News Release

Emergency closure of recreational fishing in most rivers and streams ends on November 1

The Queets and Salmon Rivers remain closed to recreational fishing

Chinook salmon can be found in the rivers of Olympic National Park.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: October 31, 2022

Contact: Meagan Huff, Public Information Officer, [phone]

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – An emergency closure of recreational fishing in many rivers and streams at Olympic National Park will end at 12:01 am, November 1, 2022. The Queets and Salmon Rivers will remain closed to recreational fishing until further notice.

Recreational fishing within Olympic National Park will reopen in the following river systems:

• Ozette River
• Bogachiel River
• Dickey River
• Quillayute River
• Hoh River
• South Fork River
• Quinault River (upper bridge downstream to park boundary)

Additionally, recreational fishing will reopen in the following creeks:

• Cedar Creek
• Goodman Creek
• Kalaloch Creek
• Mosquito Creek

On October 6, 2022, the rivers and creeks listed above were closed to recreational fishing to protect several fish populations during ongoing severe low water flow conditions. Learn more about this temporary closure here. Recent rainy weather has restored water levels in rivers and creeks, allowing salmon and other fish greater access to spawning areas.

"We are happy to welcome back recreational fishers to reopened creeks and river systems at Olympic National Park," said Acting Deputy Superintendent Kevin Killian. "We appreciate the public's cooperation and understanding during this fall's historic drought and the resulting closures."

The Queets and Salmon Rivers in Olympic National Park remain closed to recreational fishing until further notice due to higher than expected in-river harvest levels. Fisheries biologists have conservation concerns based on expected lower numbers of natural Chinook salmon returning to spawning grounds; the continued closure to recreational fishing in the Queets and Salmon Rivers will provide added protection to Chinook salmon making their way to spawning areas in the national park.

Learn more about recreational fishing at Olympic National Park here.