On Oct. 20 we lifted the 'residents only' restriction on the emergency detour route around the landslide. The route is now open to all drivers.
Drivers should be aware that the current emergency route, which detours around a four-mile section of SR 410 between mileposts 104 and 108, is a rough, gravel-surfaced road. We could close the roadway for the safety of drivers at anytime if landslide activity or an increase in river flows is detected. While keeping the roadway open is important for residents and businesses along the SR 410 corridor, we will not compromise motorist safety.
Drivers should check for updates before using the emergency route. The most reliable access to restaurants, homes, cabins, and stores along the SR 410 corridor is from the west over Chinook Pass. We will try to keep Chinook Pass open until heavy snows create unavoidable avalanche danger.
For the safety of drivers and pedestrians, the four-mile section of SR 410 between mileposts 104 and 108 remains closed due to the instability of the landslide. To keep drivers safe, we initially closed a 47-mile stretch of the roadway between Tipsoo Lake in Mount Rainier National Park and the junction with US 12.
Know before you go
Drivers should remember to check current mountain pass conditions and scheduled construction closures before heading out.
WSDOT typically closes SR 410 Chinook Pass from the junction with SR 123 to Morse Creek each winter due to the risk of avalanche. This five-mile stretch of the highway is located along the steep slope of an avalanche area, which makes it too dangerous to keep open during the snowy winter months.