This one weekend a year, the North Cascades Highway is (unofficially) just for bikes

Washington State Route 20 is closed while crews remove months of snow and ice from the scenic drive through the Cascades. But one weekend a year, cyclists pedal through the mountains with the road all to themselves.

If you try driving the North Cascades Highway the weekend of April 11, 2025, you’ll be met by a big gate blocking the road. Every winter, this scenic drive is closed due to heavy snow and avalanche risk.

Washington’s Department of Transportation says crews have cleared almost all of the road and are close to reopening the 37-mile stretch between Ross Lake Dam and Silver Star gate.

That means there’s a small window of time every spring when the route is mostly clear but still closed to cars. Cue the adventurous bicyclists.

“Last year, when I went, there were a lot of families out there with kids, and it really just felt like a bike party in the mountains,” said Luke Distelhorst, who’s gearing up for another Cascades ride on Sunday.

While the highway is still officially closed, Distelhorst and others use this opportunity to experience one of Washington’s most beautiful rides without any cars going by.

“It's peaceful, it's solitude, it's a quiet experience,” Distelhorst said. “It's really unique."

State highway officials are well aware of people like Distelhorst, who see that closed gate and get excited to enjoy the road on just two wheels.

A week before the big bike ride this year, WSDOT sent out a newsletter that addressed a “persistent myth of a special bike day” through the North Cascades. The fact is, the newsletter states, there is no bike day. When the road is closed, it’s closed to everyone.

However, this week the agency acknowledged on Facebook that if cyclists must ride through the mountains without any cars nearby, this weekend is their best opportunity to do so.

“This is kind of the balance that we strike — trying to inform people when the conditions might be optimal and also help them appreciate that we need them to stay out during the week because it has sometimes slowed work down," said WSDOT spokesperson Lauren Loebsack. "It's a safety concern for crews — they worry about that. And so we really just ask, whatever you're doing, keep it to Friday through Sunday.”

Monday through Thursday, Loebsack said state employees are doing work such as removing fallen trees, checking for potential avalanches, and clearing snow and ice from the highway.

“The highway is still closed to traffic for a reason,” she said. “There's still work to do before it can be open to traffic.”

She also cautions riders that this remote drive is far from cell phone service and there are no gas stations, restaurants, or other services along the way. It’s just you, your bike, and the wilderness.

Which sounds perfect for Grant Peltier, who plans to ride through the mountains this weekend for the first time.

“The North Cascades is one of the most beautiful national parks in the country, and it's really only visited by a small handful of people," Peltier said. "I’m excited to have the opportunity to go visit it and check it out in a different way that I've never been able to do before.”

The cold mountain air is a top concern for riders like Peltier. He said he’ll be packing extra layers and wind protection to make it all the way to Washington Pass safely.

Distelhorst, who biked this route last spring, said gloves and shoe covers make a big difference in being able to enjoy the ride. He also recommends toe and hand warmers.

Daytime high temperatures in the mountains are expected to be in the low 50s (even colder with wind chill when riding a bike down hill) and then drop into the 20s overnight.

Most riders said they plan to drive to Newhalem or Ross Lake Dam trailhead, park their cars, and pedal to Washington Pass or beyond. Distelhorst said he likes to go to Mazama where he can resupply before turning around and heading back west.

Pretty much any bike will do, especially with gravel or mountain tires. Don’t forget your layers, extra water, and maybe go with a friend if this is your first time.

“Being able to bike under your own power across it in a safe and protected way with no vehicles on the road — it's just truly a magical experience," Distelhorst said.