On Tuesday, April 22, a massive rockslide forced the closure of State Route 11, Chuckanut Drive, between Chuckanut Manor (milepost 9.5) and the Oyster Dome trailhead (milepost 10).
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has confirmed the highway remains closed to all traffic, including cars, bicycles and pedestrians. No estimated reopening date has been provided, and WSDOT officials warn it will likely be an extended closure.
Slide Severity and Safety Concerns
The rockslide covers approximately 30 feet of vertical rock face, blocking the road for approximately 150 feet. Clearing the road of boulders — some the size of trucks — is a complex process.
An aerial view of the Chuckanut Drive Rockslide in Bow, Wash., on April 23, 2025. 20 feet tall and 150 feet long, the rubble completely blocks the road. // Photo courtesy of WSDOT
According to WSDOT, two preliminary assessments by geotechnical engineers have been conducted as of April 24. The next step in the process will be "scaling"— removing loose rocks and boulders from the slope to reduce the risk of further rock falls. When the area is designated safe, crews can begin clearing debris from the road and evaluating any damage to the underlying road.
“We prioritize the safety of our crews and the traveling public,” said RB McKeon, a WSDOT spokesperson. “This is still an active slide area; it may take some time before we understand the full scope of the work.”
For updates, visit WSDOT’s website.
Local Resident: "I've Been More Nervous This Year"
For long-time residents of Chuckanut Drive, the slide isn't entirely surprising. Some, like Kathy Howell, have learned to expect slides.
“I’ve lived here for 36 years,” Howell said. “Just the past two months, I’ve been nervous to drive… There were rocks on that part of the road.”
Howell knows the risks firsthand. Twenty-five years ago, her property was hit by a major landslide that consumed her entire front yard and crossed the highway.
“Our deck was hanging in the air. It was just a void,” Howell said. “We were evacuated for three or four days.”
Despite the experience, Howell remains supportive of the state’s response.
“WSDOT got on this one pretty quickly,” Howell said.
A Blow to Local Business
The rockslide sits between two popular restaurants, both of which want customers to know they’re still open and accessible.
Guy Colbert, owner of The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive, has been serving diners in the area for nearly 40 years. His restaurant is located on the southern stretch of Chuckanut, about half a mile north of the closure.
“People say, ‘I guess I won't go there right now until I hear the road’s open again,’” said Colbert. “It can definitely affect business. Things can get quite slow.”
He encourages patrons to come in from the north via I-5.
“We’re here and ready to serve,” Colbert added.
Chuckanut Manor Seafood and Grill is on the southern side of the slide, much closer to the impacted area.
“The slide is only a couple of hundred yards away,” said owner Meagan Pickett. “You can see it from our parking lot.”
Despite its proximity, Pickett emphasized the location is safe.
“We don’t have those rocks above us, only forest,” Pickett said. “I hike up there all the time.”
Chuckanut Manor Seafood and Grill is open during regular business hours.
Geological Causes and Challenges
Kate Mickelson, a landslide expert with the Washington Geological Survey, says the area’s geology predisposes it to such events.
“The geologic units in that area are dipping toward the road, which means landslides can fail along that slope,” Mickelson said. “There are also coal layers between sedimentary beds that are really weak and prone to landslides.”
Kate noted there have been about 10 rockslides on Chuckanut Drive in the last nine years. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tracks these events on its website.
While mitigation measures like rock scaling, bolting and even applying shotcrete (sprayed concrete) can help stabilize slopes, the area’s underlying vulnerability makes long-term solutions challenging.
“Sometimes there isn’t a solution — there simply isn’t another place to put the road,” Mickelson said. “Chuckanut might be one of those cases.”
Communication, Resilience and the Road Ahead
While residents like Howell rely on neighborly texts and a strong community network for real-time updates, business owners such as Colbert express frustration with the lack of direct communication from WSDOT.
“We didn’t even know what happened until we saw the road closure signs,” Colbert said.
WSDOT encourages the public to stay informed through its mobile app, travel center map, email alerts and social media accounts. As the slide cleanup begins, officials stress the importance of heeding closure signs for everyone’s safety.
Road signs block access to the impacted areas of the rockslide in Bow, Wash., on April 23, 2025. The Washington State Department of Transportation has not yet announced a timeline for road clearance. // Photo by Oliver Mortell
In the meantime, the people of Chuckanut Drive—resilient, resourceful and bound by a shared appreciation of the area's natural beauty—continue to adapt.
“Living on the mountain... You have to think about mitigating landslides and fires... correcting one thing and not making another worse, ” Kathy said. “But we also have the beautiful oceans and the stunning views. You can't get past that; it’s what keeps me here.”
Oliver Mortell (he/him) is a member of the city news beat team and is currently in his first quarter with The Front. He is a third-year public relations major with a passion for storytelling and community engagement. Outside the newsroom, Oliver enjoys reading, cooking, creating digital art, and exploring new places on foot. He can be reached at olivermortell.thefront@gmail.com.
