North Cascades pass through Whatcom County to close for the season
Highway 20, the closest road over the Cascades Mountains for residents of Bellingham and Whatcom County, will close for winter at 6 p.m. Thursday, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
Closure points will be between Ross Dam trailhead at milepost 134 and Silver Star gate at milepost 171, WSDOT’s Lauren Loebsack said in an emailed statement.
“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,” Loebsack said.
Depending on conditions, the closure points are moved later in the season to the Newhalem gate at milepost 120 on the west side and the Early Winters gate at milepost 178 on the east side, she said.
Known as Highway 20 or the North Cascades Highway, it’s the Evergreen State’s longest highway and its most northern Cascades pass, linking the east and west parts of the state over 436 miles from Discovery Bay on the Olympic Peninsula to Newport near the Idaho border.
Avalanches are hazardous to drivers who travel Rainy Pass and Washington Pass, making it difficult to keep the road clear of snow between Newhalem and Winthrop.
The highway typically opens in spring after snow-clearing efforts and road repairs.
This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
