Travel Alerts

Updated Sept. 10, 2025

Visitors and residents can find travel advisories and alerts related to transportation, wildfires, and more below. Please check back often for updates. State of Washington Tourism recommends that visitors consult local official resources for the most up-to-date information on safety and closures.

Major Closures & Traffic Advisories

Mount Rainier National Park – Highway 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge

As of April 2025, the state Department of Transportation permanently closed the Fairfax Bridge on Highway 165 due to safety concerns, preventing access to sites such as Carbon River, Mowich Lake, Spray Park, Tolmie Peak, and nearby campgrounds. Gateway communities of Wilkeson, Carbonado, and Buckley are still accessible and welcome visitors. The bridge is also closed to pedestrians, and there is no alternate route.

Highway 410 White River Bridge

The White River Bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw on Highway 410 is closed until further notice after being damaged by a semi-truck. A detour is in place using Highways 164, 18, 167, and 410. Travelers should allow for as much as 45-60 minutes of extra travel time. Check WSDOT for updates.

Mount St. Helens – Johnston Ridge Observatory

Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens is expected to remain closed until at least 2027 following a landslide on State Route 504 around milepost 51. For updates on when the visitor center will reopen, check here. 

Nisqually State Park

Nisqually State Park will be closed from late January through the summer of 2025 while crews complete construction and the development of a trail system. Find updates and other state park closures on the Washington State Parks website.

Additional resources:

• Department of Transportation
• State Parks News & Alerts
• North Cascades National Park Conditions & Alerts
• Olympic National Park Conditions & Alerts
• Mount Rainier National Park Conditions & Alerts

Wildfire Updates & Resources

As of Aug. 1, travelers should be aware of the following active wildfires. Please check incident reports for current evacuations, closures, and real-time information:

• Bear Gulch: Northwest of Hoodsport. The northern half of Lake Cushman is closed, and there are extensive closures in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. Please visit their respective websites for updates. All campfires are also prohibited. A Level 3 “Go” evacuation is in place near Dry Creek Trail, including the Staircase Campground.
• Blackhawk Mountain, Crown Creek, and Katy Creek Fires: Three areas north of Kettle Falls in northeast Washington. Level 3 “Go” evacuations are in place for some areas south of the Crown Creek Fire. View road, trial, and campground closures in Colville National Forest here.
• Labor Mountain: Northeast of Cle Elum. The public is being asked away from Forest Roads 9703 and 9737. Check the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for future evacuation notices.
• Lower Sugarloaf: Northeast of Leavenworth. Chelan County Emergency Management has issued evacuation advisories for parts of the area.
• Lynx Mountain & Rattlesnake: Northwest of Spokane. Level 3 evacuations are in place.
• Martin: Northwest of Chelan. A Level 2 evacuation is in effect for Holden Village and nearby facilities. View trail closures in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
• Perry, Thunder, and Big Beaver: Northeast of Newhalem. Campfires are banned in all portions of North Cascades National Park Service Complex – North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. Visit the park website for trial and campsite closures.
• Pomas: Near Entiat in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Find closure updates here.

You can view the status of large wildfires on the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center’s Large Fire Information page. Check the state Department of Transportation website for road conditions and closures in your travel area.

For air quality and smoke conditions, head to the Washington Smoke blog, which is a partnership between state, county, federal agencies, and Tribes. For tips on wildfire safety, check out Recreate Responsibly’s wildfire resources.

Ferry Disruptions

Washington State has an extensive network of ferries connecting visitors and residents to points throughout Western Washington. For alerts, schedule changes/route cancellations, and more, please check the Washington State Ferries alerts bulletin.