United States · US

Sherman Pass

Sherman Pass is Washington's highest mountain pass maintained year-round, cresting the Kettle River Range at 5,575 feet on State Route 20 deep inside Colville National Forest. Named for Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, who crossed here in 1883, the pass is the dramatic centerpiece of the 40-mile Sherman Pass Scenic Byway connecting the small towns of Republic and Kettle Falls in northeast Washington. The route winds through old-growth pine, fir, and western larch forests, past historic logging sites and Civilian Conservation Corps cabins, and through landscapes still marked by the devastating 1988 White Mountain Fire. In autumn, larches turn brilliant gold; in winter, the pass becomes a gateway to backcountry snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. On clear days, panoramic views stretch from Canada across the Columbia River Valley to the Okanogan Highlands.