North Cascades Highway

What should you know before visiting North Cascades Highway?

No toll roads expected for a car.

• Snow and avalanche hazards usually close the highway in late November or early December. It typically reopens in April or early May, depending on weather and snow.
• WSDOT can close the highway at any time. Check its real-time information on the day of travel, not only in the planning stage.
• We found no information on fuel or food in the mountain section. Fill the tank and stock food before you enter it, and check what is open in the towns at each end.

The drive

The North Cascades Highway is State Route 20, which crosses the North Cascades. The high point is Washington Pass at about 5,475 feet, and Rainy Pass lies at 4,862 feet. In winter the closure usually covers about 37 miles between the Ross Dam trailhead at milepost 134 and the Silver Star gate at milepost 171. Later in the season, the closure can move to lower points: the Newhalem gate on the west side and the Early Winters gate on the east side.

Planning

The park page on road conditions says SR 20 is managed by WSDOT, which can close it at any time. Plan the crossing between the usual reopening in April or early May and the usual closing in late November or early December, and keep a flexible schedule around those periods. The same page notes that Cascade River Road is unsuitable for sedans and bans RVs and vehicles over 22 feet. The sources we used give no general vehicle limits for SR 20 itself, so check the WSDOT page for current notices.

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