Satellite map of Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway)

Washington · United States

Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway)

WA 410Cayuse Pass to American River (east of Chinook Pass)

Distance8.9 mi14.3 km
Drive time20 minon the road
DifficultyDemandingtightness 7 of 10
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SR 410's All-American climb over the northeast shoulder of Mount Rainier, with the famous Tipsoo Lake hairpins at Chinook Pass.

Branching east from Cayuse Pass, this stretch of SR 410 swings through a tight set of hairpins past the alpine tarn of Tipsoo Lake to crest Chinook Pass at 5,430 ft, where a log overpass marks the east gate of Mount Rainier National Park. The view of Rainier filling the windscreen on the approach is the reason people drive it. East of the summit the road unwinds in long sweeping descents along the American River, so the character shifts from technical switchbacks to flowing curves. It is a high pass, snowbound and gated shut from roughly November to late May. Mind a high-altitude summit prone to sudden weather, late-lying snow and rockfall on the cuttings, and slow RVs and tour traffic in peak summer.

Scenery

MountainForestLakes

Best seasons

SummerAutumn

In these collections

Where it runs8.9 mi · point to point

Cayuse PassStart · Washington
American River (east of Chinook Pass)End · Washington

Character

Corners60bends
Tightness7of 10
Max gradient7%≈ 1-in-14
Descent472 mtotal descent
Summit1,657.3 mhighest point of the line · 5,437 ft

Corners

busiest around mile 1
2.24.46.7 mi

Elevation

under 4%4–8%over 8%1,184.9 – 1,657.3 m
summit · 1,657.3 m 1,2001,3001,4001,5001,600 m 0.04.58.9 mi

Points of interest3 stops

  • Chinook PassViewpoint
    3.4 mi in
  • Cayuse PassViewpoint
    at the start
  • Deadwood PeakViewpoint
    4.0 mi in

Hazards

  • High-altitude summit weather and late-lying snow
  • Rockfall on cut slopes
  • Slow RV and tour traffic in summer

Sources

Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked

Driving the Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway): quick answers

How long does it take to drive the Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway)?
Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway) runs 8.9 miles (14.3 km) and takes about 20 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway) to drive?
We rate it demanding: 60 corners, a maximum gradient of 7%, and a tightness of 7 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Chinook Pass (Mather Memorial Parkway)?
Summer and Autumn are best. The road closes seasonally over winter; check it has reopened before setting out.

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