Crews Work to Clear Moon Pass in Idaho

Officials urge patience as road crews make progress on seasonal snow removal.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:05am

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, white, and blue, depicting the snow-covered slopes of a mountain pass obscured by heavy snowfall and hazy skies, conveying the overwhelming scale and power of the natural environment.The annual effort to clear Moon Pass, a vital transportation link in Idaho's Shoshone County, continues under dramatic winter conditions.Osburn Today

County crews in Shoshone County, Idaho have begun the annual process of clearing Moon Pass, a vital road connection between the Silver Valley region and communities to the south. While the mild winter has allowed for faster-than-usual progress, officials are asking the public to obey road closure signs and avoid interfering with active work zones as the cleanup continues.

Why it matters

Moon Pass is an important transportation link for the region, allowing residents and businesses to access areas along the St. Joe River. Clearing the pass is a critical annual task, and the county's ability to open it before the busy Memorial Day travel season is closely watched by the local community.

The details

Larry Hammer, supervisor at the Shoshone County Osburn roads shop, reported that crews have been able to get a grader within about 1.5 miles of the top of the pass, though they have faced repeated issues with people attempting to drive into active work zones. Hammer expects to encounter some storm damage, but is hopeful that any additional cleanup will be minimal. The county will continuously move road closure signs as crews advance, allowing access to cleared portions of the pass.

  • Crews began clearing Moon Pass on Tuesday, April 3, 2026.
  • Officials hope to have the pass open by Memorial Day, though there are no guarantees.

The players

Larry Hammer

Supervisor at the Shoshone County Osburn roads shop, overseeing the snow removal efforts on Moon Pass.

Shoshone County

The county government responsible for maintaining and clearing Moon Pass, a vital transportation link in the region.

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What they’re saying

“'We always like to have it open by Memorial Day, but there's no guarantees on what we'll find along the way. Once we punch it open and the sun is able to shine on it, it melts off pretty quickly.'”

— Larry Hammer, Supervisor, Shoshone County Osburn roads shop

“'We know people are itching to get out there and drive up there. Please just be patient with us, don't move our signs and don't go beyond where they say the road is closed.'”

— Larry Hammer, Supervisor, Shoshone County Osburn roads shop

What’s next

The county will continue to provide updates on the progress of clearing Moon Pass as crews advance. Officials are hopeful the pass can open before the busy Memorial Day travel season, but caution that there are no guarantees.

The takeaway

The annual effort to clear Moon Pass is a critical task for Shoshone County, as the pass provides an important transportation link for the region. While the mild winter has allowed for faster-than-usual progress, officials are urging the public to be patient and obey road closure signs to ensure the safety of work crews and the successful completion of the cleanup.