Travel Alerts

Updated Oct. 2, 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.

Federal Government Shutdown 2025

As of Oct. 1, a partial shutdown of the federal government will impact Washington’s national parks, national wildlife refuges, and national forests.

Washington’s three national parks—Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park—remain partially accessible with very limited staffing and services. Visitors should expect:

• Visitor centers, restroom facilities, entrance booths, and certain parking lots or campgrounds will likely be closed, especially if they are typically gated or otherwise inaccessible outside normal business hours.
• Trash collection and sanitation services will be limited.
• Federal lands websites and social media will not be regularly updated or monitored.
• To ensure visitor safety as well as protect these outdoor spaces, please consider alternative recreation options. Washington State Parks are open and unaffected by the shutdown, although some closures are in place due to wildfires.
• If visiting accessible areas during the shutdown, recreate responsibly by packing out all trash, staying on designated trails, and following other Leave No Trace principles.
• Hikers, campers, and others looking to recreate outdoors can more detailed shutdown information via the Washington Trails Association.

Major Closures & Traffic Advisories

Blewitt Pass (Highway 97)

As of Oct. 2, Blewett Pass remains closed between milepost 149-178 due to the Labor Mountain Fire. There is no estimated time to reopen. Check WSDOT for updates.

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 Enumclaw, 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.
• Labor Mountain: Northeast of Cle Elum. Fire activity has closed Blewitt Pass (Highway 97) between milepost 149-178. Check the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for future evacuation notices. View closures in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
• Lower Sugarloaf: Northeast of Leavenworth. Chelan County Emergency Management has issued evacuation advisories for parts of the area. View closures in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
• Wildcat: Northwest of Naches. Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and Mount Rainier National Park have closures in place, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail from Bumping Lake Trail #971 to the Chinook Pass Trailhead. Access to Naches Peak Trail is also prohibited due to fire danger.

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.