The varied landscape of the region, from the jagged peaks of the North Cascades to the pebbled beaches of Fidalgo Island, is often cited as a reason Skagit County residents love living here.
The Cascade Loop, of which Highway 20 through Skagit County is a part, is now federally recognized for that beauty.
On Jan. 19, the Cascade Loop became one of 34 National Scenic Byways designations approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The last time a roadway in Washington earned this kind of federal designation was in 2005, according to the Department of Transportation webpage for the America’s Byways program under which National Scenic Byways are established.
Read full feature article here: 440-mile Cascade Loop gets National Scenic Byway designation after years of effort