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WSDOT starts clearing Chinook, Cayuse passes | Washington State Department of Transportation

Published 12:30 pm Monday, April 20, 2026

Work has begun on clearing the Chinook and Cauyse passes on Mount Rainier. Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation
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Work has begun on clearing the Chinook and Cauyse passes on Mount Rainier. Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation

Work has begun on clearing the Chinook and Cauyse passes on Mount Rainier. Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation
SR 410/Chinook received two feet of snow in two days recently. Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation
A view from the top of Chinook Pass. Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation
Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation

Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews began work to clear snow on SR 410/Chinook Pass and SR 123/Cayuse Pass for the spring reopening.

Avalanche control work is in progress Monday through Friday and people are advised to stay out of the closed section for their safety. Eastbound traffic is closed at milepost 57, Crystal Mountain Boulevard, 12 miles west of the summit. Westbound traffic is closed at milepost 74.5 Morse Creek, 5 miles east of the summit.

Recently, SR 410/Chinook received two feet of snow in two days. Winter is not over yet! As always, it is too soon to tell when the passes will reopen as a number of factors affect the clearing including weather and the condition of the roadway once cleared.

Both passes typically reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend.

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