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2002 Map of Washington Pass

Name: 2002 Topographic Map of Washington Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2006
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2006

About this map

The North Cascades Scenic Highway Corridor carves through the high granite terrain where the boundaries of Okanogan and Chelan counties meet. This high-altitude passage is dominated by the massive spires of Liberty Bell Mountain and the Early Winters Spires, which overlook the steep descent toward Early Winters Creek. The map details the complex geography of the Pacific Crest trail system and the transition between three major wilderness areas: the Okanogan, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie, and Wenatchee National Forests.

Alpine hydrology is prominent, with high-elevation basins holding the Upper Snowy Lake and Lower Snowy Lake, which drain toward Golden Creek. Steep passes like Rainy Pass and Cutthroat Pass served as vital pedestrian and pack routes long before the highway was modernized. At Washington Pass, the terrain reaches a dramatic crest, marked here with the Washington Pass Overlook providing views of The Needles and the glaciated valleys below.