Santiam Pass
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Santiam Pass | |
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Elevation | 4,817 ft (1,468 m) |
Location | Oregon, United States |
Range | Cascades |
Coordinates | |
Traversed by | U.S. Highway 20 |
Santiam Pass (el. 4817 ft.) is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States. It is located on the border between Linn and Jefferson counties, about 18 mi (29 km) northwest of Sisters, between the prominent volcanic horns of Three Fingered Jack to the north and Mount Washington to the south. Several other smaller volcanoes, including cinder cones and tuyas, are found near the summit of the pass. U.S. Highway 20 connects eastern Oregon with the valley of the Santiam River on the west via Santiam Pass.
While the pass was known by native peoples, the first recorded crossing of the pass was in April 1859 by an expedition searching for a cattle trail over the Cascade Range from the Willamette Valley to Central Oregon. This expedition was led by Andrew Wiley, who reportedly climbed a tall tree on a mountain near Lost Prairie, Oregon to help determine the route. Wiley later helped establish the Santiam Wagon Road.
[edit] Nearby Volcanoes