Hiker Headlines: Roads close, new winter parking fee at Snoqualmie Pass

It’s Oct. 17. More recreation areas and roads have closed for the winter. The cabins at Cama Beach State Park will be closed permanently. The Summit at Snoqualmie is implementing a new parking fee this winter. Check out a brand new trail in Vancouver, Wash. And get ready for some rain this weekend! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Check out the live webcams on the Mount Rainier National Park website to see current conditions — like how Paradise has snow right now! Photo courtesy of Mount Rainier National Park. 

Winter is coming: As we continue to leave summer behind, many recreation areas are implementing more of their winter operations. Take note of the following as you’re getting ready for winter adventures: 

• White River, Mowich Lake, Paradise Valley, Stevens Canyon and White River roads in Mount Rainier National Park are all closed for the winter season. The Longmire to Paradise Road is subject to regular nightly closures, as well as daily closures dependent on weather. Both gates typically open at 9 a.m., the uphill gate closes at 4 p.m. and the downhill gate closes at 5 p.m. Paradise has started to receive snow, so be prepared with your cold weather/snow gear if you’re heading out there!
• The Mount Baker Highway (SR 542) is closed at the Heather Meadows Ski Area for the season, 2.7 miles away from Artist Point.
• Cascade River Road in North Cascades National Park is closed at the Eldorado parking lot (milepost 20) for the season. 
• The North Cascades Wilderness Information Center is closed for the season. It is expected to reopen in May 2025. 

Beach cabins permanently closed: The beachside cabins at Cama Beach State Park will be closed permanently. The cabins were closed earlier this year due to septic and infrastructure issues, as well as damage from rising sea levels. The park remains open for day use, and the Cama Center and cafe also remain open. The restrooms at the lower beach area are closed, but all other restrooms are still open. 

Parking fee at Snoqualmie: The Summit at Snoqualmie has announced a new parking permit system for the 2024-25 season. Parking permits will be required between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day from Nov. 18 through April 30. All visitors with season passes or multiday ticket packages will receive free parking. Those with single-day tickets and Ikon passes will need to pay $5 for each vehicle per day. All visitors without passes or tickets must pay $55 per vehicle per day to park in the Summit or Alpental parking lots. 

New trail: Want to check out a brand new trail? After much work by WTA volunteers and coordination between WTA staff and the City of Vancouver, the Behrens Woods trail network has opened to the public. The project was funded by NatureSpaces, a pilot program aimed at getting community members involved with design and maintenance projects in public green spaces. The trails are wheelchair-accessible and great for hikers of all ages and experience levels. 

Rain and snow incoming: We’ve got rain in the forecast this week in the lowlands, which means snow in the mountains! Take care if you’re heading outside this weekend — check the forecast where you’re going and be prepared for rain or snow. 

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