Local News

The Associated Press

Heavy snowfall and slide activity has closed Cayuse Pass on State Route 123 and Chinook Pass on State Route 410 Monday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

For updates on when the temporary closures end, check WSDOT’s online Mountain Pass Road Report.

The Associated Press

Chinook and Cayuse passes are closed for the season due to wind, snow and avalanche danger.

Several feet of snow fell on the passes last week and over the weekend.

Both passes were closed temporarily Friday because of avalanche danger and today, engineers with the state Transportation Department determined that the avalanche risk was so high that the passes should be closed. They won’t reopen until spring.

Here’s what WSDOT has to say:

Chinook Pass (elevation 5,430 feet) is closed from Morse Creek (five miles east of the summit) to Crystal Mountain Boulevard (eight miles northwest of the summit). Access to the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort on eastbound SR 410 remains open. Cayuse Pass (SR 123) is closed within Mount Rainier National Park from the 4,675-foot Cayuse Pass summit to Stevens Canyon Road

Traffic on two passes was shut down today due to heavy snowfall and high winds, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Traffic on Chinook Pass on Highway 410 is temporarily closed from milepost 74.5 near Morse Creek to milepost 57.5 near Crystal Mountain Boulevard, according to the DOT. The pass will remain closed at least through Sunday, according to a DOT news release.

“Heavy snowfall and strong winds are creating drifting snow and very poor visibility,” the DOT said.

Highway 123, Cayuse Pass, also is temporarily closed from the junction of Highways 410 and 123 to milepost 5.4 near Stevens Canyon Road.