Top mountain passes
Mountain PassStevens Pass
Mountain PassCascade Pass
Mountain PassWashington pass
Mountain PassWhite Pass (Washington)
Mountain PassChinook Pass
Mountain PassBlewett Pass
Mountain PassCayuse Pass
Mountain PassPanhandle Gap
Mountain PassBarlow Pass
Mountain PassLoup Loup Pass
Mountain PassAasgard Pass
Mountain PassAlpowa Summit
Mountain Passes by county
All mountain passes (25)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens Pass | Chelan County | 1,254 m | Leavenworth | 3 |
| Cascade PassNorth Cascades | Chelan County | 1,631 m | Darrington | 2 |
| Washington pass | Chelan County | 1,662 m | Arlington | 2 |
| White Pass (Washington) | Yakima County | 1,365 m | Tieton | 3 |
| Chinook PassMount Rainier | Yakima County | 1,656 m | Crocker | 3 |
| Blewett Pass | Chelan County | 1,257 m | West Wenatchee | 3 |
| Cayuse PassMount Rainier | Pierce County | 1,490 m | Crocker | 3 |
| Panhandle GapMount Rainier | Pierce County | 2,055 m | Crocker | 3 |
| Barlow Pass | Snohomish County | 720 m | Gold Bar | 3 |
| Loup Loup Pass | Okanogan County | — | Okanogan | 2 |
| Aasgard Pass | Chelan County | — | Leavenworth | 3 |
| Alpowa Summit | Garfield County | — | Pomeroy | 2 |
| Babyshoe Pass | Skamania County | — | Hood River | 3 |
| Goose Gap | Benton County | — | West Richland | 6 |
| Naches Pass | Yakima County | 1,502 m | Cle Elum | 3 |
| Satus Pass | Klickitat County | 954 m | Goldendale | 2 |
| Sherman Pass | Ferry County | 1,689 m | Republic | 1 |
| Marmot Pass | Jefferson County | 1,820 m | Sequim | 4 |
| Windy Pass | Chelan County | 2,203 m | Leavenworth | 3 |
| Grand PassOlympic | Jefferson County | 1,935 m | Port Angeles East | 3 |
| Gray Wolf Pass | Jefferson County | 1,891 m | Sequim | 3 |
| Lost PassOlympic | Jefferson County | 1,697 m | Port Angeles East | 3 |
| Deception Pass | King County | 1,365 m | Leavenworth | 3 |
| Ashnola Pass | Okanogan County | 1,898 m | Sedro-Woolley | 2 |
| Wauconda Pass | Okanogan County | — | Republic | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph mountain passes
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.