Closures and seasonal restrictions are in effect for two mountain passes in remote areas of Shoshone County.

Thompson Pass, which connects the North Fork region of Shoshone County with Montana, is officially closed for the season.

According to Shoshone County Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke, the annual closure happens right after Thanksgiving weekend, when the Montana Department of Transportation decides to cease maintenance operations on its side of Highway 471.

Moon Pass, located south of Wallace, is under seasonal restrictions warning travelers that conditions may be hazardous without proper vehicles. The pass, which sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet, is the quickest route to Shoshone County’s southern region, including the towns of Avery and Calder.

The pass is never officially closed, but road crews have installed signage to warn drivers that it is no longer maintained for travel. That usually happens when snow at the top begins to stick.

“We let the weather close it, so Mother Nature gets to determine that,” Stutzke said.

In previous years, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies have had issues with people who think they can beat the hazardous conditions. To combat this, the office has threatened those who ignore the warnings with financial penalties associated with the cost of any rescue operations during the winter months.

Both passes reopen in late April or early May, once maintenance crews have inspected the roads for debris, washouts or excess snow.

For more information, contact the Shoshone County Public Works Department at (208) 753-5475.