Olympic National Park faces Hoh Bridge closure from 1 October

Olympic National Park faces a Hoh River Bridge closure on Highway 101 from 1 October to 6 October 2026, affecting journeys from Port Angeles across the western Olympic Peninsula. The Washington State Department of Transportation is closing the bridge to all traffic while repair work takes place south of Forks.

Hoh River Bridge closure blocks Highway 101 from 1 October

The closure begins at 5am on 1 October 2026 and is scheduled to end at noon on 6 October 2026. A further closure is planned from 8 October to 13 October, with the same six-day arrangement and a reopening at noon on 13 October.

The National Park Service says the 95-year-old bridge cannot keep one traffic lane open beside the work zone. After each closure, the bridge will be inspected before single-lane alternating traffic resumes. The official closure schedule identifies the repair site south of Forks and the Hoh Rain Forest.

Park geography makes the closure a major travel change

There is no alternative route across the Hoh River during the closure. Drivers cannot travel from any point north of the bridge to any point south of it on Highway 101, and the National Park Service says an eastern route around the Olympic Peninsula adds at least four hours.

Destinations north of the bridge include Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, the Elwha River Valley, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc River Valley, Lake Ozette, Forks, the Mora coastal area and the Hoh Rain Forest. Kalaloch, the Queets Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest are among the destinations to the south.

The closure cuts across the park's varied landscape rather than closing the park itself. UNESCO describes the park as a protected area combining glacier-clad peaks, alpine meadows, old-growth forest, temperate rainforest and 100 kilometres of wilderness coastline.

What the bridge works mean for the Olympic Peninsula

The Hoh River Bridge sits on the road that links the peninsula's northern and southern visitor areas. That position means a traveller can still reach the Hoh Rain Forest from Forks, while a direct road journey from northern destinations to the southern coast is interrupted during each closure period.

The bridge works therefore change the shape of a visit without creating a general park closure. The National Park Service lists Olympic National Park's mailing address in Port Angeles, but the repair site itself is south of Forks and outside the city.

Visiting Olympic National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The first full closure runs from 5am on 1 October 2026 until noon on 6 October 2026 at the Hoh River Bridge on Highway 101 south of Forks.
• Highway 101 is closed to all traffic at the bridge during that period, with no public detour across the Hoh River. The Hoh Rain Forest remains accessible from Forks.
• Port Angeles, Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge are north of the closure, while Kalaloch, the Queets Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest are south of it.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

Searching for Olympic National Park on social platforms

These links open searches for Olympic National Park on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Olympic National Park

What has changed at Olympic National Park?

Highway 101 is closed to all traffic at the Hoh River Bridge from 1 October 2026 to 6 October 2026, with another closure from 8 October to 13 October.

Where is Olympic National Park and how do you get there?

The park is in north-west Washington State, with Port Angeles among the destinations north of the Hoh River Bridge. Highway 101 is the principal road around the Olympic Peninsula.

What is Olympic National Park?

It is a protected area containing mountains, alpine meadows, old-growth forest, temperate rainforest and wilderness coastline. UNESCO lists it as a World Heritage property.