Governor Announces $650,000 Plan to Reopen Hoh River Road; Community Donors Pitched In

Governor Bob Ferguson on Monday announced a plan to repair and reopen the Upper Hoh (Hoh River) Road — the access route to the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park — after winter storm damage closed the road.

"We have a plan in place to repair and reopen the Upper Hoh Road," Ferguson said, adding an "estimated cost is approximately $650,000." He said the state will pay the bulk of that cost through the economic development strategic reserve account, with private donations unlocking the state funds.

Ferguson described the reserve account, created by the legislature in 2005, as intended to support Washington's economy and said state law requires that use of the fund be accompanied by private investment. "In less than 72 hours, more than 100 donors stepped up to contribute more than $27,000," he said, noting the smallest donation was $5 and the largest about $5,000.

Representative Adam Birnbaum, who helped coordinate legislative contacts, praised the rapid, cross-jurisdictional response. "We got the first $7,000 in, like, 3 hours," he said, calling the community response "humbling."

Jefferson County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhower, who said she has spent decades on the Olympic Peninsula, underscored the road's economic and cultural importance. "Protecting access to the Hoh Rainforest is an environmental imperative and an economic necessity," she said, citing hundreds of thousands of annual visitors and the local businesses that rely on park tourism.

Tom Vogel, CEO of the Mountaineers, said volunteers and the organization's classes depend on road access. "A washed out road shouldn't be one of those [barriers]," Vogel said, noting the Mountaineers already have trips and classes scheduled for the summer.

Ferguson said Jefferson County estimated the Hoh Road repairs at about $650,000; county officials also gathered estimates showing roughly $1.29 million in combined repairs for two washed-out roads (the Upper Hoh Road and the South Shore Lake Quinault Road). He said the state's allocation will cover the Upper Hoh Road specifically and that the state will continue to pursue federal emergency funds that could reimburse state spending.

To clarify eligibility for federal assistance, Ferguson said he signed an amendment to Governor Inslee's emergency declaration related to the bomb cyclone to include Clallam and Jefferson counties. "I signed that today," he said, and staff will provide a copy of the amendment.

Asked whether tribal governments had contributed, Ferguson gave an initial, imprecise reply and then clarified: "No, we are not seeing any donation from the tribe," while saying his team is in contact with the Hoh tribe to ensure respectful coordination on work in tribal territory.

County officials and park representatives said seasonal park staffing offers had been made and visitor services contracts (Aramark) remained in place. Jefferson County leaders said, once funds and permits are in place, the repair work is expected to take about one month, with a goal of reopening in May and certainly "before the summer."

Officials described a mix of local fundraising channels — including a GoFundMe set up by a Hoh Valley resident and contributions organized through the Forks Chamber of Commerce and Forks Business Association — that raised roughly $27,000 from about 130 donors in under 72 hours.

Ferguson framed the action as an example of quick problem-solving: "There are a lot of things going on in the state that we can solve ... if we just lean into it and get creative and work with our partners," he said. Staff said they will provide reporters with the emergency amendment and additional documentation about the fund at attendees' request.

The announcement does not commit federal funding; officials said they will continue to press federal agencies for emergency reimbursement if/when those funds are approved. The state allocation and the private donations are intended to allow urgent repairs to proceed and restore public access to the Hoh Rainforest for visitors and the local tourism economy.