Cayuse Pass (el. ) is a
mountain pass
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human and animal migration t ...
in the
Cascade Mountains
The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as many of those in the ...
in the state of
Washington
Washington most commonly refers to:
* George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States
* Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A ...
.
The pass is about southeast of
Enumclaw on
State Route 410, about west of SR410's
Chinook Pass. The intersection with
State Route 123 is at the pass.
The pass carries State Route 410 and State Route 123 between
Packwood and Enumclaw. Because of the high elevation, Cayuse Pass is usually closed in November due to very heavy snow and significant
avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a Grade (slope), slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, othe ...
danger. It usually opens in mid-May, and is not uncommon to have a snow depth at the summit of up to .
As part of the
All-American Road program, Route 410 through Cayuse Pass has been designated by the U.S. government as the
Chinook Scenic Byway.
See also
*
Chinook Pass
*
Naches Pass
External links
WSDOT website for Cayuse pass
Mountain passes of Washington (state)
Mountain passes of the Cascades
Landforms of Pierce County, Washington
Transportation in Pierce County, Washington
{{PierceCountyWA-geo-stub