Time to Plan for the Seasonal Closure of SR 20 North Cascades Highway

When might the cross-state mountain pass close?

information released by WSDOT

Hello and happy autumn, fellow North Cascades enthusiasts,

Since the announcement of the seasonal closure of Cayuse and Chinook passes on Nov. 4, all eyes have turned to SR 20 North Cascades Highway. The question is now when it will be Rainy and Washington passes’ turn to close for the season.

Why do we close the North Cascades Highway?

Like Chinook and Cayuse, the seasonal closure of SR 20 North Cascades Highway is determined by conditions – including avalanche risk. The stretch of SR 20 that crosses Rainy and Washington passes also crosses dozens of avalanche paths. On Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass, our avalanche control teams use a variety of techniques to clear the avalanche chutes in the winter, but staffing, funding and proximity to the national park mean that it is not feasible to do the same for North Cascades Highway.

When will we close the North Cascades Highway?

Our maintenance crews plow this section of SR 20 until it is no longer safe to work in the area due to avalanche conditions. At that point, we close the gates for the season to ensure the safety of the traveling public and our crews. Early season closure points are between Ross Dam trailhead at milepost 134 on the west side and Silver Star gate at milepost 171 on the east side.

Check in for updates…

We’re well past the earliest closing date of Oct. 17, which happened in 2003, so we’re on borrowed time now until the seasonal closure. As soon as the team determines the route must close, we will share that information through this listserv, Facebook, and the mountain pass page.

If you are planning on making the trip over the “North Cross”, as some call this stretch of SR 20, remember that you are traveling over mountain passes with no cell service. Be prepared for winter driving.

Frequently asked questions…

Why don’t we just set a date for the closure? Every season is different and keeping the North Cross open for as long as possible provides a more direct route for freight, recreation, and the communities on each side of the mountains.

When the highway closes, can I park at the closure points? Yes. The gate closure locations are at locations where adequate parking is available for backcountry users while still providing access and maneuverability for crews clearing the road to the gate.

Am I allowed to go beyond the gate for recreation? Yes! But. …remember, this is a very active avalanche area that sees a huge amount of snow and has lots of potential hazards. So be prepared if you choose to adventure beyond the closure gates.

Why aren’t there any traffic cameras on Rainy or Washington passes? Since the passes close for up to half the year, the expense of installation and maintenance of cameras doesn’t justify the need. With tons of avalanche activity potentially damaging the equipment and no traffic, there’s little value in having cameras up there. There are cameras on other parts of SR 20 that remain open all year.

What is the elevation of the North Cascades? Rainy Pass is 4,855 feet and Washington Pass is 5,477 feet.

There is a snow park at Silver Star gate, why don’t we stay open all winter to the park? At a certain point in the winter, the snowpack will become too deep for our equipment to manage, and we need to focus resources on priority routes.

No matter the reason you follow NCH news, we want you to be prepared. While we handle the road, there is much more going on in the North Cascades. Here are some links to keep up to date on other happenings in the national park and forest: