The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced the seasonal closure of the North Cascades Highway, effective 6 pm Thursday, November 30, 2023. This preemptive move, a response to the incoming severe weather conditions, aims to safeguard travelers against the heightened risk of avalanches, expected due to the upcoming heavy snowfall and subsequent rains.
“Nighty night, SR 20 North Cascades Highway. With significant snow in the forecast followed by rain, the decision has been made to close the road for the season at 6 pm Thursday due to high avalanche concern. As per every year, the closure is between milepost 134 Ross Dam trailhead and milepost 171 Silver Star gate. Recreation will still be permitted beyond the closure gates but please be aware of the potential hazards. The highway will reopen in the spring.”
– WSDOT
State Route 20 will see its closure stretch from milepost 134 at the Ross Dam trailhead to milepost 171 near the Silver Star gate, a 37-mile section encompassing both Rainy and Washington passes.
Forecasts predict several feet of snow descending upon the Cascades, subsequently followed by heavy rain, significantly elevating the threat of avalanches. The WSDOT, in its announcement, emphasized the necessity of this closure, citing the challenging conditions for avalanche control due to staffing, funding, and the area’s proximity to the national park.
Despite the vehicular restriction, WSDOT has noted that recreational activities beyond the gates remain permissible. However, they urge caution, reminding the public that the area is a highly active avalanche zone rife with potential hazards, especially under the expected heavy snow conditions.
This closure marks one of the later winter shutdowns for the highway in the past decade, with its reopening scheduled for spring, dependent on favorable weather and road conditions. Until then, WSDOT commits to regular monitoring, ensuring the highway’s readiness for the public once the threats subside.
Unlike US 2 Stevens Pass and I-90 Snoqualmie Pass, North Cascades does not have facilities to perform avalanche control work to mitigate avalanche danger, according to the Lynden Tribune. The pass will remain closed for the winter in the interest of the traveling public’s safety.
The North Cascades highway typically closes in mid-November and reopens in early May. Hikers, skiers, snowmobilers, and other recreationists can access the closed portion of the highway during the winter season. Users should park in designated parking areas to allow plow drivers the space they need to clear snow around the closed stretch’s access gates.
Anyone using this area should check avalanche forecasts and be aware of quickly changing conditions in the mountains.
North Cascades Highway Wiki
State Route 20 (SR 20), also known as the North Cascades Highway, is a state highway that traverses the U.S. state of Washington. It is the state’s longest highway, traveling 436 miles (702 km) across the northern areas of Washington, from U.S. Route 101 (US 101) at Discovery Bay on the Olympic Peninsula to US 2 near the Idaho state border in Newport. The highway travels across Whidbey Island, North Cascades National Park, the Okanagan Highland, the Kettle River Range, and the Selkirk Mountains. SR 20 connects several major north–south state highways, including Interstate 5 (I-5) in Burlington, US 97 through the Okanogan–Omak area, SR 21 in Republic, and US 395 from Kettle Falls to Colville.
SR 20’s path across the Cascades follows one of the oldest state roads in Washington, established in 1896 as a wagon route. The wagon road fell into disuse within a decade, and the state government postponed the construction of a new route across the North Cascades for several decades. The development of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project spurred boosters to lobby the state for a new route across Washington Pass, which was opened in 1972. SR 20 originally ran from the Mount Vernon area to Okanogan. By 1973, SR 20 was extended over existing state highways in northern Washington, replacing SR 113 and portions of SR 525 and SR 536 near Port Townsend, SR 30 and SR 294 from Tonasket to Tiger; and part of SR 31 from Tiger to Newport.
Although US 12 has a larger east–west extent, SR 20 is the longest highway in Washington at 436.13 miles (701.88 km), only 5.3 miles (8.5 km) longer than US 12. The highway has been called “The Most Beautiful Mountain Highway in the State of Washington.”
