North Cascades Highway is open and ready for recreation
OUTDOOR TRAVEL -- The Washington Transportation Department reopened the North Cascades Highway at noon today after seven weeks of blowing and bulldozing snow and avalanche debris off the roadway.
Bicyclists have been riding open portions of the route for weeks.
The highway closed for the winter in November along a 37-mile stretch between Diablo Dam and Mazama.
The northernmost route through the North Cascades includes the 4,855-foot Rainy Pass and 5,477-foot-Washington Pass in North Cascades National Park, where recreationists are likely to flock for spring snowshoeing and skiing.
Last year the highway reopened on May 25.