Travel Alerts
Updated Aug. 1, 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 22, 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 also impacted. The bridge is also closed to pedestrians, and there is no alternate route at this time.
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: North side of Lake Cushman in Olympic National Forest near Hoodsport. Staircase trailheads and campgrounds are closed. Lake Cushman is also closed, and evacuations have been issued for the area.
- Burdoin: White Salmon-Bingen/Lyle area in the Columbia River Gorge. County roads remain restricted to local traffic. Catherine Creek Recreation Area and Coyote Wall Trailhead remain closed.
- Stud Horse: East of Winthrop. Evacuation orders are in place.
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.