Dead ending at Slate Peak, the highest point in Washington state accessible by car at 7500 ft, Hart's Pass offers one heck of a view into the 'hart' of the northern cascades of Cascade National Park. The pass, named after its creator, was built in the early 1900s as a wagon road in response to a healthy gold deposit that was discovered nearby. A silver deposit followed, which led to the rapid migration of fortune seekers to the area. Many of the meadows and fields in the gallery pictures (link in title) were once said to be dotted with tents at the height of the area's population, and for a while the newly developed gold town thrived. But the rush wouldn't last. The mines went dry after three years and the prospectors disappeared almost overnight. A few dilapidated ghost towns are all that remain of this once promising development; that, and Hart's Pass road, which is now maintained by the National Forest Department. Backpacking is free at the top, and various trails connecting the surrounding peaks, including sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, make for some truly awesome hiking – it's all wilderness for hundreds of miles to the north. Driver beware: While the views make this pass arguably the most spectacular drive in Washington, the steep inclines, drop offs, loose rock, and lack of both paving and guardrails also make it one of the most dangerous.
Pro Tip: You can car camp at the very top should you have a cozy vehicle. Makes for easy access to the trails and a nice home-base you don't need to lug around. Though I'd always recommend trekking during the week to avoid the crowds, Slate's Peak provides a launch-off point for more than plenty of trails for some serious solitude even if you can only make it during the weekend.