Naches Pass
| Naches Pass | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 4,928 ft (1,502 m) |
| Location | Washington, United States |
| Range | Cascades |
| Coordinates | 47°05′13″N 121°22′46″W / 47.08694°N 121.37944°WCoordinates: 47°05′13″N 121°22′46″W / 47.08694°N 121.37944°W |
Naches Pass (elevation 4,928 feet (1,502 m)) is a mountain pass of the Cascade Range in the state of Washington. It is located about 50 miles (80 km) east of Tacoma and about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Yakima, near the headwaters of tributary streams of the Naches River on the east and the Greenwater River on the west. The boundaries of Pierce, King, Kittitas, and Yakima counties come together at the pass. The pass lies on the boundary between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie and Wenatchee National Forests, about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Mount Rainier National Park. In 1853 a pioneer wagon road was built over the pass.
The old Native American route known as the Naches Trail traveled over Naches Pass and through the Cascade Mountains to connect the various Salish people on the west side (Nisqually & Puyallup) to the Yakima people on the east side of the mountains. The principal items of trade were fish and horses.
Used by Catholic missionaries and the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Naches Trail was officially explored in the summer of 1841 when Lieutenant Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition directed Lieutenant Robert E. Johnson to proceed east over the Cascades via the Naches Pass. The expedition followed the existing Indian trail around the northern flank of Mount Rainier and over the pass. They proceeded to Fort Colvile and Fort Okanogan east of the mountains.
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