At 5,575 feet in elevation, it ranks as the highest paved pass in the state of Washington.
Yet Sherman Pass, tucked away in the Okanogan Mountains in the Northeast corner of the state, is one of the least known and least travelled.
But you can't say it isn't pretty, and it has a picnic area, campground and viewpoint near the top from which to enjoy it.
From Sherman Overlook at the 5,220-foot mark you can look up and to the south at 6,998-foot Sherman Peak, which is tree covered and often snow covered before other places in the state get a taste of it.
At least that's the way it was when viewed on a September trip over the pass in 2017.
Fresh snow clung to the side of the road, and blanketed the slopes above it.
To the north, on the other hand, you could see the dry grass and trees typical of the mountains of Eastern Washington.
You can also look down the valley and the road that winds toward the distant town of Republic.
The campground located here has nine tent/trailer sites with bathrooms available.
Sherman Pass also features the Canyon Creek Campground located to the east above Kettle Falls, and a snow park -- also to the east of the top.
The Canyon Creek Campground is open from Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 27 each year, while the Sherman Overlook Campground is open from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 30.
The snow park is a rather difficult non-motorized trail for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. A Washington state Sno-Park Permit is required from Dec. 1 through March 31, which is the peak season.
How to get there:
Sherman Pass can be found on Highway 20, which runs east and west between Kettle Falls and Republic on what is a 35-mile stretch of the road.
The address of the Sherman Overlook Campground is Kettle Falls, WA 99141.
Text and photos by Tim Clinton.
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