Olympic National Park News
Showing the last 10 news releases. Click here to visit nps.gov's Olympic National Park - News section for more.
Update: Sol Duc Recovery Will Resume As Soon As Conditions Allow
June 17, 2025 | 10:12 am
Last week, Olympic National Park teams versed in technical and swiftwater rescue worked to recover an 18-year-old man's body that was located below Sol Duc Falls on June 9. Recovery efforts included lowering multiple responders into the narrow canyon. Attempts to recover the submerged body were unsuccessful. Rangers faced high river flows in the 7-8' wide canyon due to recent warm temperatures and rapid snowmelt. The park’s priority is to safely complete this recovery as soon as conditions allow. Rangers will continue to monitor the target area, natural hazards, and changing conditions. Recovery operations will resume when it is safe to do so.
Sol Duc Falls area temporarily closed to recover the body of an 18-year-old man
June 10, 2025 | 4:12 pm
The Sol Duc Falls area is closed while the Olympic National Park Search and Rescue (SAR) Team prepares to recover the body of an 18-year-old man who fell over the 50’ waterfall on June 8. A park ranger located a completely submerged body pinned between the first and second falls late on June 9. It is likely that this is the visitor who fell over the falls the day before.
Explor Olympic, LLC selected for concession contract in Olympic National Park
May 29, 2025 | 10:00 am
Explor Olympic, LLC has been selected to provide lodging, food and beverage, and other visitor services at Lake Crescent Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, Fairholme Store, and Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. This new concession contract will be effective on February 1, 2026, and conclude on January 31, 2038.
Olympic National Park backcountry permits available April 15
April 9, 2025 | 4:03 pm
Wilderness permits for the summer season – May 15 through October 15 – will be available at 7:00am on April 15, 2025. All permits can be reserved online at Recreation.gov or by contacting the Wilderness Infromation Center at OLYM_WIC@nps.gov or 360-565-2992. Due to expected high call volumes, emails are the best way to contact the center.
Olympic National Park seeks volunteers for coastal cleanup on April 19
March 26, 2025 | 9:26 am
On April 19, 2025, volunteers and Olympic National Park employees will remove marine debris from the park’s wild coastline as part of the Washington Coastal Cleanup effort. This year's cleanup will focus on beaches near Mora and Kalaloch. Interested volunteers can register online at Volunteer.gov by Saturday, April 6, at 11 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
Damaged county road prompts temporary closure of Hoh Rain Forest campground, trailheads
December 20, 2024 | 2:39 pm
The Hoh Rain Forest area of Olympic National Park is closed until the Upper Hoh Road is safe for travel. The Upper Hoh Road is maintained by Jefferson County and connects HWY 101 to the Olympic National Park boundary.
Low returns of wild steelhead prompt sport fishing pause in Queets River, Olympic National Park
December 3, 2024 | 1:16 pm
Due to the low forecasted return of wild steelhead, the Queets River will temporarily close to sport fishing on December 16, 2024. Anglers can continue to catch hatchery steelhead in the Salmon River through February 28, 2025. The Queets River is expected to reopen to recreational angling on June 1, 2025.
Olympic National Park winter operations begin November 29, 2024
November 26, 2024 | 2:12 pm
Hurricane Ridge winter operations will begin on November 29, 2024 in Olympic National Park. Weather permitting, the road will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through March 30, 2025 (closed December 25, Christmas Day). The area will also be open December 20-January 5, January 17-20, and February 14-17, 2025. The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center will close for winter on December 1, 2024. Starting on March 1, 2025, the visitor center will be open 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The area's campground, trails and road will remain open throughout the winter.
Proposed mitigations for Olympic National Park water infrastructure project available for public review
November 15, 2024 | 10:54 am
On November 15, 2024, Olympic National Park published a Memorandum of Agreement describing mitigations for the adverse impacts of a water infrastructure project on Hurricane Ridge. To view the document, visit the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ HRWRMOA
Debris pile burn operations begin October 31 in Olympic National Park
October 30, 2024 | 1:17 pm
Starting on Thursday, October 31, the Olympic Interagency Fire Management Team will begin burning isolated debris piles in the Sol Duc, Mora, Hoh, Elwha, and Quinault maintenance areas of Olympic National Park. Operations will only occur during safe weather windows and will conclude by January 2025. Smoke will be visible at times from nearby trails and roadways while the burns are in progress. Fire crews will remain on scene and manage the burns until the fires are out.