Cayuse, Chinook Passes Close Early For Winter

MOUNT RAINIER, WA — Early season snowfall and cold temperatures have prompted rare October closures for Cayuse and Chinook passes on the east side of Mount Rainier, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Both passes typically close for the winter in mid-November and reopen before Memorial Day.

This year, Chinook Pass remained closed until early June as crews worked to clear snow that accumulated well into the spring. WSDOT said Tuesday's seasonal closure tied 2005 for the earliest date since the 1930s.

Chinook Pass, at an elevation of 5,430 feet, and Cayuse Pass, at an elevation of 4,675 feet, recently picked up more than a foot of snow, and more is in the forecast as active weather systems continue through the weekend.

"These roads close for the winter season every year, typically sometime in mid-November, due to danger to road crews caused by avalanche danger, lack of emergency services in close proximity to the sites and limited snow storage," WSDOT wrote Wednesday. "These risks are also why the early, heavy snow are closing the roads earlier than usual."

According to WSDOT, the passes are now closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard, 12 miles northwest of the summit, and Morse Creek, 5 miles east of the summit. State Route 123 is closed to Stevens Canyon Road.

The latest information on the status of other roads within Mount Rainier National Park can be found on the National Park Service website. Real-time updates for all mountain passes are posted on WSDOT's website and app.