Festival Traffic Alerts
When planning your travels on the Cascade Loop, use this link from the Department of Transportation for travel impacts and anticipated wait times, especially during festival season!
North Cascades Highway
WSDOT opened the final section of SR 20/North Cascades Highway in 1972. Each year crews close it to vehicles for the winter due to the snow in the 27 avalanche chutes that loom above the highway. That closure usually happens in November or December. However, in previous years the highway has closed as early as October. The latest closing was Jan. 3, 1990 and in 1976-77 the highway remained open all winter due to the lack of snow. View the North Cascades Highway opening and closing history here
Highway Closure
Avalanche experts assess conditions through the late fall and early winter until the time comes to close the pass. Then, in early spring, when it is determined to be safe, WSDOT will move snow blowers, plows, snow cats, graders and loaders to the area to start clearing snow, removing winter debris and replacing damaged guardrail and signs. That clearing process usually takes six to eight weeks. View the North Cascades Highway opening and closing history here
WSDOT Traffic Alerts
With winter weather there will be an occasional accident, slow-down or closure. Please always check the WSDOT's Traffic Alerts page before you venture out.
