North Cascades Highway remains closed due to wildfire activity, debris slide

DIABLO, Wash. — The North Cascades Highway (SR20) has been closed to all traffic since Sunday, August 4th, due to increased fire activity and firefighting efforts on the Easy Wildfire. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officials said today, Tuesday, August 13th, that motorists can expect the closure to continue through the upcoming weekend.

The closure is between Granite Creek (milepost 148) and Easy Pass trailhead (milepost 157).

Within the closure area, near the Easy Pass trail access, a mud and debris slide on Sunday, August 11th, covered hundreds of feet of the roadway. It has not been reported how this may impact firefighting efforts in the area. Heavy rainfall had been reported in the area.

Given the time needed to clear the slide debris, an assessment to consider reopening the highway is not expected until Monday, August 19th, at the earliest.

This stretch of the highway has been closed and reopened multiple times since a lightning-caused wildfire, identified as the Easy Wildfire due to its proximity to Easy Pass, was detected on July 17th.