Washington State Route 531

On Sunday, July 19, 2020, we drove Washington State Route 531 through northern Snohomish County.

RCW 47.17.757
State route No. 531:

A state highway to be known as state route number 531 is established as follows:

Beginning at Wenberg state park, thence northerly and easterly to a junction with state route number 9 in the vicinity north of Marysville.

Highway 531 was made a state highway, in part, to provide access to Wenberg State Park, but now the park is a county park. Does that mean the highway shouldn't be a state route anymore? In any case, we begin here along the east shore of Lake Goodwin at the park entrance.


We drive north through the woods with a couple views of the lake to our left. At the north end of the lake, we turn right and soon are driving along the shore of Lake Ki. You could drive straight in the drink if you were not careful. People were treating the lakeside verge as a park. Lakes, woods, let's call this area Lakewood! After curving southeast, we turn left to head due east. The Cascades glisten in the distance, crowned by Three Fingers. After a wait at the railroad crossing, a sign welcomes us to Marysville. Apartment buildings and shopping centers spring from the forest. We have arrived at the junction with I-5.


The east side of the freeway is in Arlington. Welcome to Smokey Point. The narow two-lane road is now seven lanes wide. But then we enter cornfields and it narrows again. Low flying aircraft! The road abruptly climbs out of the valley and onto the hill. Just past a hidden sign, we arrive at the roundabout with SR 9, marking the end of Highway 531.

I'm not sure this road needs to be a state highway, but it's certainly a busy road on a summer weekend.