Date: April 30, 2007
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
The Hoh Road will reopen tomorrow, May 1, after a six-month storm-damage closure.
“We are very pleased to once again welcome visitors and park neighbors to the spectacular Hoh Rain Forest,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner. “It’s been a long winter and we’re proud of all the hard work done by park crews to reopen this area.”
“We are also thankful for the efforts of the many partner groups who helped restore access to the Hoh, including Jefferson County, the local PUD, the Federal Highways Administration and private contractors,” emphasized Laitner.
The Hoh Road has been closed since November 6, 2006, when heavy rain and floodwaters severely damaged the road in three places. The most significant damage occurred at West Twin Creek, where a 65-foot long and 25-foot deep section of road completely washed away during the storm. A temporary one-lane bridge now spans the creek. Two other creeks also flooded, damaging nearly 1,000 feet of roadway.
Visitors are asked to use caution when traveling the road and visiting the Hoh area, as additional repair work will continue throughout the summer. In particular, the one-lane bridge over West Twin Creek will require motorists to yield to oncoming traffic until a traffic light is installed later this month.
The Hoh campground is open and the Hoh Visitor Center will open this Friday, May 4 and will be open 10 am – 4 pm Friday through Sunday through May 20. The Visitor Center will be open daily for the summer, beginning May 25.
Park trails, including the Hoh River trail, also sustained heavy damage during the fall and winter storms. All hikers should check for current trail information by calling the Wilderness Information Center at 360-565-3100.
For current road information, people should call the Olympic National Park recorded road and weather information line at 360-565-3131.
