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Hiker Headlines: Bridge closed to Mowich Lake and Carbon River roads, Mountain Loop Highway partial reopening

Posted by tiffanyc at Apr 17, 2025 04:41 PM |
Filed under: Hiker News

The Fairfax Bridge near Carbonado, just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, is closed, blocking access to Mowich Lake Road and Carbon River Road. The Mountain Loop Highway has reopened between Deer Creek and Barlow Pass! And some fun hiker events and fee-free days are coming up.

It’s April 17. The Fairfax Bridge near Carbonado, just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, is closed while the Washington state Department of Transportation performs safety checks, rendering Mowich Lake Road and Carbon River Road inaccessible. The Mountain Loop Highway has reopened between Deer Creek and Barlow Pass! And some fun hiker events and fee-free days are coming up. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

An aerial view of the Fairfax Bridge. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The Fairfax Bridge is closed indefinitely due to safety concerns. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation. 

Bridge closed to Northwest corner of Mount Rainier: The Fairfax Bridge over the Carbon River, 3 miles south of Carbonado and just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until further notice due to safety concerns. The state Department of Transportation is conducting safety inspections over the coming weeks. The closure renders both Mowich Lake Road (SR 165) and Carbon River Road at Mount Rainier inaccessible. Many trailheads are inaccessible due to the closure, including the trailheads to Spray Park, Summit Lake and Tolmie Peak. 

Mountain Loop Highway: The Mountain Loop Highway has reopened between Deer Creek and Barlow Pass. The unpaved section of the highway between Barlow Pass and Bedal Campground is still closed. Be aware that forest roads in the area may still be inaccessible due to winter blowdowns and trails may still be affected by debris — if you have Mountain Loop Highway hiking plans, consider filing a trip report afterward so other folks know what to expect! 

Fun hiker events: Looking for something fun to do these next few weeks? Check out these upcoming events:

  • Join WTA, King County Parks, Earth Corps and other organizations at the opening of Glendale Forest, a new park in Burien! WTA has been working alongside these organizations for years to transform this green space in North Highline into a forest park, and we're excited for you to check it out. The opening will take place between 1–3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. Enjoy some nature-themed crafts, plant identification, forest walks and snacks. Register online for free.
  • Learn more about what’s in store for the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail in 2025! Washington State Parks staff will present about projects, activities and trail impacts on the trail in a webinar from 1–2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6. Register online for free. 

Fee-free days: Two fee-free days are coming up. Saturday, April 19, is the first day of National Park Week; entrance fees will be waived at national parks. And Tuesday, April 22, is Earth Day; parking fees will be waived on lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

BE IN THE KNOW

Comments

wafflesnfalafel on Hiker Headlines: Bridge closed to Mowich Lake and Carbon River roads, Mountain Loop Highway partial reopening

looks like WSDOT just permanently closed the Fairfax bridge - https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2025/103-year-old-sr-165-carbon-river-fairfax-bridge-permanently-closed

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wafflesnfalafel on Apr 22, 2025 03:38 PM