Olympic National Park Superintendent Shares Updates on Visitation, Projects and Access Challenges at Chamber Meeting

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 28, 2026

Tourism, infrastructure projects, and visitor access to some of the Olympic Peninsula’s most popular destinations were key topics when Sula Jacobs, superintendent of Olympic National Park, spoke at the May 20 meeting of the Forks Chamber of Commerce.

The luncheon meeting, held at Blakelee’s Bar & Grill, was the Chamber’s final gathering before its summer break. Chamber members welcomed Jacobs for a discussion on current park issues, future projects and visitor trends ahead of the busy tourism season.

Jacobs, who has served as superintendent for four years, described the position as busy, citing major infrastructure projects, recent fires, and continued high visitation across the park.

Among the most anticipated projects is the rebuilding of the historic Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge, destroyed by fire in 2023. Jacobs said the replacement project remains in the pre-design phase, and the cause of the fire was not determined. Construction is expected to begin in approximately two years, with an estimated two-year building timeline.

Visitor numbers to Olympic National Park remain strong. Jacobs reported that the park welcomed 3.6 million visitors in 2025, making it the most visited national park in Washington state and the ninth most visited in the nation.

Within the park, Hurricane Ridge remains a top destination for visitors, with Lake Crescent number one and the Hoh Rain Forest coming in third. Despite closures affecting access to the Hoh area, visitation throughout the park remained high.

Jacobs said park visitors contributed an estimated $380 million in spending to surrounding communities and supported approximately 2,880 jobs, underscoring the park’s importance to the region’s economy.

Questions from attendees focused on crowding and access issues at the Hoh Rain Forest, where long vehicle lines and limited parking continue to frustrate visitors during peak months.

Ideas discussed included partnerships with Clallam Transit System to create shuttle service options, allowing visitors to park outside the park and ride into the Hoh. Jacobs noted such a system could require changes to fee collection infrastructure.

Participants also discussed better methods for communicating wait times to travelers before they arrive, including real-time line information or possible timed-entry systems.

“The Hoh Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and many people are willing to wait in line,” Jacobs noted as crowd management options were explored.

Upcoming road work near Rialto Beach was another topic of concern. A road closure, for road maintenance, is expected between July 8 and Nov. 8. Parking limitations at Rialto Beach were also discussed, with many recalling that the lot was once substantially larger before portions were filled with beach rock following a weather event in the 1990s.

Attendees asked about reopening access to the former Olympic Hot Springs area in the Elwha Valley. Jacobs said restoring access remains important.

“I think it is an important spot,” Jacobs said, noting public interest tied to the historic hot springs area and continued attention surrounding the Elwha dam removal project.

Other discussion topics included the Ozette area, access around the Tree of Life near Kalaloch, and ongoing work with local tribes involving cedar resources and stewardship.

As tourism season ramps up across the West End, Jacobs emphasized that balancing access, conservation and visitor experience remains a central challenge for Olympic National Park officials.

Chamber will resume on October 7, with a Clallam County Commissioner District 3 Candidate Forum.