MileCheckAre chains required on Stevens Pass today?
Only when WSDOT’s restriction line for the pass says so. Stevens is higher than Snoqualmie, and the line can change during a storm.
Chains and traction right now
No current restriction reading. The WSDOT feed has no restriction line for Stevens Pass within 19 mi right now.
Read from the WSDOT feed on Nov 1, 1:41 PM PT. The line changes through the day. Read it again on the WSDOT page, and go by the sign on the road: WSDOT page.
What each WSDOT line means
Where WSDOT lists a direction, read yours. The rule shown for your direction controls.
| WSDOT line | Passenger car | AWD or 4WD passenger car | Truck or large vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traction tires advised | WSDOT advises traction tires. Check the posted signs before climbing. | The advisory still applies. AWD does not replace tire traction. | Oversize loads are prohibited under this advisory. Check commercial restrictions for the vehicle and load. |
| Traction tires required | Use approved traction tires. | Use approved traction tires. AWD is not an exception to this requirement. | Vehicles over 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight rating must use chains under WSDOT’s guide. |
| Chains required on all vehicles except all-wheel drive | Install approved chains or another device approved for this requirement. | The chain exception applies only when all wheels are engaged, approved traction devices are fitted, and chains for at least one set of drive tires are carried. | Do not use the passenger AWD exception for a vehicle over 10,000 lb GVWR. Follow the commercial chaining rules. |
| Chains required on all vehicles | Install chains. | Install chains. The AWD exception does not apply. | Install chains as specified for the vehicle and axles. |
| Oversize vehicles prohibited | An ordinary-size car is not an oversize load. Other posted restrictions still apply. | Same rule. | An oversize load cannot enter the restricted section. Check the permit and the posted restriction before continuing. |
An AWD badge is not a waiver for every chain sign. The wording can change during a storm. Follow the sign on the road if it differs from an earlier report on your phone.
Sources: WSDOT winter driving guide, WAC 204-24-050, WSDOT commercial chain requirements, RCW 47.36.250.
The tire and chain rules in Washington
WSDOT's approved traction tires carry an M+S, All Season or mountain-and-snowflake marking and need enough tread. Check the tire itself. Studded tires may be used in Washington from November 1 through March 31. Studs do not substitute for chains when chains are required.
For a passenger AWD vehicle under 10,000 lb, Washington’s chain exception requires all wheels engaged, approved traction devices and chains carried for at least one set of drive tires. WSDOT advises anyone driving in high elevations or winter conditions to carry chains. Vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR follow WSDOT’s separate commercial chain requirements.
Failing to obey a posted traction or chain requirement carries a $500 penalty under RCW 47.36.250. A tire that qualifies for a traction-tire sign is not a substitute for an installed chain when the sign requires chains.
Sources: WSDOT winter driving guide, WSDOT studded-tire dates, WAC 204-24-050, RCW 47.36.250.
Why Stevens needs a second look
The summit is 4,061 feet on US 2. US 2 over the summit closes for avalanche control and heavy snow, and the ski area sits at the top, so a chain requirement on a weekend can mean a slow line of traffic. The cameras and closures are on the Stevens Pass page.
How often this fall
From Sep 26 through Oct 29, MileCheck checked WSDOT’s Stevens Pass report every hour and saved each check. 10 saved checks showed traction tires advised, 0 showed them required and 0 showed the pass closed. This counts saved checks from one early storm, not every minute a restriction was posted. See all Washington passes.
Questions
Are chains required on Stevens Pass right now?
Read the live line at the top of this page, then WSDOT’s own pass report. The line can change within the hour.
Does AWD get me out of the chain requirement on Stevens Pass?
Only for the line that says chains are required on all vehicles except all-wheel drive, and only if all wheels are engaged, approved traction devices are fitted, and chains for at least one set of drive tires are carried. When the sign says chains are required on all vehicles, AWD must install them too. Source: WAC 204-24-050.