Road clearing crew reaches summit of Washington Pass

information released by WSDOT

Hello fellow North Cascades enthusiasts: here is the update for the week of April 17-21.

The east side clearing crew reached the summit of Washington Pass this week and are heading into the home stretch of clearing work. Snow levels on the roadway are about 6 ft. deep, just the right depth for the blower to make good time. As the crew heads into Rainy Pass, there are about 14 miles and one more avalanche path near Whistler Mountain before they meet the west side clearing point at milepost 148.

Once the road is cleared of snow, crews will repair damage to the guardrail, signage, and pavement caused by snow slides over the winter. Without the roadway fully cleared, it’s still too soon to tell when the route will reopen for the spring. We expect a few more weeks of work still, but when dealing with Mother Nature and the potential for spring snow and rain, there are still too many variables to say exactly when the road will open.

Many of you now have a tradition of taking the trip over the North Cascades on opening day, but for those who are planning to but have never yet made the trip early in the season, it’s important to note that when the route first opens most National Parks and Forest Service facilities are closed to the public until later in the spring. There also may still be narrow roadway shoulders with snowpack, few pull outs or turn arounds, and limited services. The passes have been known to get snow and freezing rain late into spring, so you’ll need to be prepared for potential winter driving conditions and confirm that your destination is open and available to the public.

If you are wanting to bike on the highway before the gates open, the next couple of weekends are probably your best opportunity to do so. We’ll be sure to continue to update you here and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. A couple of important things to keep in mind: the Northwest Avalanche Center has wrapped up forecasts for the season and there is limited cell service along this route. For everyone’s safety, please keep any activities to Friday-Sunday when crews are not working.

Take care and safe travels-
Lauren Loebsack, Communications
North Central Region-Wenatchee