Olympic National Park faces bridge closure until 13 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 07:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- A full closure of the Hoh River Bridge affecting Olympic National Park runs from 8 October to 13 October 2026.
- The closure prevents driving between northern and southern sections of the park on Highway 101 during the affected period.
- The Hoh Rain Forest remains accessible from Forks, while visitors travelling between both sides must use an eastern route around the peninsula.
- After 13 October 2026, overnight closures are scheduled from 13 October to 19 October while repair crews remove scaffolding.
Olympic National Park and the Hoh River Bridge closure are affecting travel near Port Angeles from 8 October to 13 October 2026. The Highway 101 bridge south of Forks is closed to all traffic while emergency repairs continue, although the Hoh Rain Forest remains accessible from Forks.
Hoh River Bridge closure blocks the peninsula route until 13 October
The Washington State Department of Transportation scheduled the latest continuous closure from 5am on 8 October until noon on 13 October. The bridge is not wide enough to leave one traffic lane open beside the work zone, so vehicles cannot cross the Hoh River during the closure.
The National Park Service says the closure separates destinations north of the bridge from areas to the south. the park closure notice lists Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, the Sol Duc River Valley, Lake Ozette, Forks, the Mora coastal area and the Hoh Rain Forest on the northern side. Kalaloch, Queets Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest are among the areas south of the bridge.
Emergency repairs change access to Olympic National Park
The bridge closure is part of emergency work on a 95-year-old structure. After each six-day closure, the bridge is inspected before single-lane alternating traffic resumes, while the Washington State update says the bridge is expected to reopen at noon on 13 October.
The same update announces overnight closures from 13 October to 19 October, running from 7pm to 5.30am. Crews are scheduled to remove scaffolding during those night closures, after which US 101 is expected to remain open to one-way alternating traffic around the clock.
This timetable links the road project directly to the park experience. The closure does not shut every park destination, but it prevents a continuous Highway 101 journey between the Hoh Rain Forest and the southern coastal and rainforest areas.
A nearly million-acre park divided by one bridge
The park stretches across nearly a million acres in Washington. Its protected landscapes include glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests and more than 70 miles of wild coastline.
That variety explains why the bridge matters to visitors planning several stops rather than one local excursion. A traveller approaching from Port Angeles can still reach northern destinations during the closure, while southern destinations remain accessible from the south.
For the Hoh Rain Forest, the practical position is more specific: access from Forks remains available throughout construction. The restriction concerns crossing the bridge, not entry to the forest from its northern approach.
Visiting Olympic National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The full Highway 101 closure runs from 8 October 2026 to noon on 13 October 2026 at the Hoh River Bridge south of Forks.
- During the closure, vehicles cannot travel between the northern and southern sides of the bridge, but the Hoh Rain Forest remains accessible from Forks.
- There is no alternative crossing over the Hoh River. The official route around the eastern side uses Highway 101, State Route 108, State Route 8 and US 12.
- Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and the Hoh Rain Forest are on the northern side; Kalaloch, Queets Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest are on the southern side.
- The bridge is scheduled for overnight closures from 13 October to 19 October 2026, from 7pm to 5.30am, while scaffolding is removed.
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Frequently asked questions about Olympic National Park
When does the Hoh River Bridge closure affect Olympic National Park?
The continuous closure runs from 8 October 2026 until noon on 13 October 2026. Overnight closures then run from 13 October to 19 October 2026.
Where is Olympic National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in Washington, with its address in Port Angeles. During the bridge closure, travellers between northern and southern destinations must use the eastern route via State Routes 108 and 8 and US 12.
What is Olympic National Park?
It is a protected area of nearly a million acres containing glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests and more than 70 miles of wild coastline.
