OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A trip to Hurricane Ridge won’t cost a penny Friday as Olympic National Park celebrates the beginning of all-week road access to the popular destination.
The $15 fee to enter the park via Hurricane Ridge Road will be waived for the day, said park spokeswoman Barb Maynes.
The road is currently open Friday through Sunday only, which is its typical schedule for late November through March.
But that limited schedule will lapse this week, and the ridge will remain open daily beginning Friday as long as the weather cooperates.
The all-week schedule was made possible by about $75,000 raised in donations and another $250,000 in federal funds.
Officials with the park and city of Port Angeles will meet at noon outside the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center to celebrate the new schedule, which is intended to increase tourism.
Also starting Friday is five-day-a-week shuttle service to the ridge.
Adventure Tours will provide the service twice a day Wednesdays through Sundays from the Port Angeles Visitor Center, in front of The Landing mall, 121 E. Railroad Ave., and the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St.
The departing times are 9:05 a.m. and 1:05 p.m.
The cost is $10 per person. The fee to enter the park via the shuttle is $5.
The park was expected to start the new schedule last month.
Maynes said it was delayed to allow for training of the new snowplow crew.
The Department of Interior is providing the matching funds on a trial basis for up to three years.
The fundraising effort will likely have to start again next year to keep the trial going.
________
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
