Week one of the 2024 North Cascades spring clearing work is on the books!
information released
Crews have started clearing from the east side
The eastside clearing crew started work on Monday, March 25 at Silver Star gate (milepost 171) and reported about 31 inches of compact snow on the road, the bottom 15 inches or so being hard pack on the road surface. The blower and D8 dozer are able to move the big stuff, with one of the crew following in a grader to break up the solid stuff.
The crew reached milepost 165, about halfway through the Cutthroat avalanche paths on the east side of Washington Pass.
Planning for SR 20 travel in 2024
The spring opening of the North Cross provides an alternative route that mean a much shorter trip across the state for many travelers. When planning a trip over the North Cascades, remember that there is only a narrow window of time to do necessary work in the mountains, and you can expect to encounter some kind of road work on your trip. Signing up for travel advisories, and checking our real time travel map and our mountain pass page are the best ways to get the information you’ll need to make travel plans.
Until the North Cascades opens
During the week, the road behind the closure points is a work zone. For the safety of you and our crew, please stay out of the area during working hours.
For now, the road is otherwise closed and unmaintained between milepost 134 and 171, and there is no cell service on the passes. If you choose to visit the back country on the weekends, please check in on conditions with the Northwest Avalanche Center.
Until the road is open, you’re invited to enjoy the year’s Flickr album with pics and video of our clearing crew working in one of the prettiest work zones in the world.
Safe travels
Lauren Loebsack, communications 509-667-2815
North Central Region-Wenatchee
