Administrative Access Restored to Hoh Rain Forest

Date: December 21, 2006
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

Thanks to a one-lane temporary bridge installed this week, administrative access will be restored tomorrow to the Hoh Rain Forest of Olympic National Park, allowing crews to begin repairs to the road and utility lines above the bridge.

Port Angeles-based contractor Bruch and Bruch has installed the bridge and is now completing the final steps. The several private vehicles trapped above the washout were able to leave the area over the weekend and administrative access for park and utility crews will be established by tomorrow.

The new bridge spans West Twin Creek, where a 75 foot long and 25 foot deep section of road and roadbed were completely washed away during the storm of November 6.

“In early January, after a well-deserved holiday break, our maintenance crews will begin repairs to the extensive road damage above West Twin Creek,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner. “Barring additional damage from future storms, we hope to restore public access to the Hoh by late winter or early spring.”

Elsewhere around the park, some areas have reopened since the November storms, while others are still closed due to damage.

Quinault – Both the North Shore and South Shore Quinault Roads are open. The Graves Creek and North Fork Roads remain closed because of storm damage. Additional trees fell during the last week’s windstorm.

Queets – The Queets Road remains closed at the Matheny Creek bridge because of two large slides in 2005. An environmental assessment was released for public comment today and analyzes the park’s proposal to establish an alternate route in the Queets area.

Coastal Areas – The Kalaloch, Mora and Ozette areas are all open.

Sol Duc – The Sol Duc Road is blocked by hundreds of fallen trees and debris and is closed at its intersection with Highway 101. Crews will begin clearing this road in January.

The Lake Crescent area is open.

The Olympic Hot Springs Road in the Elwha Valley is open as far as the Glines Canyon Dam, but is closed beyond that because of snow. The Whiskey Bend Road is closed.

Hurricane Ridge Road – Weather permitting, the Hurricane Ridge Road is scheduled to be open this Friday, December 22 through Monday, January 2, 2007. People should call the park’s recorded road and weather information line at 360-565-3131 for current information about Hurricane Ridge.
The Heart o’the Hills campground sustained significant damage from fallen trees during last week’s windstorm and will be closed until spring.

Dosewallips and Staircase remain closed outside the park boundary due to damage and unsafe conditions. The Deer Park Road is closed for the season.

For current road information, people should call the Olympic National Park recorded road and weather information line at 360-565-3131.