Road Conditions: Open Passes, I-5 Detour, Mountain Loop Hwy Open

Hitting the road and the trails for a holiday weekend adventure? Give yourself lots of extra time and use the resources below to check road and trail conditions before you head out.

Here are a few of today's updates on the I-5 reroute, the opening of the Mountain Loop Highway and resources for keeping up to date through your holiday travel plans.

I-5 bridge collapse and detour options

A portion of a bridge on Interstate 5 collapsed into the Skagit River near Mount Vernon Thursday, and WSDOT have a signed detour (map below) to guide drivers through the area. Expect long backups in the area and consider an alternative route if you can.

Hiking tip and alternative route: If you are heading to the North Cascades National Park, Baker Lake or another destination along Highway 20, consider taking the slower, scenic route along Highway 530 (exit 208 on I-5) through Darrington (see a map of the route). Go slow, stop at the Boulder River trail or Rockport State Park for a walk, and keep track of all the trailheads you may want to revisit later in the season.

WSDOT detour route as of 11:54 am 5.24.2013

Detour map for I-5 in Mount Vernon. WSDOT.

For more information, use WSDOT’s travel tools:

• WSDOT’s online tools, call the 511 travel information hotline. For out-of-state callers, it’s 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).
• On Twitter, look for #I-5BridgeCollapse and #SkagitRiverBridge.
• Program your radio to highway advisory stations 530 AM or 1610 AM.

Mount Rainier mountain passes open: Cayuse and Chinook

Cayuse Pass (SR 123) on the east side of Mount Rainier and Chinook Pass (SR 410) opened earlier this month, though they've both seen snow this week.

• For updates on these passes and other roads around Mount Rainier National Park (including portions of Stevens Canyon Road, which remains closed), follow Mount Rainier National Park on Twitter or Facebook, or check the Road Status page before you head out.

North Cascades Highway and Mountain Loop Highway open

The North Cascades Highway (SR 20) has been open for a few weeks as well.

• Get more information on road and trail conditions around North Cascades Park Complex.

Mountain Loop Highway opened all the way around earlier this week. Some websites still have the road status as closed, but rangers at the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Verlot confirmed what Trip Reporter jdizzle reported yesterday: the loop is open.

Hiking tip: Many of the trails in the area will still have snow on them, so check trail conditions and Trip Reports before you go. Drop by one of the ranger stations on your way, and for safety, stick to the snow-free sections of trail if you don't have advanced snow skills.

Help report forest road conditions with a Trip Report

This time of year, many forest roads are just starting to open up, and spring weather can also mean washouts and damage for others, like the recent washout that closed Glacier Creek Road (Forest Service road 39) . Get the story about the washout, which cut off vehicle access to Heliotrope Ridge and climbing routes up Mount Baker.

Hiking tip: Before you head out for a hike, check in with National Forest rangers and Trip Reports for the latest information. When you return, file a Trip Report about the road conditions to trailheads.