As the road passes across the North Cascades National Park, you have a chance to observe untouched alpine flora and watch the wildlife. For road updates and pass history, visit Washington State Department of Transportation. After the California Gold Rush of 1849, white settlers started to arrive in the North Cascades looking for gold as well as fur-bearing animals. Recreational use Step inside a visitor center and explore the exhibits and interpretive offerings, or talk to a ranger. [14], As of November2021[update], the median first open date was April 21. That route was opened in 1896, but much of it was passable only by foot or horseback. Cascade Loop 3.5 day Itenerary Sep 29, 2022. Whatcom County Washington's premier community news source. 5,477 feet or 1,669 meters) and nearby Rainy Pass (elev. [20] In 1964, these two highways became SR113, as part of a new numbering system created by the Washington State Legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation. The precise dates depend on weather conditions. North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest including: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest including: 810 State Route 20 State Route20Spur (SR20Spur) begins at an intersection with State Route 20 southeast of downtown Anacortes at the southern end of Fidalgo Bay at the Sharpes Corner Roundabout. WSDOT Facebook (www.facebook.com/WSDOT) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/wsdot) accounts. 1935. The Seattle City Council on Tuesday added caste to the citys anti-discrimination laws, becoming the first city to pass such a law outside South Asia. Drive approximately 30 miles across the park on the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), and experience the old growth forests, cascading waterfalls, and + Caption. This section of the highway begins at Twisp (the Methow Valley), ascends to the North Cascades National Park, and follows to Sedro Woolley (the Skagit Valley). Governor Dan Evans, a host of state dignitaries, and President Richard M. Nixon's brother Donald were in attendance for the opening and vehicle procession over the Cascade Mountains. Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new Whatcom News stories either as they happen or via daily or weekly emailed digests (you get to choose). North Cascades Highway Newsletter through GovDelivery. Current: State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) is closed at milepost 134 (Ross Dam Trailhead) for the season. The seasonal clearing and reopening of State Route 20 North Cascades Highway marks an important day for recreationalists, families, drivers, adventure seekers and tourists who enjoy scenic east-west travel across the state. It is also part of the Cascade Loop, a 400-mile driving tour through the namesake mountain range. This years snow levels were slightly higher than average and the Liberty Bell avalanche chutes still hold a substantial amount of snow. High clearance vehicles are recommended. The stubborn snow also hampered avalanche control efforts by refusing to come down some of the paths. It is the state's longest highway, traveling 436 miles (702km) across the northern areas of Washington, from U.S. Route101 (US101) at Discovery Bay on the Olympic Peninsula to US2 near the Idaho state border in Newport. Proposal Addresses Shortage Of Rural Physicians, Second Suspect In Wenatchee Murder In August Has $5 Million Bail. Spring clearing of SR 20 North Cascades Highway starts April 5, Emergency vehicles posted bridge restrictions, Central and Eastern Washington weekly travel planner, Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) loan program, Uncrewed aircraft systems and commercial drone registration, Unpiloted Aircraft Registration Exemption Form, Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zero, Washington State Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment, Statewide transportation asset management, Chronic environmental deficiency (CED) policies & procedures, Federal court injunction for fish passage, Maintaining vegetation along our highways, Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Plans, Zero-emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnerships grant, Consultant agreements & indirect cost rate information, Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Move Ahead Washington Railroad Crossing Program, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, Highway Safety Improvement Program call for projects, Local Agency Federal Obligation Authority, National Highway System Asset Management Program, Changes and experimentations for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Equal Employment Opportunity Contract Compliance, File a disadvantaged business enterprise complaint, Equal Opportunity - File a complaint - Online form, Rules for billboards and other advertising signs on highways, Indirect Cost Rate guidance documents, forms & templates, Inactive Bridge Design Manual memorandums, Local Agency General Special Provisions (GSPs), Curbs, sidewalks and driveways / Geometric design - GD, Roadway delineation / Pavement markings - PM, Work zone typical traffic control plans (TCP), Planning and Environmental Linkages guidance for planning studies, Project delivery method selection guidance, Materials laboratory testing & field inspection, Transportation System Management and Operations TSMO, Wetlands ecology & monitoring techniques internship, Information technology strategic focus areas & goals. Opening ceremonies usually are widely publicized and create something of a carnival atmosphere as Western Washington residents looked forward to the warm, dry weather on the east side and access to popular trails and campsites. MV Community Center struggles with theft, vandalism. Hike the North Cascades to experience some of the finest mountain country in North America! The department estimates they'll need another two to three weeks to clear the entire stretch of Highway 20. These repairs are expected to begin by mid-summer which means that traffic will continue to alternate in the westbound lane for the next several months. In 1953, the North Cascades Highway Association was formed with politicians, lobbyists, and business owners from both sides of the North Cascades taking part. The corridor was designated Shannon Creek Road USFS #1152/14 (access to Mt. North Cascades Highway, also known as the State Route 20 (SR20), is the longest highway in the state of Washington, USA. The highway is closed during winter and early spring due to the risk of avalanches. Travel on the Be sure to keep that in mind when planning your travel over the North Cascades Highway this year, she advised. WSDOT crews working to clear North Cascades Highway. Washington State Department of Transportation Communications Manager Lauren Loebsack says eastside crews have encountered 7 and 1/2 feet of snow up on Rainy Pass. Send your events or non-profit groups flyer to news@whatcom-news.com to be posted on the Community Bulletin Board. For those headed eastbound, be aware that an area of SR 20 between Marblemount and Newhalem at about milepost 113 crumbled after this past winters heavy rains and freezing temperatures. The route intersected Secondary State Highway 1D (SSH1D, now SR20) in Anacortes, SSH 1C (former SR 237) in Fredonia and a SSH1C branch (became PSH 16, now SR20). Highway maintenance crews on both the east and west sides of the closure will work to remove about 7 feet of snow from the highway. Traversing Washington and Rainy passes, Highway 20 connects the Skagit Valley with the Methow Valley. You even get to control what time and what day the digests are delivered. Finally, in 1958, the State of Washington appropriated funds to build a highway from the Seattle City Light company town of Diablo to Thunder Arm, a southern arm of Diablo Lake. Within Port Townsend, the highway travels east through suburban areas as Sims Way and towards the historic downtown as Water Street. The highway crosses Rainy Pass and briefly joins the Pacific Crest Trail as it travels around Whistler Mountain, climbing up into Chelan County. Anticipated repair work includes constructing a new stabilizing wall in the area. Travelers should expect eastbound and westbound traffic to alternate through a single lane with flaggers directing traffic through the area. The highway travels across Whidbey Island, North Cascades National Park, the Okanagan Highland, the Kettle River Range, and the Selkirk Mountains. A $26 backcountry permit is required to camp overnight in North Cascades National Park. Find out about upcoming events and programs. Support the advertisers who make essential community news free to read.Click here to become one. She previously worked at a craft beer e-commerce company and loves exploring Seattle's breweries. General: This ~5 mile long Forest Service Road (USFS #1540) can be rutted and rough, drive slowly. Breadson John was found safe in Jasper County Missouri after being missing for 8 months. Our crews clear the road and shoulder and any pullout needed for our maintenance work, but otherwise, it is still wintry up in the mountains and there are few services or rest stops, WSDOT said. 20 north", Washington State House of Representatives, "Substitute House Bill 2618; Chapter 209, Laws of 1994", "HB 2618 199394: Adding ferry water routes to the state highway system", "HB 2618, 199394: Adding ferry water routes to the state highway system", Template:Attached KML/Washington State Route 20, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Washington_State_Route_20&oldid=1126159520, Transportation in Jefferson County, Washington, Transportation in Island County, Washington, Transportation in Skagit County, Washington, Transportation in Whatcom County, Washington, Transportation in Chelan County, Washington, Transportation in Okanogan County, Washington, Transportation in Ferry County, Washington, Transportation in Stevens County, Washington, Transportation in Pend Oreille County, Washington, Washington State Scenic and Recreational Highways, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox road instances in Washington (state), Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017, Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2021, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles needing additional references from July 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, East end of US 97 Bus. Crews started clearing this week, beginning with grading out the berm at Early Winters campground at milepost 178 and will work west, Loebsack said. [17][18] The highway's construction came with conservation measures and upgrades to camping facilities in the then-new North Cascades National Park to handle the expected traffic. If you plan to head east of the Cascades this weekend, be aware that Highway 20 is still closed. Crews continue to battle the Varden, Delancy and Cedar Creek wildfires and WSDOT says theyll reassess the closure on Monday. Drive approximately 30 miles across the park on the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), and experience the old growth forests, cascading waterfalls, and mountain scenery of North Cascades. The pass, located 5,575 feet (1,699m) above sea level, is the highest in the state. SR20 continues onto the Port TownsendCoupeville ferry which travels northeast across the Admiralty Inlet to the Keystone terminal on Whidbey Island. This privately run shuttle service operates between the Stehekin Landing and High Bridge, normally from late May to mid October (3 round trips daily from mid-June to early October). [6], From the Keystone ferry terminal, located adjacent to Fort Casey State Park, the highway travels east between the shore of Admiralty Bay and Crockett Lake, while making a short diversion to the north. Remaining repair work from a November 2021 flood that washed out the roadway near milepost 113 has reduced travel to a single lane with a signal. But the most scenic part of the path lies in the North Cascades National Park. It's so deep. Although the crews are only a few miles apart, there is still considerable work ahead. SR20 turns northwest at an intersection with SR525, which terminates and is supplanted by SR20. The road runs for 436 mi (702 km) from the Discovery Bay (the Olympic Peninsula) to Newport located near the Idaho state border. More snow than usual Elevation at high point, Washington Pass: 5,477 feet. Road can be rough and rocky, flat tires are not uncommon, carry a full sized spare. Updates will be shared through the North Cascades newsletter and on Twitter at @WSDOT_East. In 1994, SR20 was extended along the San Juan Islands ferry, which serves Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island and San Juan Island. Once the roadway is cleared, crews will repair guardrail, signs, and pavement damaged by snow slides during the closure. By 1936, both of Seattle City Light projects, Gorge Dam and Diablo Dam, had been completed and were attracting visitors and families to the area. By Robert Mittendorf / The Bellingham Herald. [5] The ferry, operated by Washington State Ferries, takes approximately 30 minutes between terminals and runs year-round. At milepost 134 ( Ross Dam Trailhead ) for the season in mind when planning your travel over the Cascades. 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