OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — After a stormy winter, staff at Olympic National Park are working to clean, prepare and repair park facilities for the warmer season.
A series of storms deluged the North Olympic Peninsula this winter, including many areas of the national park.
“It was a tough winter for park roads and facilities, and we are doing our best to repair and reopen areas that were damaged by floods and storms,” said Sarah Creachbaum, park superintendent.
“It’s still wintry at the park’s higher elevations, and no matter the elevation, visitors should always be prepared for changing conditions, as rain and even snow are possible at any time of year.”
Elwha Valley
One of the hardest-hit areas was the Elwha Valley west of Port Angeles.
A series of severe winter storms in November, December and January led to high flows and flooding along the Elwha River.
Precipitation in the Elwha Valley this winter measured 138 percent of normal, making this winter the fourth wettest in the 75-year record at the Elwha Ranger Station, park officials said.
Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to all motor vehicles at the Madison Falls parking lot, just inside the park boundary.
About 90 feet of Olympic Hot Springs Road was washed out and additional sections were eroded and damaged by flood waters.
The road is open to pedestrians, bicycles and horse riders, with a small temporary bridge spanning the washout.
Park staff hope to install a one-lane bridge for vehicle access to the Elwha Valley this summer. A firm timeline has not been established.
Both the Elwha and Altair campgrounds are also located in the active floodplain of the Elwha River and sustained extensive damage and loss of facilities, park officials said.
Both campgrounds are closed indefinitely and are not expected to open this summer.
Here is the status of other areas of the park.
Hurricane Ridge Road, Heart o’ the Hills
Hurricane Ridge Road is open daily unless road work, staffing or late spring snowstorms cause it to close temporarily.
Visitors are urged to call the Road & Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131 for current conditions and road status.
Hurricane Hill Road — the 1.5-mile of road that leads past the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center to the Hurricane Ridge picnic area and Hurricane Hill trailhead — is expected to open by mid-June.
Reaching elevations over 6,000 feet, sections of Obstruction Point Road are still covered with 4 to 5 feet of snow, with higher drifts in some areas.
This road is expected to open in mid-June. If conditions allow, it may open earlier.
The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center will be open on weekends only beginning May 7. Weekend hours will continue through June 7.
The visitor center will be staffed daily beginning June 20.
The snack bar and gift shop on the lower level of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center will be open on weekends only from April 30 to May 22 and will open daily beginning May 27.
The Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Heart o’ the Hills Campground is open all year. Drinking water and flush toilets are available.
Deer Park
Deer Park Road and campground are both scheduled to open by mid-June, snow permitting.
If conditions allow, the area may open earlier than scheduled.
The campground provides primitive camping, with pit toilets and no drinking water.
Lake Crescent, Fairholme
Lake Crescent Lodge will open for the season April 29 and will remain open through Jan. 2.
Fairholme Campground will open this summer from April 29 through Oct. 3. Drinking water and flush toilets will be available.
Fairholme Store will open for the season May 27 and be open daily through Sept. 5.
The Log Cabin Resort will open May 20 and remain open through Sept. 30.
The La Poel picnic area will open for day use April 29.
Sol Duc Valley
Sol Duc Road is generally open 24 hours a day, unless road work or weather conditions cause it to close temporarily.
The Sol Duc Campground, which now is operated by Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, opened March 25 and will be open through Oct. 30.
Reservations are accepted for up to 75 percent of the campsites, with the remainder available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations for the Sol Duc Campground can be made online at www.recreation.gov.
The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is open for the season.
It will be open through Oct. 30.
Hoh Rain Forest
Hoh Rain Forest Road is generally open 24 hours a day, unless road work or weather conditions cause it to close temporarily.
The Hoh Rain Forest Campground is open year-round with drinking water and flush toilets available.
The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is currently open Fridays through Tuesdays and will be open daily from June 22 through Sept. 30.
Pacific Coast
Kalaloch, Mora and Ozette — the park’s road-accessible coastal destinations — are open.
All roads, campgrounds and trailheads can be accessed except for the Beach Four parking area and trail, which are closed because of erosion damage.
The Kalaloch and Mora campgrounds both offer drinking water and flush toilets.
The Ozette Campground is primitive, with pit toilets and no potable water in the campground. However, water is available nearby.
South Beach Campground, a primitive campground located just south of Kalaloch, will open May 15.
The Kalaloch Information Station will be open five days a week — Tuesdays through Saturdays — beginning May 18.
Daily hours will begin June 19.
Kalaloch Lodge is open year-round.
For more information, see www.thekalalochlodge.com.
Staircase
The Staircase Campground is open year-round for primitive camping.
Drinking water and flush toilets will be available during for the summer season from May 20 through Sept. 26.
Dosewallips
Dosewallips Road remains closed because of a washout outside the park boundaries in Olympic National Forest.
Access to the campground is on foot only. The hike is 5.5 miles.
Queets Valley
Lower and Upper Queets roads are both open 24 hours a day, unless road work or weather conditions cause temporary closures.
Lower Queets Road is closed about a half-mile below Matheny Creek, 1 mile before the end of the road, because of road damage.
The Queets Campground is open for primitive camping with pit toilets and no potable water.
Quinault Rain Forest
The Quinault Loop Road, which includes Quinault North Shore and South Shore roads, is open.
The North Fork Road is also open.
The 6-mile Graves Creek Road sustained severe storm and flood damage and is open to motor vehicles for its first 4 miles only.
Vehicle access ends at the road’s 4-mile point. An interim trailhead has been established there.
Because of limited turn-around space, Graves Creek Road is closed to recreational vehicles and trailers.
Hikers accessing the East Fork Quinault Trail and Enchanted Valley will have an extra 2 miles of walking before reaching the regular trailhead.
Horse and stock trailers must be parked at the intersection of Graves Creek and South Shore roads, adding 6 miles to the standard trip.
Park crews expect to begin repair work to Graves Creek Road late this summer, once river flows have dropped.
Quinault-area roads are typically open 24 hours a day, unless temporarily closed by road work or weather conditions.
The Graves Creek Campground (walk-in only) and North Fork Campground are both open for primitive camping with pit toilets and no drinking water.
Trails and wilderness information
The Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors can phone the wilderness center at 360-565-3100 for current trail reports, spring hiking safety tips and trip planning suggestions.
Several feet of snow remain on the ground beginning at elevations above 3,000 feet.
For more information, see www.olympicnationalparks.com.
