Contact:

Matt Phelps                                            Fay Lim

Communications Specialist II                 Communications Supervisor

Matt.Phelps@snoco.org                         Fay.Lim@snoco.org

425-388-3126                                         425-388-6413

Correction: Mountain Loop Highway Opens from Deer Creek to Barlow Pass to Increase Recreation Options Prior to Memorial Day

Highway remains closed from Barlow Pass to the Bedal gate due to snow and the need for further maintenance

EVERETT, Wash., Monday, May 23, 2022 – Snohomish County Public Works, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, reopened the west side of Mountain Loop Highway to traffic from the Deer Creek gate to Barlow Pass on Friday, May 20 to increase recreational opportunities 10 days prior to the Memorial Day weekend. The highway remains closed from Barlow Pass north to the Bedal gate and campground due to remaining snow and the need for further maintenance.  The annual winter closure is normally early November until end of May.

“We were able to open the highway on the westside earlier than normal due to good weather, but we still have some maintenance work to do on the north stretch,” Snohomish County Engineer Doug McCormick said. “We are pleased because this will give campers and hikers some extra time to enjoy the county’s natural beauty from Deer Creek to Barlow Pass.”

A 14-mile stretch of the road is gravel and closed each winter due to snow and road conditions. Each spring, the Road Maintenance Division coordinates with the U.S. Forest Service to perform any necessary maintenance on the road prior to its reopening. The road had been closed from the Deer Creek gate east of Granite Falls to Barlow Pass. It remains closed from Barlow Pass to Bedal Creek gate near the Bedal campground south of Darrington.

During the summer months, more than 100 cars on average use this route each day with up to 200 cars traveling each day on the weekend. 

View the road closure webpage to learn of closed county roads. 

About Snohomish County Public Works 

Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for approximately 1,600 miles of county roads, more than 200 bridges and manages about 200 traffic control signals. The department also processes nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA 98201. Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks or follow the department on Facebook and Twitter for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.