Mountain Loop Highway, Mt. Pilchuck Rd to Close for Winter

EVERETT, Wash., 11/21/2024 – With the winter weather picking up at higher elevations, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, in partnership with Snohomish County Public Works and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, will close Mountain Loop Highway Friday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. The closure is for vehicle traffic in both directions and will be officially enforced from the Deer Creek Gate to the west and the Bedal Gate to the east.

“We have worked deliberately with our partners in Snohomish County to make sure this is the right time to close the highway,” said Darrington District Ranger Camden Bruner. “This closure, is necessary to keep people safe before hazardous conditions worsen.”

The 14-mile section of road is closed to vehicles each winter due to snow and road conditions between the Deer Creek and Bedal gates. The area remains open for non-motorized winter recreation including hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Each spring, the Public Works Road Maintenance Division coordinates with the U.S. Forest Service to perform any necessary maintenance on the road prior to its reopening.

In addition to the Mountain Loop Highway, the Mt. Pilchuck Road will also close Friday at the Heather Lake Trailhead gate.

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