The Blewett Townsite sits on the north side of Blewett Pass on Highway 97. Most people who take the time to stop, pull off into the gravel parking lot and read the aging wood sign…

But, beyond this roadside sign there is so much more.

Highway 97, which leads up and over Blewett Pass, runs directly through the center of what was once the town of Blewett. To find remnants of the town you’d have to look pretty hard these days. No structures are left within eyesight of the highway and very few off the beaten path as well. A few hundred feet down the road from this roadside marker, within walking distance from the same road that thousands drive on every day, is some real life history waiting to be found.

Blewett, like many communities in early North Central Washington history, was a mining community. Blewett had a reputation as a wild town, again like most mining towns of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. By most recollections the area was last seriously mined in the 1960’s and early 1970’s.

There are many mine shafts that are relatively easy to access, some have been partially caved in while others have been completely caved in. Some mine shafts even exhibit signs of flooding from underwater water sources. The area is on National Forest land and it is recommended that people not enter the abandoned mines. There is a good amount of artifacts sitting around, old mining equipment and things like that. Most enthusiasts recommend not removing what may look like “junk” to some people as it is part of the area’s history.

The road you climb to and through the mining area is blocked at the start by a metal gate with signage that reads “no motorized vehicles allowed”. The road is very steep and makes an approximately 1000 foot gain in the first 3/4 to 1 mile.

A full day and then some can be found exploring this conveniently located slice of North Central Washington mining history. Please use caution around old mine shafts and machinery.

More roadside marker photos can be found in our Points of Interest Gallery.