Industry News
State Routes 410/Chinook Pass and 123/Cayuse Pass within Mount Rainier National Park will close for the winter season at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 24, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Chinook Pass (5,430 feet) and Cayuse Pass (4,675 feet) will close between Crystal Mountain Boulevard, approximately 12 miles northwest of the summit near the Mount Rainier National Park boundary, and Morse Creek, five miles east of the summit. To the south, State Route 123 will close to Stevens Canyon Road.
The closure of the two passes this season is earlier in the year than normal due to the increased snow in the weekend forecast and to ensure the safety of maintenance crews and travelers as conditions deteriorate. The two Passes typically close in mid-November due to avalanche risks. Chinook Pass is located on SR 410 between the towns of Enumclaw and Naches in Washington state. It is home to numerous great backcountry ski zones, many of which offer excellent skiing or riding in the spring once the highway reopens. Typically, both Passes reopen in late May, depending on snowmelt and road conditions.
These roads close each winter because of hazardous conditions such as increased avalanche risk, lack of emergency services, and limited snow storage. Early, heavy snow has promoted an earlier-than-usual closure this year, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Both passes are located within Mount Rainier National Park and are known for heavy snowfall and avalanche risk.
Another pass or highway that closes every winter due to hazardous conditions is the North Cascades Scenic Highway (SR 20). That highway is located much further north than Chinook Pass and goes through the North Cascades National Park, while Chinook Pass is a scenic mountain pass on the Stephen Mather Memorial Parkway, near Mount Rainier National Park. There have been no updates on when it will close for the season.Â
