By Staff reports

The North Cascades Highway west of Winthrop was closed Monday because of wildfire.

The decision by the Washington Department of Transportation to close State Route 20 between mileposts 170 and 177 was expected to last at least through the end of the day. Photos from the highway near the Early Winters campground showed flames and smoke erupting from the forest.

The highway is popular among tourists in the summer months, linking the Methow Valley with the West Side. There was no estimate on when the highway would reopen.

The highway provides access to North Cascades National Park and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. With the route across the mountains closed, the DOT recommended travelers instead use U.S. Highway 2 or Interstate 90.