News Release

Chinook and Cayuse passes are closed for the season

Date: November 9, 2021
Contact: Summer Derrey, 509-577-1750
Contact: Mount Rainier Media Information Line, 360-569-6510

MOUNT RAINIER – The gates to State Routes 410 and 123 inside Mount Rainier National Park, including Chinook and Cayuse passes, will remain closed for the season after heavy snow and a forecast of more to come. 

Chinook Pass (elevation 5,430 feet) closed on Saturday, Nov. 6 on SR 410 between Crystal Mountain Boulevard, about 12 miles northwest of the summit, and Morse Creek, 5 miles east of the summit. Cayuse Pass (elevation 4,675 feet) is closed within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park between Crystal Mountain Boulevard and the park arch at SR 410/123 milepost 2.5 at the southern park boundary. 

People may go in on foot, skis or snowmobiles for recreation beyond the closed gates, but are advised to use extreme caution as there is often avalanche danger. 

Typically SR 410 Chinook Pass and SR 123 Cayuse Pass reopen in late May. 

Tools to keep travelers connected 
Current weather and highway conditions are posted on the mountain passes webpage. 

Visit the Mount Rainier National Park’s road status webpage and follow @MountRainierNPS on Twitter for updates about roads within Mount Rainier National Park.   

Hyperlinks within the release:  

• Mount Rainier National Park: www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/winter.htm  

• Mountain passes webpage: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/ 

• Road status webpage: www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/road-status.htm 

• @MountRainierNPS: twitter.com/MountRainierNPS   

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