Olympic National Park faces October bridge closure dates
Published on 09/27/2026 at 08:51 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Olympic National Park and the Hoh River Bridge closure will affect journeys across Washington’s Olympic Peninsula on 1 October 2026. The bridge carries Highway 101 south of Forks and the Hoh Rain Forest, linking parts of the park with destinations farther south.
The park, headquartered in Port Angeles, protects mountains, forests and more than 70 miles of Pacific coastline. The scheduled work means travellers need to plan around several complete road closures during late September and October.
Hoh River Bridge closure blocks Highway 101 in October
The Washington State Department of Transportation will close the Hoh River Bridge to all traffic from 5am on 1 October until noon on 6 October 2026. A further closure is scheduled from 5am on 8 October until noon on 13 October 2026.
The first extended closure began at 5am on 24 September and ends at 5pm on 29 September 2026. Overnight closures ran from 14 to 22 September 2026. The bridge is 95 years old and does not have enough width for a work zone alongside an open traffic lane. National Park Service closure details list the dates and the traffic restrictions.
Crews are repairing the bridge during the scheduled shutdowns. After each extended closure, the structure will be inspected before single-lane alternating traffic resumes. The closure is a change to access rather than an event at a visitor facility, but it directly affects routes through the national park.
What the road closure means for Olympic National Park
The bridge stands south of Forks, near the Hoh Rain Forest. During each closure, vehicles cannot travel by Highway 101 from any point north of the bridge to any point south of it. There is no alternative route across the Hoh River.
Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, the Elwha River Valley, Lake Crescent, the Sol Duc River Valley, Lake Ozette, Forks, the Mora coastal area and the Hoh Rain Forest are listed north of the closure. Kalaloch, the Queets Rain Forest and the Quinault Rain Forest are listed south of it. The shutdown therefore interrupts a direct road connection between named areas within and around the park.
The National Park Service describes the protected area as nearly a million acres with glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests and more than 70 miles of wild coastline. Those contrasting landscapes make the bridge’s position significant for route planning: a short road connection separates several very different visitor areas. Park overview and landscape facts identify the scale and ecosystems protected there.
Washington State details the repair and detour impact
The state transport authority says the work will replace four floor beams at two joints beneath the bridge deck. It also says travellers between Forks and Hoquiam must use US 101 around Hood Canal during the full closures. Visitors travelling between northern park areas and Kalaloch, Ruby Beach or Lake Quinault will need to follow the longer route around the peninsula. WSDOT repair information describes the work and affected journeys.
Visiting Olympic National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The bridge is closed to all traffic from 1 October at 5am until 6 October 2026 at noon, and again from 8 October at 5am until 13 October 2026 at noon.
- There is no public crossing or local detour across the Hoh River during the closures. Single-lane alternating traffic returns after inspection periods.
- Highway 101 is the relevant route south of Forks. Port Angeles and the Hoh Rain Forest are north of the bridge, while Kalaloch and Quinault are south.
- The park covers nearly a million acres and includes glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests and more than 70 miles of Pacific coast.
- Olympic National Park is in Washington State, United States. 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
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Frequently asked questions about Olympic National Park
When does the Hoh River Bridge closure affect Olympic National Park?
The bridge closes from 1 October at 5am until 6 October 2026 at noon, and from 8 October at 5am until 13 October 2026 at noon.
Where is Olympic National Park and how do you get there?
The park is on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, with its headquarters in Port Angeles. Highway 101 connects its areas, but the Hoh River Bridge closures interrupt the route south of Forks.
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 Pacific coastline.
