Winter preparations will limit access to Mount Baker Highway
State road crews will be getting the Mount Baker Highway ready for winter travelers next week, and daily closures are planned east of Glacier.
Starting Monday and ending Thursday, Mount Baker Highway will close daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. near Coal Creek Bridge at milepost 35, the Washington State Department of Transportation said in an emailed statement.
“(WSDOT) maintenance crews will perform early winter maintenance, such as clearing catch basins and ditches, removing hazardous or dead trees, making guardrail repairs and shoulder repairs,” the statement said.
“People who wish to travel beyond the closure points during closure hours are permitted to do so at their own risk. They must be past Picture Lake (milepost 54) before 7:30 a.m. and will not be permitted back through the closure point until after 4 p.m.,” WSDOT said.
Work is planned in advance of the upcoming winter sports season.
Later this year, Mount Baker Highway will close for the season just past the ski area, about 3 miles below Artist Point. Timing of that annual closure depends on the season’s first big snowstorm.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
