It’s official: snow closes North Cascades Highway for season
MOUNTAIN ROADS -- The Washington Transportation Department decided today to close the North Cascades Highway for the winter.
The 37-mile section of Highway 20 was temporarily shut down Nov. 15, and the department made it final today with heavy snow in the forecast.
The highway between Diablo and Mazama is the northernmost route across the Cascades. It’s typically closed in the late fall by avalanches and reopened in the spring.
This is a harbinger of great news for Methow Valley nordic skiers. Enough snow has accumulated in the valley to allow many off the cross country ski trails to be packed by groomers pulling rollers.
