Published 11:03 am Monday, November 2, 2026

The Oregon Department of Transportation will close McKenzie Pass (OR 242) on Thursday as winter weather approaches and the highway begins its annual seasonal closure.

The scenic, 5,325-foot-high mountain highway is not maintained during winter because of hazardous conditions, maintenance costs and logistical challenges. ODOT instead prioritizes keeping major highways plowed and open.

The closure applies to vehicles traveling beyond the gates but does not prohibit public access to surrounding public lands. However, skiers, snowshoers and other non-vehicle visitors who venture beyond the gates do so at their own risk, ODOT said.

Because the highway is not maintained during winter, visitors may encounter rapidly changing weather, hazardous conditions and no access to services or cell coverage.…