OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES ONLYTHE STATE & NATION RELEASE ARCHIVE
THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESK

PERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE

Travel Archive

Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.

2026-09-16

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 16, 2026

Missing Person Neil Gehring Recovered in Olympic National Park

Search and rescue teams recovered the body of Neil Gehring from the northwest slope of Mt. Appleton on Sunday evening. Searchers located Gehring after receiving and analyzing additional cell phone location data. Gehring was transferred to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office at approximately 8 p.m. on September 13. No additional information is available at this time. Olympic National Park is grateful for all the dedicated search and rescue teams that volunteered to assist with this effort.

Official NPS source

2026-09-11

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 11, 2026

Investigators Continue to Seek Tips in Search for Missing Person Neil Gehring

A missing person poster showing two images of a 25 year old man with short brown hair and brown eyes. The man is smiling. The text on the post reads: Olympic, National Park Service, Missing Person, Neil Gehring, Physical Description Age: 26, Height: 5'5"
National Park Service · Original image and credit

The search for Neil Gehring in Olympic National Park will continue as tactics shift. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone who was in the area or has information that may assist the search is asked to email OLYM_Tips@cloud.doi.gov or call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.

Official NPS source

2026-09-03

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 3, 2026

Olympic National Park Seeks Information on Missing Person Neil Gehring

A missing person poster showing two images of a 25 year old man with short brown hair and brown eyes. The man is smiling. The text on the post reads: Olympic, National Park Service, Missing Person, Neil Gehring, Physical Description Age: 26, Height: 5'5"
National Park Service · Original image and credit

The National Park Service is searching for Neil Gehring, 26, who left the Madison Falls Trailhead in Olympic National Park on August 31. According to his backcountry permit, Neil intended to make a cross-country traverse from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass, returning to the Madison Falls Trailhead on September 1. He was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. on September 2. Search efforts began immediately after notification. Anyone who was in the area or has information that may assist the search is asked to call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.

Official NPS source

2026-08-26

1 STORIES

2026-08-12

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceAug 12, 2026

Bat Tests Positive for Rabies at Olympic National Park

A rabid bat was found at Olympic National Park near Staircase Bridge on August 9th. Anyone who may have had contact with a bat in the area (even if not bitten) should contact a healthcare provider and their local health department promptly to determine whether treatment is needed.

Official NPS source

2026-08-11

1 STORIES

2026-08-06

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceAug 6, 2026

Fire Crews Responding to Sourdough Fire

The Sourdough Fire is burning 0.75 acres on a steep, forested slope on the north side of Olympic National Park. A Type 1 K-Max helicopter and eight rappelers are currently working to contain the fire. The Aurora Ridge Trail, North Fork Sol Duc Trail, and Eagle Lakes and Aurora Springs backcountry campsites are closed. There are no evacuation orders in place.

Official NPS source

2026-07-02

1 STORIES

2026-06-25

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJun 25, 2026

Fire Crews Responding to Mt. Tom Creek Fire

The lightning-caused Mt. Tom Creek Fire is burning on a remote mountain slope on the west side of Olympic National Park. Fire management officials have ordered aviation and ground resources to respond to the fire, including Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters, enhanced reconnaissance aircraft, wildland fire engines, and hand crews. The fire was reported by backpackers on June 24 after a lightning storm moved through the area on June 23.

Official NPS source

2026-06-17

1 STORIES

2026-06-10

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJun 10, 2026

Decades-Long Investigation Identifies Human Remains Found in Olympic National Park

Human remains discovered in Olympic National Park in 2000 have been identified as Joseph Louis Serrao Jr. Following a decades-long collaborative investigative effort that included the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office and advanced genetic testing and analysis conducted by Othram, a laboratory specializing in forensic genealogy.

Official NPS source

2026-04-29

1 STORIES

2026-03-16

1 STORIES

2025-12-17

2 STORIES
National Park ServiceDec 17, 2025

Olympic National Park invites the public to share design ideas for future Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge

Olympic National Park is in the first stage of planning for a new facility on Hurricane Ridge, and park officials want the public to help shape the design. A public listening session will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Field Arts and Events Hall in Port Angeles. Park officials ask that park visitors bring their ideas, questions, and copies of old photos to contribute to a memory board honoring the original lodge.

Official NPS source

2025-12-16

1 STORIES

2025-12-02

1 STORIES

2025-09-10

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 10, 2025

Crews Confirm Wildland Fire near Constance Pass Trail

On September 6, Olympic Interagency Fire crews discovered a lightning-caused fire start approximately 0.5 miles southeast of the Sunnybrook Wilderness Campsite in Olympic National Park. The Sunnybrook Meadow Fire currently covers 1/10 of an acre in the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. There are no closures or threats to public safety or infrastructure at this time.

Official NPS source

2025-09-05

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 5, 2025

Mora Road Repair Will Require Single-Lane Traffic Starting on September 9

Beginning on September 9, Geo Stabilization will repair an eroding riverbank on Mora Road, the primary route to Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park. Construction crews will stabilize and reinforce the northern bank of the Quillayute River, which has been eroding over the past several years. Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the 0.25-mile work zone beginning near mile post 1.75. Visitors should expect up to 20-minute delays.

Official NPS source

2025-08-15

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceAug 15, 2025

Hoh Area of Olympic National Park Closed Until Jefferson County Partners Assess Road

Due to concerns about the condition of a temporary access road, the Hoh Rain Forest area of Olympic National Park is temporarily closed. The Jefferson County culvert project at milepost 1.24 on the Upper Hoh Road is experiencing some backup flooding. The area will reopen as soon as Jefferson County partners assess the construction site and confirm the temporary bypass road is safe for travel.

Official NPS source

2025-07-31

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJul 31, 2025

Campfire Ban Begins August 1 in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest

All campfires will be prohibited in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest starting at 12 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025. This applies to anything that produces ash, including charcoal grills. Gas or propane stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are permitted in campgrounds and wilderness areas if there is no flammable material within three feet of the device. These stoves must be equipped with an on-off switch or valve capable of immediately extinguishing the flame. Extreme caution is urged with any open flame.

Official NPS source

2025-07-21

1 STORIES

2025-07-16

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJul 16, 2025

Two injured, one deceased in small plane crash in southwest corner of Olympic National Park

One person is dead, and two others are injured after a small plane crashed in a remote area of Olympic National Park, according to National Park Service officials. Around 6:50 p.m. on July 15, park rangers were notified of the crash in the Quinault area of Olympic National Park. The crash site is on a forested, steep slope north of the Irely Lake Trailhead.

Official NPS source

2025-07-10

1 STORIES

2025-07-08

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJul 8, 2025

Bear Gulch Fire Update: Staircase and Lake Cushman areas closed, crews limit eastern spread

On July 8, Olympic Interagency Fire crews continued their efforts to contain the human-caused Bear Gulch Fire with heavy helicopters and ground crews. As of 6:00 p.m. PST, 328 acres have burned north of Lake Cushman in Olympic National Forest. The helicopter water drops limited the fire’s eastern spread to five acres. There are currently no evacuation orders for nearby communities.

Official NPS source

2025-07-07

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJul 7, 2025

Bear Gulch Fire closes FS-24 along Lake Cushman, Staircase Campground and Trailheads

On July 6, a human-caused fire was reported in Olympic National Forest near the Mt. Rose Trailhead along the Lake Cushman Corridor (FS-24). The fire – named the Bear Gulch Fire – is burning on a steep, rocky slope north of Lake Cushman and southeast of the Staircase area of Olympic National Park. The fire is approximately 200 acres. There is no current threat to structures or nearby communities.

Official NPS source

2025-06-17

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJun 17, 2025

Update: Sol Duc Recovery Will Resume As Soon As Conditions Allow

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.

Official NPS source

2025-06-10

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJun 10, 2025

Sol Duc Falls area temporarily closed to recover the body of an 18-year-old man

A river cascading over gray rocks cuts through the middle of the image. The water is flowing into a narrow canyon with moss-covered walls. A tree staddles the canyon in the lower half of the image. A fence and trees fill the top right corner of the image.
National Park Service · Original image and credit

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.

Official NPS source

2025-05-29

1 STORIES

2025-04-09

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceApr 9, 2025

Olympic National Park backcountry permits available April 15

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.

Official NPS source

2025-03-26

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceMar 26, 2025

Olympic National Park seeks volunteers for coastal cleanup on April 19

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.

Official NPS source

2024-12-20

1 STORIES

2024-12-03

1 STORIES

2024-11-26

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceNov 26, 2024

Olympic National Park winter operations begin November 29, 2024

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.

Official NPS source

2024-11-15

1 STORIES

2024-10-30

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceOct 30, 2024

Debris pile burn operations begin October 31 in Olympic National Park

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.

Official NPS source

2024-10-16

1 STORIES

2024-09-26

1 STORIES

2024-09-25

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 25, 2024

Olympic National Park bat tests positive for rabies

Olympic National Park staff have confirmed that a bat found in the park has tested positive for rabies. The dead bat was found in the breezeway of the Quinault Visitor Center on August 30, one day after a bat was reported to be vocalizing and having difficulty flying in the area. No known human contact has been reported with the bat.

Official NPS source

2024-09-19

2 STORIES

2024-09-16

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceSep 16, 2024

Olympic National Park seeks proposals for new concession contract

Olympic National Park is soliciting proposals to provide visitor concession services at Lake Crescent Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, Fairholme Store, and Hurricane Ridge. The new concessioner will provide lodging, food and beverage, retail, and other appropriate services over a 12-year term. The existing contract concludes on January 31, 2026.

Official NPS source

2024-09-10

1 STORIES

2024-09-05

1 STORIES

2024-08-20

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceAug 20, 2024

Olympic Interagency Fire crews locate one wildland fire in Olympic National Park; Olympic National Forest will share update on August 21

Interagency fire crews identified a 2.5 acre wildfire caused by last weekend’s lightning storm on Maiden Peak in Olympic National Park. There have been no changes to the fires reported on Olympic National Forest. The Forest will issue a separate update on fires within their jurisdiction tomorrow morning, August 21, 2024. No structures or trails are threatened and there are no new evacuations or closures.

Official NPS source

2024-08-19

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceAug 19, 2024

Olympic Interagency Fire crews continue to search for potential wildland fires after weekend lightning storm

Interagency fire crews continued suppressing fire starts and investigating smoke reports across Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest today. Although this weekend’s rain and lightning storm produced several smoke reports and fire starts visible from peninsula communities, no structures are threatened and there are no new evacuations or closures.

Official NPS source

2024-08-18

1 STORIES

2024-08-01

1 STORIES

2024-07-25

1 STORIES

2024-07-12

1 STORIES

2024-07-01

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJul 1, 2024

Celebrate Fourth of July and Protect Our Communities, Parks, and Forests – Leave Fireworks at Home

As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, all are reminded that fireworks are prohibited in national parks and national forests. Forecasters predict an elevated risk for wildfires on the Olympic Peninsula in July, August, and September. Everyone is encouraged to practice campfire safety as unattended campfires are the number one source of human-caused wildfires on public lands. Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place in the Olympic National Forest or Park.

Official NPS source

2024-06-27

1 STORIES
National Park ServiceJun 27, 2024

Pack Your Patience and Follow Official Detours During US 101 Bridge Closure

During the US 101 Elwha Bridge closure, visitors are encouraged to pack their patience and follow official detours to access park areas. State Routes 112 and 113 will provide access to Lake Crescent, Barnes Point, and all areas west of the Elwha River. The Black Diamond Road and Little River Road will offer access to the Madison Falls Trailhead.

Official NPS source

2021-10-14

1 STORIES