North Cascades Highway shuts down for the season on Thursday
Dec 3, 2025, 4:00 PM | Updated: 4:11 pm
The Washington State Department of Transportation conducting a seasonal clearing of SR 20/North Cascades Highway in 2024. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
Snow accumulations have been dismal so far this year compared to years past, but this weekend, snow showers are in the forecast across the north Cascades, and that is enough to shut down the North Cascades Highway/State Route 20 (SR 20) for the season.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) made the decision to close it after determining that the snowfall would pack some of the avalanche pathways, making it dangerous for drivers to travel.
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North Cascades Highway to close for the season Thursday
Drivers have until 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, to make one last trek across the scenic highway until it reopens in spring. At 6 p.m., both directions of SR 20 will close between Rainy Pass (milepost 134) and Washington Pass (milepost 171).
Last year, WSDOT closed this section of the North Cascades Highway on Nov. 18. The earliest seasonal closure was recorded on October 17, 2007. The latest seasonal closure occurred on January 3, 1990.
A complete list of North Cascades Highway openings and closures since 1972 is provided below.
|
Year |
Opened |
Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 22 | Dec. 4 |
| 2024 | April 19 | Nov. 18 |
| 2023 | May 11 | Nov. 30 |
| 2022 | May 10 | Nov. 3 |
| 2021 | May 5 | Nov 15 |
| 2020 | May 12 | Nov. 16 |
| 2019 | April 18 | Dec. 11 |
| 2018 | May 11 | Nov. 28 |
| 2017 | May 16 | Nov. 10 |
| 2016 | April 22 | Nov. 18 |
| 2015 | April 3 | Nov. 12 |
| 2014 | May 8 | Nov. 24 |
| 2013 | April 16 | Dec. 3 |
| 2012 | May 10 | Nov. 20 |
| 2011 | May 25 | Nov. 21 |
| 2010 | April 16 | Dec. 1 |
| 2009 | April 24 | Nov. 17 |
| 2008 | May 1 | Dec. 15 |
| 2007 | April 26 | Dec. 4 |
| 2006 | May 1 | Nov. 13 |
| 2005 | Mar. 10 | Nov. 3 |
| 2004 | Apr. 8 | Dec. 13 |
| 2003 | Apr. 14 | Oct 17 |
| 2002 | May 7 | Dec. 17 |
| 2001 | Mar. 22 | Nov. 19 |
| 2000 | Mar. 30 | Nov. 28 |
| 1999 | May 5 | Dec. 6 |
| 1998 | Apr. 2 | Nov. 20 |
| 1997 | May 7 | Dec. 16 |
| 1996 | Apr. 24 | Nov. 19 |
| 1995 | Apr. 28 | Nov. 5 |
| 1994 | Apr. 7 | Oct. 31 |
| 1993 | Mar. 24 | Dec. 8 |
| 1992 | Apr. 9 | Dec. 8 |
| 1991 | May 2 | Nov. 17 |
| 1990 | Apr. 18 | Nov. 12 |
| 1989 | Apr. 21 | Jan. 3, 1990 |
| 1988 | Apr. 20 | Nov. 19 |
| 1987 | Apr. 15 | Dec. 1 |
| 1986 | Apr. 11 | Nov. 26 |
| 1985 | Apr. 12 | Nov. 15 |
| 1984 | Apr. 4 | Nov. 2 |
| 1983 | Apr. 20 | Nov. 24 |
| 1982 | May 6 | Dec. 2 |
| 1981 | Apr. 24 | Nov. 30 |
| 1980 | Apr. 18 | Nov. 27 |
| 1979 | Apr. 10 | Dec. 15 |
| 1978 | Apr. 21 | Dec. 11 |
| 1977 | N/A | Nov. 23 |
| 1976 | May 21 | None |
| 1975 | May 16 | Nov. 24 |
| 1974 | Jun. 14 | Nov. 21 |
| 1973 | Apr. 27 | Nov. 21 |
| 1972 | Sept. 2 | Nov. 26 |
Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Follow him on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.
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