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Most roads in Olympic National Park remain closed

Published 12:01 am Sunday, December 16, 2007

By Brian Gawley

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – Hurricane Ridge Road is one of several roads in Olympic National Park that remained closed on Saturday after the Dec. 2-3 wind and rain storm.

“Park crews are stretched very thin by this most recent storm, but are working throughout the park to restore access as soon it’s safe,” said Olympic National Park Bill Laitner in a written statement.

Hurricane Ridge Road was closed to traffic so that a road crew could install concrete barriers and traffic safety signs, and continue monitoring the stability of the road and slope beneath it, the statement said.

The most heavily damaged site was located just above the Switchback Trailhead, about two miles below Hurricane Ridge.

The road was reduced to one lane in three locations.

The damage initially was caused by a major slide near the Switchback Trail that brought mud and debris onto the road.

The slide also caused water to overflow the road, leading to extensive erosion and slumping along the downhill edge.

On Saturday, other roads remained closed in the park.

  • Sol Duc Road remained closed because of downed trees and a mud slide about a half-mile south of Salmon Cascades.

  • Hoh Road was closed at milepost 7.8 within Jefferson County, outside the park boundary, where one lane was washed out. Minor damage also occurred along the road within the park.

  • Queets Road was closed due to water damage and downed trees, although a park road crew was working this week to reopen it.

    In the Quinault Valley, the North Shore Road was open from the U.S. Highway 101 intersection to just past the Clark Spur Road.

    Beyond that point, the road was closed to all traffic due to downed trees and other damage.

  • South Shore Road was closed at the park boundary after 400 feet of roadway were washed away by flooding and trees fell across the roadway.

  • Graves Creek Road was closed with severe damage at six locations, including areas where the road was completely gone.

  • The North Fork Quinault Road was littered with downed trees and remains closed.

  • Deer Park and Dosewallips roads also remained closed.

    While the Staircase area is closed for the winter season, park crews have made an initial damage assessment.

    The Staircase access road outside the park boundary is covered with gravel and debris as a result of last week’s storm and flooding.

    Within the park, both the Staircase Road and Staircase Campground had damage from flooding along the North Fork Skokomish River.

    Elwha, Lake Crescent, Mora and Ozette areas were open.

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