SR 20 North Cascades Highway closes for the season Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.

(WINTHROP)– State Route 20 North Cascades Highway will close for the winter season at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.

Rainy Pass (elevation 4862 feet) and Washington Pass (elevation 5475 feet) will close between Ross Dam trailhead (milepost 134) and Silver Star gate (milepost 171). Depending on conditions, the closure points are typically moved to lower elevation closure points later in the season, moving to the Newhalem gate (milepost 120) on the west side and Early Winters gate (milepost 178) on the east side, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

WSDOT will close SR 20 North Cascades Highway for the winter due to conditions and avalanche risk. With current snow loads in avalanche pathways and snow showers forecast in the North Cascades beginning Friday, crews determined it is time to close for the safety of the traveling public and crews.

The earliest closing date for the North Cascades Highway was Oct. 17, 2007. The latest seasonal closure date was Jan. 3, 1990.