About Us

White Pass Scenic Byway Vision

First Wayfinding Map goes up in Mossyrock The White Pass Scenic Byway will provide an exceptional traveler experience combining improved information and amenities, and vibrant local communities with unique character and hospitality. As the byway becomes better recognized as a travel destination of regional and national significance, more travelers will plan multi-day itineraries to experience the byway.

The byway will be recognized as one of Washington State’s premier wildlife viewing destinations. Wildlife viewing locations like Swofford Pond, Woods Creek , Riffe Lake, Timberwolf Mountain and other locations throughout the byway will be linked to provide wildlife tours for viewing a variety of birds, fish and mammals. The Oak Creek Wildlife area will develop into Washington State’s single best opportunity for a wildlife viewing experience. Following completion of facilities in Naches and at its headquarters, Oak Creek Wildlife area will draw travelers from throughout the region to view the elk, bighorn sheep, birds, and other wildlife that thrive in its diverse habitats.

More and more visitors to Mount Rainier National Park and Mount St. Helens will be attracted to the undeveloped, wilder recreation opportunities available in the White Pass Scenic Byway corridor, and choose the byway as the access to those destinations. Loop trips that include Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and a portion of the byway will be part of more visits, increasing the number of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens visitors who also drive the byway and take advantage of byway communities as “base camps” for their trips.

Rainier Viewpoint sign Other recreational projects in the region, for example the development of trail systems in the Cowlitz Wildlife Area, establishment of excursion rail service to Morton, the Naches rail-trail project and the proposed William O. Douglas Trail, will improve the range of activities available to travelers in the region, and enhance the byway as a destination. Water-based recreation, including fishing, rafting, and kayaking will continue to be popular, and draw visitors from around the region. A focus on winter recreation will help to maintain the tourism economy throughout the year, as corridor communities provide food, lodging, and services for alpine and cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers.

Regional recreational stakeholders will partner with the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot National Forests, and Mount Rainier National park to support their ongoing recreation programs.

Byway communities will benefit from additional tourism revenues, and continue their processes of revitalization. Mossyrock, Morton, Packwood, and Naches will have healthy, walkable downtowns with a variety of restaurants, lodging opportunities, and retail shops that benefit local residents as well as travelers. Tourism development will be complemented by continuing recovery of the forest products industry, and other commercial economic development to provide a balanced and sustainable regional economy.

The scenic byway management organization, supported by predictable and sustainable operating revenues, will develop and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders agencies and regional recreation and tourism organizations.

Working in partnership with WSDOT, local governments, and state and local agencies, the byway will contribute to quality of life and quality of the environment throughout the region, growing to be a valued asset for communities, and one of the region’s favorite travel destinations.

Goals & Benefits

Improve the byway visitor experience
Improve the tourism economy of the byway and its communities
Protect byway resources
Develop sustainable byway facilities and organization

Projects & Activities

Several projects and enhancements along the byway have taken place since the organization’s inception, enhancing the corridor and working to conserve its unique resources.

Corridor Management Plan

The plan focuses on strategies to enhance the byway while conserving its natural resources. It focuses on enhancements providing more opportunities for recreation and tourism, strengthening, the local economy while conserving the byway’s unique resources.

Download the Corridor Management Plan [31.4 MB]

Interpretive Panels

Ten Interpretive map panels were created and installed in ten communities along the White Pass Scenic Byway. The panels provide information on the communities, points of interest, services, and changing landscapes along the byway. This project was intended to improve way finding and travel information along the byway.

Tear Sheet Maps

Tear sheet maps were created as a handout to educate and inform travelers and residents on the variety of historical, scenic, natural and cultural experiences along the byway. The map provides a detailed look at points of interest and services in the area helping to orient the traveler. The flip side of the map features eight detailed itineraries outlining side trips off the byway.

Download the Tear Sheet Map

Hospitality Training

An outreach program has been developed and is underway to train retail and services staff along the byway corridor to provide effective travel information. The program encourages local staff, from visitor center staffers to gas station clerks, to consistently provide friendly hospitality and accurate information for visitors.

Rack Cards

The Byway has produced a rack card with information including a brief description of the byway and a list of what to do and areas to visit along the corridor. This activity works to educate
travelers on the significance of the byway’s natural, cultural, scenic and historical resources.

Official Structure

The White Pass Scenic Byway is a non-profit 501c3 organization developed to apply for grants and implement the projects outlined in the Corridor Management Plan. The group meets quarterly rotating meetings along the communities of the byway. It is not a membership organization. The board represents interests along the byway, however participation is open to anyone interested in advancing the mission of the organization.

Who is Involved

The Board of Directors consists of nine people. These individuals represent certain agencies or groups.

Maree Lerchen, Packwood Area Lodging
Randy Juette, Naches Chamber of Commerce
Ellie Worsham, Morton Chamber of Commerce
Debbie Angwood, Lewis County P.U.D.
Ellen Berdan, Salkum Area Lodging
Bryan Bowden, Mt. Rainier National Park
Clark McAbee, Morton Train Depot
Marilly Morton, Packwood Area Lodging
Jeff Ranger, City of Naches

History of the Committee

The Scenic Byway project was developed by a grassroots group of citizens from throughout the corridor. The group created the Corridor Management Plan which focuses on strategies to enhance the corridor and conserve its unique resources. The plan is not a regulatory document, and does not limit any activities allowed on private lands by local planning, zoning, and environmental requirements. The plan focuses on enhancements for the corridor that will provide more opportunities for recreation and tourism, and strengthen an important sector of the local economy.

The Steering committee met from 2003 until 2007 to complete the Corridor Management Plan. A board of directors was appointed in 2007.

Getting Involved

Want to get involved? Please contact us for more information.

For more information, contact:

White Pass Scenic Byway
PO Box 957
Packwood, Washington 98361
Phone 360-494-2223