Hurricane Ridge Road at Olympic National Park Closed Temporarily by Rockslide

Submitted by Jim Burnett on August 18, 2009 - 2:01am

Hurricane Ridge Road has been closed by this ongoing rock fall. NPS photo by Carl Elleard.

A popular attraction at Olympic National Park is the 17-mile drive to Hurricane Ridge. Although winter snows are the normal challenge on the road for park crews, an ongoing rock fall has forced a temporary closure of the mountain highway during the busy summer season.

The park website notes,

Hurricane Ridge is the most easily accessed mountain area within Olympic National Park. In clear weather, fantastic views can be enjoyed throughout the year. Hurricane Ridge offers a wide variety of activities for park visitors, and the road is normally open 24 hours a day from mid-May into October. The rest of the year it opens (weather permitting) primarily on weekends.

Unfortunately, the scenic road remains closed today for a third day due to a rockslide. Park officials made a prudent decision to close the road on Sunday afternoon, due to a "slow but continuous rockfall onto the road." Park staff are currently working to fully assess the situation and examine alternatives for reopening the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

According to information from the park,

"We hate to close any of our roads during the busy summer season, but safety for visitors and employees is our highest priority," said Sue McGill, Olympic National Park Deputy Superintendent. "With a steady stream of gravel mixed with large rocks rolling and bouncing onto the road, safety concerns dictate this temporary closure."

The rockslide, which follows a winter avalanche chute, is located just above the road's third and highest tunnel, about nine miles south of Port Angeles, and originates on a steep slope high above the road. Falling rocks were observed on Saturday, continuing through the day on Sunday and leading rangers to close the road Sunday afternoon.

Rocks and debris continued to fall on Monday. Park staff is working with the Federal Highway Administration to more fully assess the situation and will fly over the site Tuesday to better inspect the summit and upper slope of the rockfall chute.

If you're planning a visit to the park in the near future, you can find updated information on the park's website, or you can call the Olympic National Park Visitor Center during normal operating hours at 360-565-3130.

A recorded Road and Weather Hotline is also updated throughout the day; call 360-565-3131 for that information.