Getting AroundTuesday, November 3
McKenzie Pass closes for the winter on Thursday, and ODOT won't maintain it
The Bend Daily News team
If you like the drive over McKenzie Pass (OR 242), time's almost up. The Oregon Department of Transportation will close the highway Thursday as winter weather approaches. The route is a scenic secondary highway, and ODOT puts its plowing effort into main highways instead.
5,325 feetMcKenzie Pass's elevation
The high elevation and narrow, twisting road made it too hard to keep clear in winter, even when it was the main route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon.
Source: KTVZ
- Conditions: check TripCheck.com or call 511
- Winter hazards: fast-changing weather, no services or cell coverage
- Spring hazards: fallen trees, rockslides, damaged pavement
It became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962. ODOT said the closure is of the highway, not of public lands, so skiers and snowshoers can go past the gates at their own risk.
The closure bars vehicles but not people on foot
| Who | Beyond the gates |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | Prohibited |
| Skiers and snowshoers | Allowed, at own risk |
| Services and cell coverage | None |
Sources: Bend Bulletin, KTVZ
Sources: Bend Bulletin, KTVZ