Tourists utilize a break in the weather to catch a glimpse of Mount St. Helens from the Loowit Viewpoint along Spirit Lake Memorial Highway in May 2017.
Access to the upper reaches of state Route 504, also known as Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, will be closed for the winter beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29. That closure will end the tourism season at the Johnston Ridge Observatory and other popular scenic destinations near Mount St. Helens.
“The wet and cold months have the potential to do a lot of damage to the roadway,” said WSDOT Maintenance Supervisor Aaron Yanez in a press release. “Before the weather turns nasty, we’ll work in the closure area to prep the highway by clearing culverts and ditches in hopes of minimizing springtime repairs.”
The Washington State Department of Transportation coordinates the seasonal closure of the gates at Coldwater Lake with the U.S. Forest Service each fall in advance of hazardous winter conditions. The lower section of state Route 504, up to Coldwater Lake, will remain open as long as conditions allow. The full length of the highway will be reopened in the spring when snow levels recede and road conditions improve.
Up to date road conditions and travel alerts from the WSDOT can be obtained by calling 511.
