Holden's Road to Recovery
Preparing to Welcome guests back to the wilderness
Holden Village is currently closed to all guests and hikers and is not accepting reservations at this time.
Our Current Situation
In mid-December 2025, an atmospheric river brought unusually warm temperatures and heavy rain to the North Cascades, triggering mudslides and severe washouts that damaged roads and infrastructure for our neighbors in Stehekin and in the Railroad Creek Valley. Several slides heavily damaged Forest Service Road 8301—the Village’s only access route. Until the road can be repaired, Holden Village will remain closed to guests. The U.S. Forest Service is overseeing the repair effort and has placed the project on the fastest timeline possible. The exact reopening date remains uncertain.
In the meantime, a small caretaker team remains in the Village to maintain the property, while other staff continue operations, communications, and programming remotely downlake. Holden is accepting limited applications for in-Village and downlake staff positions — view Join our team for current job postings.
Learn more about what happened here. For regular updates, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.
This is the current view of the weather conditions at Holden Village. Our webcam, located at the top of Chalet Hill looking south towards Buckskin Mountain (left) and Copper Peak (right) takes a new photo every 30 minutes, which is updated to our website. View current weather here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the situation with the road?
The US Forest Service (USFS), with cooperation from Chelan County Emergency Management, reports at least 11 slide areas along Forest Service Road (FSR) 8301. Several of these slide areas are easily cleared of mud, boulders, and trees with heavy equipment. In at least one place, and perhaps several, the integrity of the road has been compromised. The most obvious is near mile post 4, at the location of the long-time avalanche chute known as “Old Faithful.”
The USFS has issued a road closure order for both motorized and nonmotorized travel and presence on FSR 8301 from the Lucerne commercial dock all the way through Holden Village to the ballfield. We have submitted the necessary applications for access on the road for a limited number of individuals because the closure will technically prohibit access to all people and vehicles from using Main Street in Holden Village. Holden Village has been granted permission for up to 15 designated In-Village Team members to be able to access the road from Mile Post 9 out to the ballfield and up to the maintenance buildings.
From the closure order: “The closure on Forest System Road 8301 starts at and includes Lucerne commercial dock and continues up the road to its terminus.” It is set to expire on December 31, 2027 unless rescinded sooner. A map is available here.
Will the road be fixed?
Yes! The Forest Service has every intention of repairing the road. Holden Village and Rio Tinto’s operations in Railroad Creek Valley are vital to the public interest and we have every expectation that the road will be repaired as soon as possible.
Can Holden people just go fix it?
No. Since it is a federally owned road, any unauthorized work on the road is illegal. Until the road closure order is lifted, it is also illegal to access the dock at Lucerne or travel in any form on or across FSR 8301.
Why might it take so long to reopen FSR 8301?
The remote location of FSR 8301 and the complications related to logistics in Railroad Creek Valley make the process more difficult than other federally-owned roads. Additionally, geotechnical engineers and avalanche experts cited the ongoing threat of slides (land and especially snow) in many of the areas that needed engineering assessments and construction, making winter evaluations and planning risky.
In March 2026 the process moved into the assessment of damage stage where the appropriate experts determine what is required for adequate repairs. This process continues through April and into May, allowing experts to assess the potential for additional movement upslope and downslope of the 11 areas of concern.
Once experts have outlined a repairs program and agreed to terms, construction can begin. These will also be subject to the limitations of FSR 8301’s remote location and limited construction season. Wildfire season could further complicate this work as well, perhaps limiting how much progress can be made in a given construction season. It is possible that a 2-track road is established via emergency repairs before the restoration of a roadway suitable for trucks and buses. This would potentially allow Holden Village to use FSR 8301 for resupply, however, such an application for use would need to be made assuming the road is still closed to the public.
What is Holden’s “Special Use Permit” and why does it matter so much now?
We are working closely with USFS Entiat-Chelan District Ranger Holly Krake and Chelan County Emergency Management Sergeant Jason Renield on maintaining Holden’s access to the village. Because Holden Village does not own the land on which the Village is located, we have a “special use permit” that grants Holden Village permission to operate on Federally owned lands. This is a common process by which private entities operate everything from resorts and cabins, to ski areas and horseback tours on public land.
Unlike private property owners, we do not have the legal authority to remain in our buildings during a government mandated evacuation. Furthermore, the requirements of our permit must be met in order for us to operate on federal land, including cooperation with local government entities, including the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. The ability to remain in the Village without normal overland egress relies on our risk and safety planning and communication with Chelan County Emergency Management and the USFS. We are in contact with Chelan County Commissioner Brad Hawkins and Sheriff Mike Morrison to ensure open communication and cooperation.
What is Holden doing to speed things along?
In addition to our work with USFS and Chelan County, we have also been meeting with our US congresswoman, Dr. Kim Schrier, and the regional staff of Washington Governor Bob Fergusson, US Senator Patty Murray, and US Senator Maria Cantwell. Many other officials and representatives at the county, state, and national level are also offering vital support to the process. While we cannot make federal processes go any faster than they are designed to go, we are doing everything we can to ensure the speediest paths are taken and that attention is given to the vital role Holden Village plays in the local economy, the conservation of our historic properties, and the support we offer to wildland firefighters and countless recreationists. We are also highlighting the importance of the mine remediation work in the valley and the partnerships we contribute to in stewarding the unique and vital ecology of the North Cascades, Lake Chelan, and ultimately the Columbia River. We have received assurances from all of these partners that FSR 8301 will be opened and that we will have their cooperation and assistance in every way possible.
What’s going on in the Village and valley right now?
A core group of In-Village Team members are rotating into the Village roughly every three weeks. We travel via helicopter with groceries to supplement the food stores already in the Village. The team is led by our Operations and Services Managers, with Executive Director support in the Village every other three week period. The team is made up of operations, services, and risk and safety team members. They are carrying on a variety of Holden traditions and rhythms as best they can while maintaining systems, buildings, and grounds. Plans are being created now for future incorporation of additional volunteers and employees as needed.
Rio Tinto evacuated completely on December 13 and is still evaluating when they will return to the valley. The water coming directly from the mine is being collected in the mountain cavity where it is being stored for future treatment. At present, untreated water from the tailings has now filled the storage pool near the water treatment plant and is flowing into Railroad Creek. USFS and Rio Tinto have stated that there is no health and human safety risk from this flow. While FSR 8301 is closed, Rio Tinto is not held legally responsible for this situation according to the USFS. We continue to be in close contact with Rio Tinto’s management and we are very grateful for our partner in the Valley. Before leaving, Rio Tinto shared additional food and maintenance supplies with the Holden In-Village Team.
Can I still hike into Holden Village?
Our Strategic Directive for Recovery
Holden Village creates transformative spiritual experiences that make the world more just, sustainable, and compassionate. For 65 years, we have welcomed tens of thousands of individuals and families to faith-rooted programs that renew relationships with God, the earth, and one another. As we navigate this season of recovery, we are preparing to welcome 5,000 Villagers back to the Village within 12 months of reopening and to deepen our commitment to carry Holden’s gifts of community and connection into the wider world.
Our Strategic Priorities for Recovery
- Maintain and care for Holden’s current operations, people, and infrastructure.
- Connect with the Holden Village community around the world.
- Improve Holden’s systems and resilience so we can return to a better Village.
How You Can Help
Support the Village financially
Holden Village will weather this storm because of the generosity of our community. There are many ways you can support us financially:
- Make a gift online or send your gift to:
Holden Village
HC 0 Box 2
Chelan, WA 98816
- Participate in the Jubilee Auction, March 25-29.
- Stay at the Holden Village Bed & Breakfast now available for individual and group reservations.
- Visit the Holden Store Online and purchase unique Holden items, gifts, and treasures
Help us recruit staff
Though we haven’t reopened yet, we’re already preparing to welcome guests back to the Village. Filling open staff positions will be crucial to our ability to successfully reopen. You can help us recruit staff by keeping an eye out for opportunities in our newsletter or on social media and helping us share them far and wide!
Programming Continues
While the Village is closed to guests, Holden remains committed to offering programming and educational opportunities. These might range from virtual sessions offered by previously scheduled faculty to in-person retreats organized in collaboration with our partners across the country. You can view a calendar of upcoming events on our website and Facebook page.