White Pass Byway Banner

Alert: As of 11/6/17, US 12 Rimrock Lake Vicinity milepost 159 - 168: Traffic is detoured onto Tieton Reservoir Road 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through Thursday, November 16.
winter banner
Winter Outdoor Recreation on the Byway

As the Cascade Mountains begin to put on their winter coat, owners and operators of our local businesses start preparing for the inevitable changes the cold and snow dictates. Some outdoor enthusiasts who explore on snowshoes, skis and snowmobiles say the snowfall offers access to all areas due to the protection of multiple feet of snow on otherwise fragile meadows and forests. Others who travel by vehicles will see roads closed and facilities shuttered limiting their ability to experience this outdoor recreation mecca during the winter months. SnoParks may meet your need for access to our public lands. Whatever your viewpoint, the wilderness areas, forests and parks offer winter recreation opportunities right in our own backyard.

Things to remember for your adventure at Mt. Rainier National Park:
  • All vehicles are required to carry chains inside the park from November 1 to May 1.
  • The Nisqually Entrance is open year-round, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day unless closed temporarily due to weather conditions. The uphill gate at Longmire leading to Paradise is closed nightly at 4:30pm and reopens at approximately 9:00am the following day.
  • Winter hours for the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise are 10am - 4:30pm, weekends only. For the holiday vacation season, it will be open daily Nov 23 - 26 and Dec 21 - Jan 1.
  • Stevens Canyon Road and Sunrise Roads are closed for the season. 
  • Cayuse Pass, Hwy 123 and Chinook Pass, Hwy 410 are expected to close November 20, unless closed earlier due to snowfall.

November Events & Activities

Nov 9: Art Lab with Dorothy Thomas at the White Pass Country Museum 
Nov 11: USO Style Tribute to Veterans at Morton's Roxy Theater
Nov 11-12: Fee Free Days at Mt. Rainier National Park
Nov 11 & 24: Fee Free Days at Ike Kinswa and Lewis & Clark State Parks
Nov 17 - Dec 31: THE POLAR EXPRESS train ride on board the Mt. Rainier Railroad in Elbe
Nov 20: Summer Patrol USFS with Detective Gene Seiber at White Pass Country Museum
Nov 30: One stroke painting with Bonnie Hanson at the White Pass Country Museum
 
Mark Your Calendars for the Holiday Season

Dec 1 & 2: 59th Annual Look-a-Rama in Mossyrock 
Dec 1 & 2: Close to Home Christmas Bazaar in Onalaska
Dec 1,2 & 8,9: Bah Humbug! Scrooge's Christmas Carol at Morton's Roxy Theater
Dec 2: Brew Brats and Boards at White Pass Ski Area
Dec 7, 8, & 9: Christmas in the Mountains in Morton
Dec 8-23: Lights in the Park at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton
Dec 9: Living Nativity at Morton's Roxy Theater

Gifford Pinchot National Forest Christmas Tree Permits 
on Sale November 15

Personal use permits are $5 each. There is a 5  permit limit per household.  Fourth Grade students who hold a Every Kid in a Park pass will qualify for a free permit for up to five trees per household.  Every Kid in a Park passes are available online for  fourth grade students and their families.   Click Here  for details and permit vendor locations.

DeGoede's Bulb Farm Poinsettia Display

DeGoede's invites the public to stroll through greenhouses, take photos and enjoy the spirit of the holidays, beginning November 17. Greenhouses, the gift shop and show room are open Monday through Saturday 9-5 p.m. Closed December 23 through the holidays and the month of January.

November Fall Nursery sale is in progress with 25% sale on all nursery products, groundcovers and perennials. 25% off all bulbs while they last. 
Download the Free 
White Pass Scenic Byway App for Mobile
Find Places to Stay, Eat and Play in every community!
The White Pass Scenic Byway is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization created for the purpose of public education and promotion of the byway's natural and cultural resources as well as enhancing the assets and resources located along the byway.

The White Pass Scenic Byway, U.S. Highway 12, extending from I-5 to Naches is an exceptional journey, offering travelers experiences of wildlife, outstanding scenic and natural landscapes, and unlimited outdoor recreation. The location between Mt. Rainier National Park and Mt. St. Helens National Monument and Mt. Adams is a premier recreation destination. 

Connect With Us