Two mountain passes in Mount Rainier National Park — Chinook and Cayuse, also known as highways 410 and 123 — will open in time for the upcoming U.S. Memorial Day weekend. The Washington State Department of Transportation announced that the roads will be available starting at 8 a.m. on Friday. The routes had been closed since Oct. 24 due to elevated avalanche danger: snow slabs blocked Highway 410 for 12 miles west and 5 miles east of the summit of Mount Rainier, and Highway 123 for 8 miles north and 5 miles south of the same point.
Road crews have finished clearing both highways, and National Park Service staff continue to remove snow on the Stevens Canyon and Sunrise roads. The reopening of the passes will significantly ease access to the park’s scenic areas, though commercial traffic remains prohibited through the area, including the highways mentioned. For motorists, this represents a great opportunity to enjoy the scenic routes ahead of the summer season — provided all restrictions are observed.
Based on: Chinook, Cayuse passes to open for Memorial Day weekend