Our contractor, Interwest Construction Inc., is on track to complete emergency repairs near Diablo Lake (milepost 131) by the end of today, May 29. This means work to clear the rockslide and stabilize the slope is just about done. Our maintenance team will conduct a final sweep Saturday morning to make sure everything looks good, and once it does...
Access to Diablo Lake, Ross Dam Trailhead restored from west side
Starting Saturday morning, May 30, we're moving the west side closure point from milepost 130 to the Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134), which means access to Diablo Lake Vista Point and Ross Dam Trailhead have been restored from the west!
We posted a video on our Instagram account (forgive the misspelling of "North" - long day) if you want to take a final look at Andrew and his team's awesome work. You can see more of his updates on TikTok at @upriver19.
Since emergency repairs began May 3, contractor crews removed loose rock and debris from the slope and conducted extensive scaling work to identify and eliminate unstable material. Crews then drilled holes 20 to 60 feet deep into the rock face and installed more than 1,000 lineal feet of steel dowels in a pattern designed by our geotechnical engineers to stabilize the slope and reduce the risk of future rockfall.
The contractor also removed more than 2,500 cubic yards of debris from the slide area
Work continues on washouts at between MP 142-148
Contractor crews are still tackling the washout damage between Canyon Creek Trailhead (milepost 142) and Granite Creek (milepost 148). Since work began May 13, Trimaxx Construction Inc. of Sedro-Woolley has focused on repairing several locations damaged by December's atmospheric river events.
The work includes rebuilding highway embankments at three washout sites, restoring more than 1,000 feet of undermined and collapsed roadway and shoulder, and repairing damaged drainage systems, guardrail and concrete barrier along a 6-mile section of SR 20.
You can take a look at some new photos from that work zone on our SR 20 Flickr album.
Once more, with feeling...
Until those repairs are complete, SR 20 remains an active work zone seven days a week between Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156). For the safety of workers and travelers, no access is permitted within the closure area, including for hikers, cyclists, and campers.
Our goal remains to reopen SR 20 in full by June 25.
Until then, take care and travel safe. We hope the restored areas on the west side mean that a few of you can hike your favorite trail this weekend.
April 30, 2026 --- Big news, North Cascades Highway enthusiasts: beginning this afternoon, Thursday, April 30, SR 20 North Cascades Highway will reopen with limited access from the east side.
A partial reopening to restore east side access, protect work zone
Starting at 2 p.m. today, we will open the east side gate of SR 20 to all traffic up to Porcupine Creek (MP 156). There will be room for vehicles to turn around at MP 156. Our crews are completing final sweeps and repairs this morning, so this area remains an active work zone until it reopens at 2 p.m.
This partial opening allows people to access more of the corridor from the east while keeping the active work zone between mileposts 130-156 closed for safety.
We do not yet have a timeline for when we can expect to reopen the entire highway. You can see photos of the rockslide and washout damage on our Flickr album.
No public access between Colonial Creek Campground and Porcupine Creek
We've gotten a few questions from cyclists hoping to ride through the damaged portions of SR 20. Starting today, the section between Colonial Creek Campground (MP 130) and Porcupine Creek (MP 156) is closed to all public access 24 hours a day, seven day a week.
You'll see signs on both ends of the closures that read CLOSED WORK ZONE. NO PUBLIC ACCESS.
Contract work is expected to begin soon, and there is no safe way to allow access through the work zone. You can learn more about this work on our project page.
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!
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:
