Hiker Headlines: Mountain Loop Highway, many roads reopening soon; Stehekin limited services; new free day

It’s May 14. The Forest Service added a new fee-free day: National Trails Day. WTA launched our Outdoor Leadership Training co-instructor program! Summer is nearly here, and many openings are on the horizon, including the Mountain Loop Highway, and Cayuse and Chinook passes. The Mount Baker Highway will be closed on the morning of May 24 for the Ski to Sea race. And, read the Seattle Times' editorial about how the Forest Service reorganization spells bad news for our public lands. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Roads are being cleared right now for the summer season, like Chinook Pass (above), and some are opening up soon! Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation.

New fee-free day: The Forest Service has added a fee-free day to 2026: June 6, National Trails Day. Parking fees will be waived on Forest Service lands. National Trails Day is a day to celebrate and advocate for our trails. Looking for a way to give back? Check out our calendar of WTA work parties, or find a National Trails Day event on the American Hiking Society website.

Outdoor leaders: WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT) program supports community partners to lead outdoor recreation experiences. Our new co-instructor training program allows participants to advance their outdoor leadership skills. Co-instructors must first complete an OLT workshop. Our website has all the info about the program.  

So many openings: Summer is nearly here! Trails, facilities and roads are reopening:

• Westside Road in Mount Rainier National Park has opened for the summer. 
• The Mountain Loop Highway is expected to open in full tomorrow, May 15. 
• Cayuse Pass (SR 123) and Chinook Pass (SR 410) are expected to reopen by 8 a.m. on May 22. 
• The North Cascades National Park Wilderness Information Center will be opening for the season tomorrow, May 15. It will be open 7 days a week between 7 a.m.–4 p.m., with a lunch break from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 

Mount Baker Highway closure: The Mount Baker Highway, SR 542, will be closed in both directions to all traffic between Canyon Creek Road (milepost 35) and the Bagley Lakes trailhead (milepost 54.7) between 7:15–11:30 a.m. on May 24 for the annual Ski to Sea race. This restricts access to several trails, including: Church Mountain, Excelsior Pass, Welcome Pass, Hannegan Pass, Picture Lake and Bagley Lakes.

Stehekin limited services: Stehekin will have limited services this year due to damage to its wastewater treatment plant from winter storms. The North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin will not offer public services. Other lodging options will still be available in the valley. The postal service, ferry service, private shuttle and tours (including trips to Rainbow Falls) will operate. Lakeview and Purple Point campgrounds remain open on a first-come, first-served basis free of charge; they will have potable water and vault toilets. 

In the news: The Seattle Times editorial board wrote about how the Forest Service reorganization and budget cuts spell bad news for Washington’s national public lands. 

BE IN THE KNOW

• Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter.
• Search our Hiking Guide to find your next adventure.
• Check trip reports for latest conditions on trails. And if you go for a hike, file your own trip report.
• Sign up for Trail Action Network to stay up to date on issues impacting trails and ways to get involved.