Mountain Loop Highway now open between Granite Falls and Darrington

EVERETT, Wash., Friday, May 20, 2022 – Snohomish County Public Works, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, reopened Mountain Loop Highway to traffic in both directions on Friday, May 20 between Granite Falls and Darrington. The highway is open 10 days earlier than Memorial Day weekend. The annual winter closure is normally early November until end of May.

Map of Mountain Loop Highway Scenic Byway. Source: U.S. Forest Service.

“Due to the weather, we are able to open the highway over a week earlier,” Snohomish County Public Works Director Kelly Snyder said. “We are especially pleased because it gives campers and hikers who use this route during the summer months two more weekends to enjoy the county’s natural beauty.”

A stretch of the road, 14 miles, 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 west of Granite Falls to the 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 list 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.