It happens every time a classic reality show starts airing reruns or pops up on a streaming service like Discovery+. You're watching a crew of loggers battle a mountain in the Pacific Northwest, and suddenly you're hit with that nagging question. Is Craig Rygaard still alive? If you’ve spent any time watching Ax Men, you know Craig was the grizzled, no-nonsense patriarch of Rygaard Logging. He was the guy who could move a mountain of timber with nothing but grit and a few choice words for his crew.
Finding out the truth about reality stars can be weirdly difficult. The internet is a messy place filled with "death hoaxes" and outdated wiki pages. When it comes to the Rygaard family, the confusion usually stems from a massive tragedy that hit the family years ago.
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The Short Answer: Craig Rygaard Is Alive
To put the rumors to rest immediately: Yes, Craig Rygaard is still alive. As of early 2026, there have been no credible reports or official announcements regarding his passing. He is living his life away from the camera's glare, likely enjoying a well-earned retirement from the brutal physical labor that defined his decades in the woods.
The reason people keep asking this question is almost always tied to the tragic death of his son.
Why the Confusion Exists
In September 2016, the logging world was rocked when Gabe Rygaard, Craig's oldest son and the face of the family business for many seasons of Ax Men, died in a horrific car accident. It happened on Highway 101 near Port Angeles, Washington. Gabe was only 45 years old.
Because Gabe was so prominent on the show, many casual viewers saw the headlines about "Ax Men Star Dies" and mistakenly attributed the tragedy to Craig. They saw the Rygaard name and assumed the worst about the father.
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Life After the Cameras Stopped Rolling
Craig Rygaard didn't just walk away from the woods because he was tired. It was more complicated than that.
Logging is a young man’s game. Or at least, a game for those whose joints haven’t been turned to dust by decades of rigging lines and falling timber. Craig had a massive wake-up call during Season 8 of Ax Men. If you remember the episode "Fall of a Legend," you saw it happen. He suffered a serious injury while trying to fix a stuck carriage line.
It was a scary moment. It sidelined him for a long time.
That injury, combined with the later loss of Gabe, fundamentally changed the trajectory of the Rygaard family. Craig eventually stepped back, leaving the day-to-day operations to his other son, Jason Rygaard.
The Final Season Appearance
The family actually returned for Season 10 of Ax Men in 2019. It was a heavy season. Seeing Craig and Jason try to keep the business afloat without Gabe was tough to watch. You could see the toll the grief had taken on Craig’s face. He wasn't the same fire-breathing boss we saw in the early years. He was a father mourning a son while trying to figure out if the legacy was still worth the cost.
Since that season wrapped, Craig has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. He isn't a guy who spends his time chasing "clout" on Instagram or TikTok. He belongs to a generation that values privacy over likes.
What Most People Get Wrong About Rygaard Logging
People often think these reality shows are 100% staged. While there is definitely "producer-driven drama" in the editing room, the physical danger Craig faced was very real.
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- The Physical Toll: Craig worked for over 40 years in one of the most dangerous professions on Earth.
- The Business Realities: Rygaard Logging wasn't just a TV set; it was a real company with real bills and real employees.
- The Location: They operated in the Olympic Peninsula, an area known for brutal weather and vertical terrain that makes every log a potential killer.
Honestly, the fact that Craig is still around and (as far as we know) doing okay is a testament to how tough he actually is. Most men don't make it to 70+ after doing that kind of work for that long.
Where Is He Now?
Craig likely still resides in the Port Angeles area of Washington. It’s his home. It’s where the family has deep roots.
While Rygaard Logging as a company has seen ups and downs since the show ended, the family remains a fixture of the local community. Jason Rygaard has been the one primarily carrying the torch for the business side of things.
If you're looking for a "death update" every few months, you’re probably going to be disappointed. Craig Rygaard is a private citizen now. He’s not a "celebrity" in the traditional sense anymore, and that’s probably exactly how he likes it.
Final Thoughts on the Rygaard Legacy
When we ask is Craig Rygaard still alive, we’re usually really asking about the state of a family that we felt like we knew. We watched them argue, sweat, and fail for years.
Craig represented an old-school way of life that is slowly disappearing. He was tough, sometimes mean, but always dedicated to the job. He survived the woods, he survived a career-ending injury, and he survived the unimaginable pain of losing a child.
If you want to keep up with the legacy, your best bet isn't checking the tabloids. It's looking toward the Olympic Peninsula, where the Rygaard name still means something in the timber industry.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to revisit the Rygaard story, you can find old episodes of Ax Men on the History Channel's website or streaming platforms like Hulu. It's a great way to see Craig in his prime, showing exactly why he earned the title of a logging legend. Just remember to separate the TV drama from the real-life man who is currently enjoying his quiet years in Washington.