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Mountain Loop Highway, corridor to iconic hikes, fully reopens

Published 4:01 pm Wednesday, July 19, 2023

By Herald Staff

A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington. (Jennifer Buchanan / Herald file)
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A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington. (Jennifer Buchanan / Herald file)
A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington. (Jennifer Buchanan / Herald file)

VERLOT — The Mountain Loop Highway is fully open to traffic and the highway opened over the weekend, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The road partially opened in the middle of May. The Darrington Ranger Station confirmed the full reopening Wednesday.

Many of Snohomish County’s most iconic hikes lie along the Mountain Loop. The road was originally pioneered in the late 19th century and was designated as a scenic byway in 1991.

The total length of the road is 55 miles, connecting Granite Falls and Darrington. An unpaved 12-mile section between Barlow Pass and Bedal Campground has been closed since early Nov. 9, 2022. Last year, it fully opened May 20.

Snow and ice force the road’s closure each year. The road has to melt out and repairs are often made prior to opening.

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