Local highway on list of top drives

The Chinook Scenic Byway, a ribbon of state Route 410 stretching east from Enumclaw and winding across the Cascade Mountains, has landed on a list of the nation’s nicest drives.

Developing a list of the 50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives was one goal of a nationwide survey commissioned by The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and America’s Byways.

The survey also revealed that Americans planned on taking at least one road trip this autumn. The survey also found most travelers want their journey to be something that is beautiful and unique, not just another trip on a superhighway. The overwhelming majority of people (80 percent) would opt for a scenic, touring drive rather than driving directly to their destination.

The Chinook Scenic Byway fulfills that goal. The stretch of SR 410 allows travelers to experience natural beauty, outdoor recreation and an abundance of wildlife. The byway runs for 92 miles from Enumclaw to Naches. Along this corridor, the landscape changes from dense old growth timber to a fertile agricultural district on the east side of the Cascade Mountain range.

Visit www.chinookscenicbyway.com for an interactive map of all there is to see and do along the byway. This isn’t the time of year to visit, as SR 410 was closed Nov. 16 and will not be reopened until spring.

America’s Byways is a collection of 150 distinct and diverse roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

For a complete list of the survey’s 50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives, view this story online at www.courierherald.com.

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