North Cascades Highway to close for the season Wednesday

The North Cascades Highway will close for the season at 6 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

WSDOT closes the scenic route, officially known as State Route 20, each winter due to snow conditions and avalanche danger.

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According to WSDOT, this is the latest closure date in more than a decade.

The closure will run between Diablo Lake and Mazama, or milepost 134 to milepost 177.

“When significant snow begins to fall, WSDOT crews will move the western closure point back to milepost 130/Colonial Creek Campground and the eastern closure point to milepost 168/Early Winters Campground,” a spokesperson for WSDOT wrote in a news release.

The weather-dependent changes usually happen in January, officials said.

Hikers, skiers and/or snowboarders can access the closed portion of the highway during winter.

However, WSDOT officials ask that drivers park in designated parking areas “allow plow drivers the space they need to clear snow around the closed stretch’s access gates.”

In late winter/early spring 2020, the highway will asses conditions and begin work to reopen the route.

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