Update on Olympic National Park Roads

The tall bank is one edge of a washout on the Hoh River Road.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: November 8, 2006

Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

Flood waters have receded, allowing park staff to begin damage assessments. Several park roads, including the road to the Hoh Rain Forest, have not yet been fully assessed. 

“So far, conditions have prevented us from reaching all areas, but we are working as quickly as possible to reach all park roads and see what the damage is,” said Superintendent Bill Laitner today. “More information will be released as soon as it’s available.”

A summary of known damage follows.

•      Hoh Road– closed at intersection with Highway 101, while Jefferson County and Olympic National Park continue to make damage assessments. Park staff, along with a road engineer from the National Park Service’s regional office visited areas of the Hoh Road yesterday and observed major damage at Twin Creek where a 65-foot long and 40-foot deep section of road has been washed out.

Conditions prevented further assessments along the Hoh Road; a five mile section of the road within the park has not yet been inspected and the extent of damage is unknown at this time. 

Two out of state visitors, a park volunteer and a park ranger who had been stranded at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center area were able to walk around the damaged and missing sections of road today.

•      Quinault North Shore Road– The east abutments of the Finley Creek were compromised by floodwaters. The bridge is closed to all traffic and the road remains closed east of the bridge. 
•      Quinault South Shore Roadhas been damaged and is blocked by large amounts of debris one half-mile inside the park boundary. Crews hope to clear the road and complete damage assessments today.
•      The Hurricane Ridge Road is closed today due to snow and icy conditions.
•      The Mora Road remains closed today due to flooding and downed trees. If conditions continue to improve, crews hope to reopen the road tomorrow.
•      Dosewallips, Staircase and Queets Roads remain closed due to previous damage and unsafe conditions. The Deer Park Road is closed for the season.

The Elwha, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, Ozette and Kalaloch areas are open. Visitors are urged to use caution when traveling through the park and to come prepared for a variety of weather conditions, including high winds and heavy rain which are forecast for later this week. 

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