Traffic Impacts and Road Advisories

North Cascades Highway Update

11-3-25 -- When Cayuse and Chinook passes close, the speculation begins for SR 20 North Cascades Highway. We’re not there yet, but with winter weather settling in through the Cascades, the season is certainly winding down for NCH.

Why close every year?

State Route 20 through Rainy and Washington passes crosses dozens of avalanche paths, meaning the seasonal closure of SR 20 North Cascades Highway is determined in part by avalanche risk. Our maintenance crews plow this section of SR 20 until it is no longer safe to work in the area due to avalanche conditions.

At that point, we close the gates for the season to ensure the safety of the traveling public and our crews. Early season closure points are between Ross Dam trailhead at milepost 134 on the west side and Silver Star gate at milepost 171 on the east side.

Don’t guess and check for updates.

We are often asked why we don’t set a specific date for the closure. The reason is that every season is different and we want to remain open as long as possible each year. Closing dates have been as early as Oct. 17 and as late as Jan 3. Our crews work hard to keep the North Cross open because this route provides more direct access for freight and the communities on each side of the mountains.

As soon as the team determines the route must close, we share that information through this listserv, Facebook, and the mountain pass page.

If you are planning on making the trip over the “North Cross”, remember that you are traveling through mountain passes with no cell service and with snow forecast for this weekend. You must be prepared for winter driving. Have appropriate tires and drive for conditions. Understand that you can be prepared and still get stuck waiting because of a collision or spin out somewhere else on the mountain pass, so have a full tank of gas and something warm to bundle up in if you have to wait. Our crews are plowing and treating the roads, but as we often see at the beginning of winter, some people aren’t prepared and make the situation even more challenging.

Keep travel lanes and driveways open

Last weekend, plow drivers reported that people were parked on the side of the road, into the driving lanes and in some places, blocking access for crews to get around. This not only hinders plow drivers’ ability to clear the road, but it is also a safety hazard for traffic and first responders. Please be responsible and park only where allowed.

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