Hikers and campers hoping to explore the northwest side of Mount Rainier National Park this summer are facing major disappointment, as access to many beloved outdoor destinations will be cut off for years.
According to an article by Kiro News Radio, The long-term closure of the Carbon River Fairfax Bridge has left trails, campsites, and natural attractions like Mowich Lake eerily quiet over what is typically a busy Memorial Day weekend.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) estimates that full access won’t be restored until at least 2031.
“It’s looking like a six-year process with the environmental permitting, tearing down the existing bridge, and getting the design in place and rebuilding,” said WSDOT spokesperson Cara Mitchell. “It’s a long time frame. It’s not an easy task.”
The century-old bridge was abruptly shut down in April after significant damage was discovered in its steel supports. WSDOT has since moved quickly to assess options and engage the public.
An online open house and two community forums are in the works to gather feedback on three proposed solutions: permanently closing the road, replacing the bridge in its current location, or rerouting State Route 165 around the canyon. Each option comes with logistical, financial, and environmental trade-offs.
“There’s a no-build option, which is a permanent road closure. There’s a bridge replacement in the same vicinity, and then rerouting State Route 165 on a new alignment to either the east or the west of the canyon,” Mitchell explained.
Public input will play a major role in determining the final plan, especially as local residents and outdoor enthusiasts have deep ties to the area.
“We know that this has been a challenge for the communities,” Mitchell said. “It’s a challenge for anybody who has enjoyed the wilderness back there. And we’re working as fast as we can to get the planning study up and running.”
Despite recent legislative approval of $9 billion in new transportation taxes, none of that money has been allocated to the Carbon River project.
As of now, WSDOT has no funds to remove, repair, or replace the bridge. “We don’t have funding to rebuild the bridge, to replace the bridge, to repair the bridge, or to even take it down at this point,” Mitchell said, adding that years of deferred maintenance are partly to blame.
A nine-mile, single-lane emergency detour remains in place but is open only to local residents, leaving visitors shut out from one of the state’s most iconic natural regions.
This prolonged closure underscores a growing challenge in the outdoor recreation industry: aging infrastructure is straining under increased usage, while funding remains limited.
With access to key hiking and camping areas now restricted for the better part of a decade, outfitters, guide services, and gateway communities are likely to feel the economic impact.