Traffic Impacts and Road Advisories

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) does an amazing job of keeping our roadways safe and well-maintained. They also are an essential partner in keeping us and our travelers informed about any accidents, closures, or other issues that can impact the normal flow of traffic. Be sure to check out your itinerary using the following resources before you head out!

Washington State Department of Transportation

Travel Alerts-REAL TIME MAP

WSDOT Resources

Traffic Alerts	Stevens Pass (SR 2)	North Cascades Highway (SR 20)	Winter Driving Tips
Anacortes Ferry Terminal	Clinton Ferry Terminal	Coupeville Ferry Terminal	Mukilteo Ferry Terminal

Wildfire and Smoke Safety

Summer season often brings news of wildland and forest fires in the high country near the Cascade Loop. Very rarely travel is impacted by these fires, but occasionally a highway closure or flagger controlled traffic revisions are put in place to assure safe travel.

If fires near the roadway threaten travel, we will post alerts on social media and on this page (find it easily as a 'Travel Alert' bar at the top of every page)

To follow fire activity, these public links are updated by the appropriate agencies regularly:

INCIWEB
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/

Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map
https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/firemap.php

Washington Smoke Blog
https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/p/national-interagency-fire-information.html

Chelan County Emergency Management
https://www.facebook.com/CCSOEM/

Okanogan County Emergency Management
https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management/

Air Quality Reports
https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/mobile/

Be Prepared for Smoke Season

No one can see the future, but you can plan the best vacation possible with travel alert resources on this page

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Special thanks to Voortex Productions (Follow them on Facebook and Instagram)

and

Jamie Petitto (Follow Jamie on Facebook and Instagram)

Video made possible in part with assistance from Okanogan County Tourism and Chelan County Tourism Hotel-Motel Tax funds

Travel Alerts

Stevens Pass Road Alerts

Be sure to check the road conditions when traveling over Stevens Pass from the west side to the east side of the Cascade Loop:

https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/Stevens

North Cascades Highway to remain closed for winter

Highway 20 across North Cascades Highway from the Methow Valley to the Skagit Valley is currently OPEN but BE PREPARED FOR SNOWY AND SLICK TRAVEL CONDITIONS!

The first snowfall has already occurred on the roadway, and closure is imminent, usually early in November. AWD or 4X4 vehicles with proper tires are recommended at this point in time. Studded tires are not allowed until November 1st.

Winter Closure Information

The North Cascades receive abundant snowfall each year, causing Highway 20 to close for the season in late fall/early winter, and reopen in spring, depending on conditions. The closure is from milepost 171 (west of Mazama) to milepost 134 (east of Diablo). This means our Loop becomes more of a crescent, and travelers should schedule accordingly.

Learn more at wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/North-Cascade-Hwy

Winter Recreation

Interested in downhill skiing or snowboarding? Take your pick from Stevens Pass Mountain Resort, Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort, Echo Valley Ski Area, Loup Loup Ski Bowl, and Mount Baker Ski Area, all easily accessible from the highway.

The Cascade Loop also offers miles of groomed Nordic ski trails! Choose from Plain Valley Nordic Ski Trails, Echo Ridge Nordic Ski Trails, and Methow Trails, as well as several locations in Leavenworth managed by Leavenworth Winter Sports Club.

And for a slower experience -- Plan for a family fun sleigh ride at Sun Mountain Lodge,
or visit a Reindeer Farm in Leavenworth.

For the latest updates, see the department of transportation social media feeds:

https://www.facebook.com/WSDOT

https://twitter.com/WSDOT_East