Last verified: June 1, 2026. Mountain pass status changes by the hour in any season — this page explains how each route behaves and what to expect, but it does not report current conditions. Always confirm today’s open/closed status, chain controls, and weather at the official WSDOT and National Park Service links before you drive.
Cascade pass conditions at a glance
- Snoqualmie Pass (I-90) is the year-round freeway route east, summit elevation 3,022 ft. It rarely closes for the season but can shut or go to chains-required with little warning in a storm — check live on the WSDOT Snoqualmie report.
- White Pass (US-12) is the southern year-round route toward Yakima and the Mount Rainier southeast corner (summit roughly 4,500 ft). Higher and snowier than Snoqualmie, with avalanche-control and wind closures — check live on the WSDOT White Pass report.
- Chinook Pass (SR-410, 5,430 ft) and Cayuse Pass (SR-123, 4,675 ft) are seasonal — they close every fall and reopen in late spring. For the 2025–26 season they closed Oct. 24, 2025 and reopened on schedule May 22, 2026 — confirm the current gate status on WSDOT.
- Chains can be required on any pass when signs are posted; ignoring a posted chain requirement carries a fine of up to $500. Carry chains November through spring — see WSDOT mountain pass reports.
- Mount Rainier National Park roads (Paradise, Stevens Canyon, the Chinook/Cayuse corridor) follow their own seasonal plowing schedule — check live on the NPS Mount Rainier road status page.
- Fastest single source: the WSDOT real-time mountain passes hub lists every Cascade pass with current restrictions, temperature, and roadway condition in one place.
Which pass should a Tacoma driver take?
From Tacoma and Pierce County, three corridors carry you across the Cascade crest, and the right one depends on your destination and the season. Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 is the default for anyone headed to Ellensburg, the Tri-Cities, or Spokane. It is the lowest of the three at 3,022 feet, the only divided freeway over the crest, and the most heavily maintained — WSDOT runs avalanche control, dedicated plow fleets, and variable message signs there around the clock in winter. Reach it from Tacoma by taking SR-512 or I-5 to I-405 and then I-90 eastbound through North Bend.
White Pass on US-12 is the southern alternative, picked up via SR-7 and US-12 through Morton and Packwood. It is the practical route to Yakima, the Tieton area, White Pass ski resort, and the southeast side of Mount Rainier. Because the summit sits near 4,500 feet, White Pass collects more snow than Snoqualmie and is more prone to short avalanche-control and high-wind closures. Confirm its status on the WSDOT White Pass report (check live) before committing to it in winter.
The Chinook Pass corridor (SR-410) — reached from Pierce County through Enumclaw and Greenwater — is the scenic warm-season route to the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier and on to Naches and Yakima. It is closed all winter, so it is a summer-and-fall option only. When in doubt, the one-stop WSDOT mountain pass reports hub (check live) shows all of them side by side.
Snoqualmie Pass (I-90): chains, traction, and storm closures
Snoqualmie is open year-round, but “open” and “open without restrictions” are not the same thing. During and after Cascade storms, WSDOT escalates through traction-tire-advised, chains-required-except-all-wheel-drive, and chains-required-on-all-vehicles, and in severe conditions or for avalanche control it closes the pass entirely — sometimes for hours while crews work the slide paths above the highway.
The I-90 chain-control zone runs from roughly milepost 32 at North Bend to milepost 101 at Ellensburg, so carry chains that fit your vehicle anytime you cross in the cold months. When chain signs are posted, all vehicles except those that meet the posted exemption must comply, and drivers who skip required chains face a fine of up to $500. Commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds have stricter, separately posted chain rules — see WSDOT’s commercial chain requirements.
For real-time decisions, the WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report (check live) is the authority on current restrictions, roadway surface, and temperature. You can also subscribe to push alerts for I-90 by texting START to 85107, or use the free WSDOT mobile app. Do not treat any condition you read here — or anywhere else — as current; the live report is the only thing that reflects right now.
White Pass (US-12): the snowier southern route
White Pass stays open through winter most years, but its higher summit makes it the more volatile of the two year-round routes. Closures here typically come from avalanche control, blizzard-level snowfall, or downed trees in high wind, and they can affect the stretch east of the summit toward the Tieton drainage as well as the summit itself. Plan extra time, fuel up before Packwood, and never count on cell service in the canyon.
Chain and traction rules on US-12 work the same way as on I-90: when signs are posted, comply or risk a citation. Because White Pass is less trafficked than the interstate, a closure can strand you longer before crews reach it, so the safe move in marginal weather is to verify first on the WSDOT White Pass report (check live). If White Pass is closed and you still need to get east, the all-passes hub (check live) will tell you whether Snoqualmie is the better bet that day.
Chinook & Cayuse passes (SR-410/SR-123): seasonal closures
Chinook Pass (SR-410) and Cayuse Pass (SR-123) climb through and around Mount Rainier National Park, and they close every winter — not for a storm, but for the whole season. The gates shut between Crystal Mountain Boulevard, about 12 miles northwest of the Chinook summit near the park boundary, and Morse Creek, five miles east of the summit. WSDOT closes these high, narrow roads because of avalanche danger, the absence of emergency services up top, and limited room to store plowed snow.
The closure window shifts a little every year with snowpack. For the 2025–26 season the passes closed at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, and reopened on schedule by 8 a.m. Friday, May 22, 2026 — a fairly typical late-fall to late-May span. In heavy years the reopening slides into June, and Chinook (the higher of the two) often reopens after Cayuse. Treat any reopening date as a target, not a guarantee, and never assume the gates are open without checking: confirm the current gate status on the WSDOT mountain pass reports (check live) and the road status inside the park on the NPS Mount Rainier road status page (check live), which also covers Paradise, Stevens Canyon, and seasonal construction delays.
Frequently asked questions
What are the current Snoqualmie Pass conditions?
This page does not publish live conditions because they change hour to hour. For the current Snoqualmie Pass status — open or closed, chain controls, roadway surface, and temperature — check the official WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report. You can also text START to 85107 for I-90 alerts or use the WSDOT mobile app.
What are the current White Pass conditions?
For real-time White Pass (US-12) status, including any avalanche-control or weather closures and chain requirements, see the official WSDOT White Pass report. White Pass sits higher than Snoqualmie and can close on short notice in winter storms, so verify before you leave Pierce County.
Is Chinook Pass open right now?
Chinook Pass (SR-410) and Cayuse Pass (SR-123) close every winter and reopen in late spring — for the 2025–26 season they closed Oct. 24, 2025 and reopened on schedule May 22, 2026. Reopening dates shift year to year with the snowpack, so to confirm whether the gates are currently open, check the WSDOT mountain pass reports hub and the NPS Mount Rainier road status page.
Where can I find the official Washington mountain pass report?
The single official source for every Cascade pass is the WSDOT real-time mountain passes hub, which lists Snoqualmie, White, Chinook, and the other passes with current restrictions, weather, and roadway condition. The free WSDOT mobile app carries the same data.
Do I need chains to cross Snoqualmie or White Pass?
Chains may be required on any Cascade pass when WSDOT posts the signs, and on I-90 the chain-control zone runs between North Bend (MP 32) and Ellensburg (MP 101). Carry chains that fit your vehicle from late fall through spring; failing to install them when required carries a fine of up to $500. Heavier commercial vehicles follow stricter posted rules. Always confirm the current requirement on the relevant WSDOT pass report before you drive.