State Route 123 construction closure within Mount Rainier National Park starts September 2

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Date: August 27, 2025
Contact: Mount Rainier Press Information Line, 360-569-6510

ASHFORD, Wash. – A portion of State Route (SR) 123 located within Mount Rainier National Park will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles from 6:00 am Tuesday, September 2 through 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 30. The project was announced in November 2024 and is also featured on the construction page of the park website. The closure area will start on SR 123 south of Cayuse Pass and continue approximately ten miles to an area just north of the intersection of SR 123 and Stevens Canyon Road.

Two large box culverts will be installed to increase the amount of water than can safely flow underneath the roadway. Flooding risks and the chance of road washouts will be reduced, and habitat for amphibians and fish will be improved.

Large vehicles such as RVs and any vehicle towing a trailer should avoid traveling south of Cayuse Pass, located at the intersection of SR 410 and SR 123.  State Route 410 remains accessible for the duration of this construction project. Smaller vehicles and bicycles will be permitted to turn around at Deer Creek Bridge, located about three miles south of Cayuse Pass. Maps and descriptions of the closure area, and trail access impacts are available on the park’s construction page. 

White River Entrance, White River Campground, and the Sunrise area will be accessible via SR 410. Expect a detour of 3-4 hours if travelling between the Stevens Canyon Entrance and White River Entrance/Sunrise Corridor.

Timed entry reservations for the Sunrise/White River Corridor are required daily through September 1, and on weekends thereafter through the end of the season. Please visit the park’s website for more information on the timed entry reservation system. Timed entry reservations are not required for Paradise. 

State Route 123 construction closures will not interfere with visitors traveling through Ashford, WA, on SR 706 to access the park and the popular Paradise area through the Nisqually Entrance.

Vehicles will also be able to travel north on SR 123 from Packwood, WA, to the Stevens Canyon Entrance Station and Stevens Canyon Road for the duration of the SR 123 closure, except during a short (8 am – 4 pm) paving closure on September 24 (closure date is weather dependent and could change). This limited closure of the SR 123/Stevens Canyon Road intersection will prohibit travel between destinations along Stevens Canyon Road and Paradise and areas southwest of the park, including Packwood, WA, for less than one day. This isolated paving work will be limited in scope and does not represent a long term closure of this intersection. Updates will be posted on the park’s construction page.

More information about visiting the park can be found at the Mount Rainier National Park website. 

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