Update: August 9, 2021
The
section of SR 20 between mileposts 165-178 reopened Monday morning at 8 a.m. so
there are no current closures of the highway.
However, fire response crews continue to use the highway for staging and
work, so currently there is a 35 mph reduced speed and a pilot car moving
traffic between mileposts 166 and 172.
Respect
traffic control
The pilot car will run during the day Monday and Tuesday while fire
fighters are working. We expect that
this will cause delays so if you must use the SR 20 through this section, plan
for longer than normal travel times and some slow-going. Do not pass the pilot car or pull over in
that section as this will cause safety hazards to crews and the traveling
public. The pilot car will not be in
place once darkness falls, so you if you can adjust your trip times, you may
avoid some delays.
Fires
are still burning throughout the state – please be safe
Even with the reopening, there are still fires burning throughout the state
that may affect travel and conditions can change quickly. Keep this in mind when preparing for your
trip and make sure you have plenty of water, a full tank of gas and have
checked our app
or travel
alert map for the most current information before you head out on a trip.
Remember, secure tow chains, never toss burning materials
out of your vehicle (don’t litter at all please!) and don’t pull over into tall
grass while traveling to help reduce the risk of starting roadside fires.
Update: August 3, 2021
Fires and fire
response activity in the area means that the SR 20 closure will remain in place
at least through this week. Firefighters
have made great strides in the containment of the Cedar Creek and Cub Creek 2
fires, but with hot, dry conditions and low visibility due to smoke, it is not
yet safe to fully reopen the road.
Closed means
closed
At the moment,
the closure points are between milepost 165 and 179, west of Mazama in the
Methow Valley. However, the east side
closure point has changed several times and local evacuation levels have been
raised and lowered over the past several days.
Air quality in the area also rates from “unhealthy” to “hazardous”.
We continue to see
people who are trying to force their way through a closure sign or who are not
prepared for the road closure when they reach the area. This is a problem the crews working this fire
should not have to deal with – we all want them focused on the fire and keeping
themselves and nearby residents safe. There
is no local access or Forest Service detours. Cross-state travel is available
on US 2 and I-90.
Still
opportunities to enjoy the North Cascades
From the west you
can still access as far at The Overlook on SR 20, and Diablo Lake and Ross Lake
are far enough from the fires that air quality is much better. It is still essential to be prepared for hot
summer driving conditions with plenty of water, a full tank of gas and well-researched
travel plans. These fires are not the
only things happening that could affect your travel plans this summer.
When will it
reopen? Can’t you make an estimated guess?
The short
answer is “not really.” Our agency
supports the Incident Command Team that is managing the fire response. Everyone is eager to get the road back open
and traffic flowing, and the ICT has specific goals for what conditions are needed
for that to happen. Every day we meet to
get updates and coordinate our effort to reach those goals, but the fact
remains that fire conditions remain hazardous and dynamic, and the priority is
safety for you and the crews working out there.
If you are
trying to make plans for your late summer trip, the best thing you can do is
keep checking our travel
alerts map and check for updates on Facebook, the WSDOT app and
this post.
Resources
for additional information:
Cedar Creek and
Delancy Fires 2021: www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021
Cub Creek
2-2021 Fire: www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021
Smoke Blog: wasmoke.blogspot.com
Evacuations: www.okanogancounty.org/government/emergency_management/index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire
Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/fire-prep-recovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House
Assessments): https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
By Mike Allende
As you may be aware, the Varden, Delancy and Cedar Creek
fires have been burning in Okanogan County for most of July. This has led to
the closure of a stretch of the SR 20 North Cascades Highway, currently now
stretching from mileposts 165 to 185, west of Mazama in the Methow Valley.
Emergency responders requested the closure for safety and to allow them to
stage equipment to battle the fires. The closure also is helping evacuations in
the area.
Despite the incredible efforts of the firefighters, the
fires continue to expand and emergency personnel now advise us that the highway
closure will likely be in place at least through July and potentially longer.
We know road closures are frustrating and we don’t close
them unless it’s necessary for safety. In this case, the requests of those
tackling these dangerous conditions along with the related evacuations –
including Okanogan Fire District and the National Forest Service – make clear
that this closure is needed for the safety of everyone.
 |
Three large wildfires burning in Okanogan County forced the
closure of a stretch of the SR 20 North Cascades Highway west of Mazama. |
We also recognize that the North Cascades Highway is a
popular destination this time of year for travel between the beautiful Skagit
and Methow valleys. The good news is, some of the most popular sites are still
accessible, it just may take a little longer to get there.
OK, how do I get there?
This time of year, many people travel from the west side
to Winthrop, Twisp Mazama and other areas that are easily reached once the SR
20 North Cascades Highway reopens from its winter closure in the spring. And
while that highway does provide a convenient link between west and east, it’s
not the only way to reach the Methow.
Typically, it takes about three hours or so to go from
Seattle to Winthrop using SR 20. Getting there with that highway closed will
add about 1½ hours to your trip. The most common way is:
·
I-90 eastbound for about 82 miles to exit 85
·
Take US 970 northbound toward Wenatchee
·
Continue on US 970/SR 10 for about 10 miles.
This turns into US 97, which you’ll stay on for about 35 miles northbound
·
Merge onto eastbound US 2/northbound US 97 and
US 97 north will take you into Twisp/Winthrop.
Alternatively, you could take US 2 over Stevens Pass
through Leavenworth:
·
Take I-5 northbound to Exit 194/eastbound US 2
in Everett
·
Continue on US 2 for 107 miles, over Stevens
Pass and through Leavenworth to Wenatchee
·
Take the US 2/US 97 north ramp to junction of US
2/97 and SR 28 in East Wenatchee and go left onto US 2/US 97 toward
Orondo/Okanogan
·
Continue 57 miles toward junction of US 97/SR
153 south of Pateros and take a left onto SR 153 west to Winthrop. Continue for
40 miles to Winthrop.
Be sure to consult your favorite mapping app as it will
help guide you where you need to go.
What’s open on SR 20?
The most popular destinations on SR 20 tend to be Diablo
Lake and the Washington Pass overlook. They are truly beautiful locations with
amazing views. The good news is that both are still open and accessible as they
are west of the closure. You just won’t be able to go much further east than
Washington Pass, including down into the Methow Valley. Also note that the
North Cascades Highway is extremely popular and like most of the most popular
recreation destinations in our state, it can get very crowded. Be sure to have
backup plans if your preferred spot is full and never park illegally on the
sides of the highway.
Remember that services are limited as you head into the
mountains. Gas stations, public rest
areas, cell service and turn around points become increasingly limited heading
east into Rainy Pass and Washington Pass.
Running out of gas or otherwise becoming stranded will make for a much
longer, more stressful trip.
 |
A look at where the road closure is compared to Washington
Pass and Diablo Lake. Note that the unpredictability of fire means the closure
points can move with little notice. |
But is it safe?
If a highway isn’t safe, we would close it until it was.
That said, there are fires burning east of Washington Pass and fires can be
unpredictable. They can also lead to fast-changing conditions, road closures
and delays. We encourage anyone traveling to areas where there is active fire
activity to check with local emergency responders to see what the threat level
is and also encourage people to research what the air condition is before they
head to their destination.
You can also download our
app for road updates, call the 511 travel information number and check our travel alerts page for
more information.
Be prepared
Wherever you’re heading this time of year – but
especially if you’re headed to areas with active fires – be sure you and your
vehicle are prepared. As we mentioned, fires are unpredictable so road closures
and delays can happen with little warning. Be sure you have plenty of gas,
water, food, cell phone charger and other items you might need in an emergency.
And be sure your vehicle is well maintained.
 |
Those who are
traveling in the area of active fires should be prepared for potential road
closures or delays as they can happen quickly. |
Closed means closed
It still amazes us that this happens, but we continue to
get reports from those staffing the road closures that people are attempting to
go around the closures. So to be clear:
·
There are no nearby alternate routes around the
closure. There are no Forest Service roads or other side roads open that allow
access. It’s closed. Closed. You can’t
go through. Closed.
·
Trying to get through a closed road puts you and
others in the area at risk. There are literally fires burning nearby. You
should be avoiding that, not driving into it.
·
If you go through a closure and get stuck,
emergency responders including firefighters have to go save you. That puts them
at even more risk and also takes them away from what they should be doing,
which is fighting the fires that led to the closure.
We understand that there’s never a good time to close a
road, especially a very popular summertime route like SR 20. We would love to
have this route open, but safety of those responding to the fires and for the
public is always No. 1. So until we get the all clear from the emergency
responders battling to keep us all safe, the road must remain closed and we
appreciate your understanding and cooperation.