Both Mount Rainier Passes Will Reopen In Time For Memorial Day

MOUNT RAINIER, WA — Both major routes leading into Mount Rainier National Park will reopen for the season just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend, welcoming drivers back for the first time since both passes closed for the winter in November.

Every year, state transportation crews bring in heavy equipment to clear over 30 miles on both highways. Reopening work began in March, and crews had to carve a path through snow more than 30 feet deep in some areas. Every year the goal is to reopen the roads in time for Memorial Day, but it took an extra week in 2020.

This week, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced work was in the final stages, and on target to reopen by 8 a.m. on Friday. Once the gates are open, drivers can again travel over Chinook Pass, State Route 410, between Crystal Mountain Blvd. and Morse Creek. Cayuse Pass, State Route 123, will reopen inside the park between the SR 410 junction and Stevens Canyon Road.

Drivers should expect delays up to 20 minutes along Cayuse Pass due to ongoing pavement replacement work.

According to the National Park Service, the park's visitor centers remain closed. The Paradise Inn reopened on May 22, and the entrance to the Ohanapecosh Campground will reopen Saturday, May 29. The road to Sunrise is expected to remain closed until July 2.

Visitors planning a Memorial Day weekend trip to Rainier can find the latest road access updates on the National Park Service website, along with information on what services and areas of the park are open.