Seasonal closure · SR-123 · Washington

Is Cayuse Pass open?

Usually closes mid-November and reopens late May. Below: what the WSDOT feed is posting for SR-123 right now, and the dates the National Park Service gives, quoted from its own page.

Posted for SR-123 right nowWSDOT via MileCheck · loading

Reading the WSDOT feed…

Reports whose route is SR-123, or whose text names Cayuse Pass. Reloads every five minutes. Ramp, lane and shoulder reports are labeled, not counted as closures.

Usually closes: Typically mid-November
Usually reopens: Typically late May
Closure segment: Within Mount Rainier NP, between Crystal Mountain Blvd (SR 410 side) and the Stevens Canyon Road entrance
2026-27 dates: No 2026-27 dates were posted on the source page when it was read.
Who decides: The National Park Service.

What the National Park Service says

“Cayuse Pass will close within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park between Crystal Mountain Boulevard and the Stevens Canyon Road entrance. These mountain passes typically close sometime in mid-November each year.”

Source: www.nps.gov/mora/learn/news/chinook-cayuse-close-for-the-season-nov-20-2018.htm, read October 2, 2026.

Reopening: www.nps.gov/mora/learn/news/chinook-and-cayuse-passes-are-closed-for-the-season.htm.

Where to look next

Official source

WSDOT

Washington's DOT traveler site. The list of record for closures, restrictions and detours.

Winter roundup

Which roads close for winter in Washington?

Every seasonal closure MileCheck lists for Washington, with the dates each agency gives.

Road conditions

Washington road conditions

Every closure and crash WSDOT is posting, on one map with the mile marker.

Cameras

Washington highway cameras

Every WSDOT camera on one map, with the route and mile marker where the DOT gives one.

Questions, answered

When does Cayuse Pass close for the winter?

Typically mid-November That is what the National Park Service publishes, read October 2, 2026. The gate goes in when the snow does, so the date moves from year to year. No 2026-27 dates were posted on the source page when it was read.

When does Cayuse Pass reopen?

Typically late May Plowing and avalanche work set the day, and the agency announces it when the road is ready.

Where exactly does it close?

Within Mount Rainier NP, between Crystal Mountain Blvd (SR 410 side) and the Stevens Canyon Road entrance. The rest of SR-123 is handled like any other road in Washington.

Where do I check whether Cayuse Pass is open today?

WSDOT is the official source for the state highway. The block at the top of this page reads the same WSDOT feed every five minutes and lists what is posted for SR-123. If the feed cannot be reached, the page says so instead of showing an empty list.

Does the MileCheck app show this closure?

The app shows the same WSDOT alerts on your route, ahead of your position, with the mile marker you are passing. The mile marker works offline in all 50 states. Live alerts are part of MileCheck Premium.

Know exactly where you are — live

Your mile marker shows even offline. WSDOT alerts on your route and the nearest camera are part of MileCheck Premium and need a connection to update. Runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.

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