North Cascades Highway is opening a little early this year

North Cascades Highway, also known as Highway 20, is set to reopen for the season at 10 a.m. Friday, April 19, after being closed since late November, the Washington Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

The highway has been closed between milepost 134 at Ross Dam Trailhead and milepost 171 at the Silver Star Gate since Nov. 30.

The highway closes annually due to staffing and funding related to weather concerns, the WSDOT previously said.

This year marks the first April opening of the highway since 2019. The pass opened in May from 2020 to 2023.

WSDOT spokesperson Lauren Loebsack said the opening is determined based on weather conditions.

“This year was a milder, wetter winter, so there was less … clean up and the season was just shorter,” she said in an email.

The earliest opening, she said, was March 10, 2005.

While the pass is opening, North Cascades National Park will remain closed, the department said. The park’s visitor centers won’t open until late May, and there will be few services beforehand.

WSDOT urged people to be careful if they’re traveling on the highway in early spring. There’s no cellphone service, there are not a lot of places to pull off the road and the passes could still see snow and freezing weather.

There will also be some construction near mileposts 105 and 150, and drivers should watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists, the department said.

“Remember, travel safe, slow down, pay attention and enjoy the scenery!” WSDOT wrote.