State Closes Passes For Winter

The state Department of Transportation has closed Washington 410 at Chinook Pass and Cayuse Pass on Washington 123 for the winter.

The passes were closed because of heavy snowfall on Sunday, and the forecast of more snow this week, the department said Monday.

Chinook Pass is closed from the Mount Rainier National Park boundary to Morse Creek. Cayuse Pass is closed from the Stevens Canyon Road to just south of the Crystal Mountain Boulevard cutoff.

The North Cascades Highway, also known as Washington 20, was closed for the season last month.

All three highways will reopen in the spring. Cayuse Pass and the North Cascades route typically open in April and Chinook Pass usually opens near the end of May.