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Washington Scenic Byways
Washington State was one of the first states in the country to establish a system of scenic byways, and has sixty-one routes presently in its scenic system. Scenic byways pass through the varied terrain of Washington reflecting the depth of its scenic, cultural and historic landscapes.
Currently twenty-five scenic byways are supported by active broad based grassroots organizations or have facilities that interpret the story of the byway traveler. Some of these facilities contain Interpretive Markers that describe significant stories related to Washington's heritage.
These byways are featured on the official Washington State Scenic Byways Map or learn more about traveling them on the state’s Tourism website at www.experiencewashington.com.
WSDOT’s Highways and Local Programs Division will accept grants from public or non-profit organizations and tribal governments affiliated with a Washington state or tribally designated scenic byway. How do I apply?
The National Scenic Byways Program and America's Byways
The National Scenic byways Program (NSB) is a grassroots collaborative effort established to help states recognize, preserve and enhance selected scenic routes. Since 1992, the NSB program has provided funding for almost 1,500 state and nationally designated byway projects in 48 states.
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation has designated a class of byways as All American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on scenic, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and archaeological qualities.
Collectively these routes are now known and marketed as America’s Byways. You can learn more about America’s Byways at www.byways.org or www.bywaysonline.org.
America’s Byways in Washington
Washington has six nationally designated routes:
The first two are All American Roads.
The remaining four are National Scenic Byways.
- I-90 - The Mountains to Sound Greenway from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to the high plains of central Washington near the community of Thorp.
- SR 112 - The Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway traversing the north Olympic Peninsula from Port Angeles to the boundary of the Makah Indian Reservation near the end of the Pacific northwest coast.
- SR 17 & 155 - The Coulee Corridor beginning at Othello in north central WA traveling north along SR 17 through Moses Lake and the Grand Coulee, then skirting Banks Lake on SR 155 before crossing the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and ending at the juction of US 97 in Omak.
- US 2 - The Stevens Pass Greenway follows the Skykomish river near Monroe over the Cascade Mountains ending at the junction of US 97 near Cashmere, in north central WA.
National Scenic Byway Grants
SAFETEA-LU 2005
| The River & The Road Implementation Project - North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway |
North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway – SR 31 |
$189,360 |
| Byway Facilities & Interpretive Improvements, Phase 2 - Coulee Corridor |
Coulee Corridor SR 17 & SR 155 |
$165,800 |
| Olympic Coastal Corridor Visitor Center - Pacific Coast Scenic Byway SR 101 |
Olympic Coastal Corridor – SR 101 |
$278,000 |
| Facility Implementation - Palouse Scenic Byway |
Palouse Scenic Byway (multiple routes) |
$112,888 |
| Mountains to Sound Greenway Wayside Exhibits Project |
Mountains To Sound Greenway – I-90 |
$45,000 |
| Implementation of Corridor Management Plan - Mountains to Sound Greenway |
Mountains To Sound Greenway – I-90 |
$25,000 |
| TOTAL |
$815,256 |
2004
| Snoqualmie Point View Park |
Mountains to Sound Greenway – I-90 |
$596,460 |
| SR 410 Welcome Center |
Chinook Pass Scenic Byway – SR 410 |
$1,277,419 |
| TOTAL |
$1,873,879 |
TEA-21 Projects - 1998-2003
| Lewis & Clark Discovery Trailhead & Scenic Overlook |
2003 |
Lewis & Clark Discovery Trailhead & Scenic Overlook |
134,524 |
| Corridor Management Plan |
2003 |
White pass Scenic Byway/ US 12 |
133,700 |
| Olympic Coastal Corridor Visitor Center – Phase II |
2003 |
Coastal Corridor/ US 101, SR 19 & 104 |
129,633 |
| Corridor Management Plan |
2003 |
Cape Flattery Tribal Scenic Byway – Makah Nation |
60,000 |
| Strait of Juan de Fuca Seed Grant |
2003 |
Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway/ SR 112 |
25,000 |
| Byway Interpretive Center Design at Federated Forest |
2003 |
Chinook Pass Scenic Byway/ SR 410 |
80,000 |
| Corridor Management Plan |
2003 |
Whidbey Island Scenic Byway/ SR 20, 525 |
70,000 |
| Construct Diablo Lake Overlook Restrooms Facility |
2003 |
North Cascades Scenic Highway |
117,312 |
| Mountains to Sound Seed Grant |
2003 |
Mountains to Sound Greenway/ I-90 |
25,000 |
| Corridor Management Plan |
2003 |
Okanogan Scenic Byway/ US 97 |
76,131 |
| Coulee Corridor Facilities Improvement Plan |
2003 |
Coulee Corridor |
142,200 |
| Sweet Creek Falls Interpretive Trail – Phase I |
2002 |
North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway |
100,000 |
| Coulees and Canyons Birding Tour |
2002 |
Coulee Corridor/ SR 17 & SR 155 |
60,000 |
| Iron Goat Interpretive Site |
2002 |
Stevens Pass Greenway/ US 2 |
646,500 |
| Lewis & Clark State Park Improvements |
2001 |
Lewis & Clark Trail Highways |
481,600 |
| Early Winters Community Trail Bridge |
2000 |
North Cascades Highway/ SR 20 |
123,980 |
| Clallam Bay-Seiku Traveler Information & Interpretive Areas |
2000 |
Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway/ SR112 |
42,244 |
| US 97 Corridor Management Plan |
2000 |
Yakama Scenic Byway/ US 97 |
80,000 |
| Developing Washington’s Heritage Corridors Program |
2000 |
Statewide |
156,800 |
| Snoqualmie Point Scenic Viewsite Master Plan & Development |
2000 |
Mountains to Sound Greenway/ I-90 |
100,000 |
| Tipsoo Lake Restrooms & Picnic Area |
2000 |
Chinook Pass Scenic Byway/ SR 410 |
157,200 |
| Implementation of CMP/Marketing |
2000 |
Chinook Pass Scenic Byway/ SR 410 |
68,800 |
| Mt. Baker Glacier Visitors Center |
1999 |
Mt. Baker Scenic Highway |
19,680 |
| Gateway Signs |
1999 |
Gorge Scenic Area/ SR 14 |
17,200 |
| Wallula Scenic & Interpretive Wayside |
1999 |
Tri-Cities to Walla Walla/ US 12 |
36,639 |
| Mud Bay Park & Ride Interpretive Panels |
1999 |
Coastal Corridor/ SR 101 |
10,093 |
| Sutter Creek Roadside Park Improvements |
1999 |
North Cascades Scenic Highway |
18,096 |
| Elbe Rest Area & Interpretive Facility |
1999 |
SR 706 |
543,320 |
| Heritage Site Assessment & Sign Development |
1999 |
North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway/ SR31 |
120,000 |
| Interpretive & Tourism Promotion Plan |
1999 |
Lewis & Clark Trail Highways |
79,200 |
| Interpretive Sites and Signs |
1999 |
Mt. Baker Highway/SR 542 |
28,700 |
| Marketing Program |
1999 |
Mt. Baker Highway/ SR 542 |
38,000 |
| Steigerwald Lake NWR Gateway |
1999 |
Gorge Scenic Area/ SR 14 |
174,000 |
| Marketing Research Survey |
1999 |
North Cascades Scenic Highway/ SR 20 |
28,000 |
| Regional Marketing Project |
1999 |
Mountains to Sound Greenway/ I-90 |
2,768 |
| Trailblazer Guide & Signs |
1998 |
Mountains to Sound Greenway/ I-90 |
8,000 |
| Corridor Management Plan |
1998 |
Chuckanut Drive/ SR 11 |
27,360 |
| TOTAL |
4,161,680 |
Interpretive Markers
WSDOT in partnership with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and State Historical Society maintain a system of Highway Interpretive Markers along state highways and in state park locations.
The markers chronicle Washington State's history at various locations across the state, and educate travelers about the natural, historic or cultural heritage in all regions of the state.
For information please contact Carrie Sunstrom at (360) 705-7387.
Lewis & Clark
The Lewis & Clark Design Guidelines begin a process of bringing the lessons of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the traveling public of Washington, citizens and visitors alike, through the installation of outdoor interpretive exhibits and orientation signage.
The exhibits will help travelers discover, as the Corps of Discovery did almost 200 years ago, the rich diversity of nature and culture that we have in Washington.
Travelers will discover through interpretation that like Lewis and Clark, the places, events, native people, and wildlife embody not only historical significance, but also universally powerful themes.
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