Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park Remains Inaccessible Due to Federal Funding Issues, May Not Open This Spring or Summer
Olympic National Park’s ultra-popular Hoh Rain Forest—often called the “quietest place in America”—has been closed since December 20, 2024, when a winter storm damaged the Upper Hoh Road.
A week later, rainfall from a second storm caused the Hoh River’s water level to rise, resulting in more damage to the road. The road remains closed indefinitely at milepost 9.7 to all traffic, including vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Road to Hoh Rain Forest Remains Closed Indefinitely
The Upper Hoh Road is managed by Jefferson County Public Works, which has decades of experience repairing this road. This is, after all, one of the rainiest regions in the entire country and washouts are not uncommon.
However, while repairs didn’t take much longer than a few weeks in the past, this particular closure has now been in place for two-and-a-half months. And there’s currently no update on when repairs will actually start.
Although county roads usually don’t receive federal funding, the Upper Hoh Road is an exception because it primarily serves national park visitors on their way to and from the extraordinary Hoh Rain Forest.
Funds are allocated by the Washington Department of Transportation and the regional emergency relief fund of the Federal Highway Administration, but Jefferson County Public Works is still waiting for them.
“Both agencies were always Johnny-on-the-spot when the Upper Hoh Road washed out in the past, and they were able to give us firm commitments on funding to reimburse our costs to repair the road. This is no longer the case,” Monte Reinders, Director of Jefferson County Public Works told SFGATE. “All of the people we worked with in the past have retired — and all of their institutional knowledge along with [them].”
The longer it takes for repairs to occur, the more they will eventually cost. In the case of the Upper Hoh Road, it went from a common washout to the full collapse of an entire lane. Additionally, as the road now just lies there, not being fixed, there’s a continued risk of even more damage and, as such, the need for more money and more time.
Without any word on when crucial federal funding may be provided, the road remains closed to the public indefinitely. Typically, the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center opens in March.
This, of course, impacts everyone who’d planned to visit the magnificent Hoh Rain Forest, walk underneath its towering moss-covered trees, camp in one of America’s most magnificent forests, marvel at its soundlessness, and perhaps even see some wildlife, which ranges from small banana slugs to large Roosevelt elk.
At this point, the only legal way to get to the Hoh Rain Forest is via a long and strenuous multi-day hike from Sol Duc Hot Springs. This hike, however, runs through the heart of the remote and rugged Olympic Mountains and is only recommended for experienced backpackers.
Where to Go Instead
As it looks like the Hoh Rain Forest will not be accessible this spring, and perhaps even in summer, visitors should look for alternatives.
Luckily, there are a few other rain forests to explore in Olympic National Park—there are four of them in total in park. Those are the very accessible Quinault Rain Forest and the somewhat more remote Queets and Bogachiel Rain Forests.
Elsewhere in the park, visitors can also focus on the spectacular wilderness coast of the Olympic Peninsula or the stunning alpine scenery of Hurricane Ridge.
Rad more about the amazing temperate rain forests of Olympic National Park in this blog post.
