Scenic Drives

These are some scenic driving tours that we created for the Degoede Bulb Farm website several years ago and have adapted with directions for your stay at the Harmony Retreat:

From Seattle/Tacoma
From southbound I-5, take SR-512 exit east, then SR-7 south through Spanaway. This route will take you through winding forests with views of Alder Lake. Near the town of Alder, look for a turn-off to the north to SR-161 to take a short detour to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, past the town of Eatonville.

Alternatively, from southbound I-5, take SR-512 exit east, and continue to Puyallup, then take SR-161 south past Graham. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will be on your left, just before Eatonville.

After stopping to see the wildlife, return to SR-161 southbound through Eatonville, following signs to Elbe. Turn left (east) on to SR-7 and continue to the town of Elbe, home of the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway. Rides on the historic steam train are offered summer weekends and there are also seasonal special events (including the “Santa Train”).

From Elbe, continue south via SR-7 to the town of Morton. At US-12, take a right to head west to the the small town of Mossyrock. The Harmony Retreat is 2 miles north.

Return to the Seattle area when you depart via Hwy. 12 east to I-5 then I-5 north, perhaps with a stop in Olympia to see the state capitol building.

From Vancouver/Portland
Go east on SR-14 along the Columbia River through Skamania County to the town of Stevenson. The Washington state entrance point for the Pacific Crest Trail is also near here. Cross the river to the Oregon side via the historical toll bridge, the Bridge of the Gods, to the town of Cascade Locks, which offers such attractions as a marine park and sternwheeler cruises.

From here, take a short detour west on I-84 to see Multnomah Falls. (If you’re coming from Portland, you can take I-84 directly east to this point). Then continue east on I-84 to US-97, to cross the river again north to the Washington side. Soon after entering Washington, you’ll come to the town of Maryhill – home of the Maryhill Museum (open mid-March through mid-November), and the Stonehenge Replica. Continue north on US-97 towards Yakima. Stop in the Yakima Valley to visit some of the area’s famous wineries.

From Yakima, take US-12 west, over the Cascade Mountains via White Pass. In winter, snow sports abound at White Pass Ski Resort. In the summer, take a detour to Mt. Rainier National Park by taking SR-123 north to SR-706 west, following signs to the National Park entrance at Paradise. After visiting Mt. Rainier, continue west on SR-706 to SR-7 at Elbe and follow directions from Elbe via the route above.

If the Mt. Rainier roads are closed, after White Pass continue west on US-12 through the towns of Packwood, Randle, Glenoma, Morton, and Mossyrock. After your stay at the Harmony Retreat, continue west on US-12 to I-5, and south on I-5. For a detour to see Mt. St. Helens, take SR-504 east from I-5 at Castle Rock. In summer, the route below via Longview/Kelso is an alternate route to Mt. St. Helens. Returning to I-5, continue south back to Vancouver/Portland.

From Longview/Kelso
This route is open only seasonally – late spring through early autumn – and offers the closest views of Mt. St. Helens. Go south on I-5 to Woodland, then east via SR-503. Along the way, look for turn-offs to the Ape Cave. At Cougar, follow Forest Road 90 east and Forest Road 25 north. At the turn-off at Forest Road 99, go west to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint and Cascade Peaks restaurant and gift store, open June—September. Back on Forest Road 25, go north to Randle, then west on US-12 past Glenoma and Morton, to Mossyrock.