Hiker Headlines: Chinook and Cayuse passes close for season, sno-park permit season starts

It’s Nov. 7. Veterans day is Nov. 11 and parking fees will be waived on state and federal lands. More roads have closed for the winter — including Eightmile Road in the Enchantments and Chinook and Cayuse passes at Mount Rainier — and it’s sno-park season. And good news: New bear boxes have been installed in some wildlife areas in northeast Washington! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Snow continues to fall in the mountains, and more roads have closed for the season. Photo by trip reporter Birb.

Free day: On Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day, parking fees will be waived on lands managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Bureau of Land Management. 

Closed for the winter: Land managers have implemented more closures as snow accumulates in the mountains. Note that Highway 20 is still open but could close at any time. During this season, when conditions may change quickly, don’t forget to check forecasts and road statuses before starting toward a trailhead. 

• Eightmile Road (FR 7601) — which leads to the Eightmile Lake and Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailheads in the Enchantments — has closed to vehicles for the season. Hikers can still access these trailheads by hiking the road walk. 
• Chinook Pass (SR 410) is closed between Crystal Mountain Boulevard and Morse Creek for the season. 
• Cayuse Pass (SR 123) is closed between the junction with SR 410 and the junction with Highway 12 for the season. 
• Most roads at Mount Rainier National Park — except the roads to Longmire and from Longmire to Paradise — are closed for the season. Chains are now required for all vehicles traveling within the park through May 1.
• Snoqualmie Tunnel on the Palouse to Cascades Trail at Hyak is closed for the winter. It is expected to reopen in April. 
• The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday through Sunday until December 15. Note that the center may closed temporarily due to inclement weather. 

Sno-park permit season: Washington State’s Winter Recreation program is starting its operations for the year, and sno-park permits will be required at sno-park locations throughout the state. Be aware that some trailheads that are open year-round may require a sno-park permit in winter. 

New bear boxes: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Diversity Division have partnered to install new bear boxes at the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and the LeClerc Wildlife Area, which are sometimes visited by grizzly bears. These boxes are the first Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee-certified food lockers installed on WDFW land. 

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