Greenwater

The little town of Greenwater was a stop on the historic Naches Trail where the earliest settlers arrived here in wagons. Many years later, the first visitors to newly opened Mount Rainier National Park drove that same route. Don’t make the mistake of speeding past this forested town; Greenwater is the perfect spot to stop, stretch your legs and grab coffee.

It’s the last town before the summit of Chinook Pass, and the “hasn’t changed for decades” ambience of this place is undeniable. Tranquil Greenwater caters to locals, road warriors and ski bums with sporting-equipment rentals, coffee stands, a welcoming tavern and a general store with a wide front porch.  There’s even a business housed in a log cabin (of course) that’s been selling custom-made knit caps since the 1970s.

If you visit in fall, be sure to watch from the bridge in the heart of town for spawning salmon swimming upstream. There are other excellent migration viewing spots nearby; just ask at the local “tavern”—a friendly place that’s actually a bar and grill, where kids are welcome.

Nearby road trips:

https://www.scenicwa.com/whidbey-scenic-isle-way

https://www.scenicwa.com/cascade-loop