United States
| range = [Cascades](/source/Cascade_Range)
| coordinates = {{coord|48|28.1|N|121|3.6|W|type:pass_region:US-WA_elevation:1643|display=inline,title}}
| topo = 
}}

'''Cascade Pass''' (formerly also known as '''Skagit Pass'''<ref>Rev. [Harvey K. Hines](/source/Harvey_K._Hines), D.D., ''An Illustrated History of the State of Washington'', The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1893, p. 284–286.</ref><ref>[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/8D705E08-4DA8-425B-97ED-96ACE4E4B21A/0/WashingtonHwys_Sept1972.pdf ''North Cascades Highway'' Dedication Issue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004202347/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/8D705E08-4DA8-425B-97ED-96ACE4E4B21A/0/WashingtonHwys_Sept1972.pdf |date=2006-10-04 }}, ''Washington Highways'' (Washington State Department of Transportation), September 1972, p. 4. Accessed online 12 September 2008.</ref>) is a {{convert|5392|ft|m|adj=on}} [mountain pass](/source/mountain_pass) over the northern [Cascade Range](/source/Cascade_Range), east of [Marblemount, Washington](/source/Marblemount%2C_Washington), U.S.

Although an important pass, providing the easiest connection from the [Cascade River](/source/Cascade_River_(Washington)) to the head of [Lake Chelan](/source/Lake_Chelan), it is now inside [North Cascades National Park](/source/North_Cascades_National_Park), and crossed by only a hiking trail.

From the west, one reaches it by hiking an easy 3.5 mile trail from the end of the Cascade River Road (elev. {{convert|3600|ft|m}}). From the east, it is accessible via a trail from [Stehekin](/source/Stehekin%2C_Washington) up the [Stehekin River](/source/Stehekin_River) valley.

The summit of the pass, being at the [tree line](/source/tree_line), is known for its views in all directions. It is also a key departure point for [mountaineering](/source/mountaineering); to the north, the gentle ridge of the [Sahale arm](/source/Sahale_arm) leads up [Sahale Mountain](/source/Sahale_Mountain) to the summit, as well as to the meadows of Boston Basin and the summits above. To the south, Mixup Arm leads to [Mixup Peak](/source/Mix-up_Peak) and [Magic Mountain](/source/Magic_Mountain_(Washington)), as well as to [Cache Col](/source/Cache_Col), making Cascade Pass the start of the high-level [Ptarmigan Traverse](/source/Ptarmigan_Traverse).

The pass was originally a major route for [Native American](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States)s trading between the coast and the interior. Among the first white men to explore and map the Skagit Pass was New York newspaperman [Frank Wilkeson](/source/Frank_Wilkeson). [Alexander Ross](/source/Alexander_Ross_(fur_trader)) probably crossed the Cascades via Cascade Pass in 1814. His writings are too vague to be certain about his precise route.<ref name=beckey>{{cite book |last= Beckey |first= Fred |authorlink= Fred Beckey |title= Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass |edition= 3rd |year= 2003 |publisher= [The Mountaineers](/source/The_Mountaineers_(club)) |isbn= 0-89886-423-2 |pages= 221, 360}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

== References ==
* [Fred Beckey](/source/Fred_Beckey), ''[Cascade Alpine Guide: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass](/source/Cascade_Alpine_Guide%3A_Stevens_Pass_to_Rainy_Pass)'', pp.&nbsp;332–333
* [Harvey Manning](/source/Harvey_Manning) and [Ira Spring](/source/Ira_Spring), ''101 Hikes in the North Cascades'' (The Mountaineers, 1979), pp 80–81

{{Authority control}}

Category:Mountain passes of Chelan County, Washington
Category:Mountain passes of Washington (state)
Category:Mountain passes of the North Cascades
Category:North Cascades of Washington (state)
Category:Landforms of Skagit County, Washington
Category:North Cascades National Park
Category:Transportation in Chelan County, Washington
Category:Transportation in Skagit County, Washington

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cascade Pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Pass) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Pass?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.