McKenzie Pass
A narrow 1920s highway through the lava fields between Sisters and the McKenzie valley. ODOT clears it late on purpose — the bike-only weeks before the gates open have become their own small season.
This year
Live plow-season reports load here. For today's conditions, go straight to ODOT's status page.
Conditions change by the hour at 5,325 feet — check ODOT's status page before you drive.
The record
Usually opens to cars in June; cyclists often get the cleared road to themselves for a few weeks first.
We're still putting this road's year-by-year record together from ODOT archives — it will appear here as it's confirmed. In the meantime, ODOT's page has current conditions.
When does McKenzie Pass close?
Closes for the winter in November. The winter closure covers OR 242 over the pass between Sisters and the McKenzie River valley.
We don't have this road's year-by-year closing dates yet — they'll appear here as ODOT's notices are worked through. Until then, ODOT's own page has the state of the gate.
McKenzie Pass: opening and closing questions
- When does McKenzie Pass close for the winter?
- Closes for the winter in November. The winter closure covers OR 242 over the pass between Sisters and the McKenzie River valley.
- Can you drive McKenzie Pass in winter?
- No. OR 242 over the pass between Sisters and the McKenzie River valley is gated once the season ends, and it stays shut until spring plowing gets through. ODOT posts the gate's current state.
- Is McKenzie Pass open right now?
- This page is the season record, not the road's condition this morning. Oregon Department of Transportation publishes today's state of the road, and that is the one to check before you drive — conditions turn over in hours at this elevation.
- When does McKenzie Pass open again?
- Usually opens to cars in June; cyclists often get the cleared road to themselves for a few weeks first.