PORT ANGELES — Entrance and user fees at Olympic National Park will increase on June 1, the park announced today.
A new fee schedule for park entrance and user fees was proposed last October and public feedback and comments were invited during a two-month comment period. Several changes were made to the original proposal in response to public input, Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said, noting that the increases are the first since 2006.
“We’re grateful for the comments we received last fall,” Creachbaum said.
“Entrance and overnight wilderness use fees will be phased in over several years, based in large part on suggestions from stakeholders and the public.”
The new entrance fee schedule is shown at right.
“The money from user and entrance fees provides vital funding for visitor facilities like water and wastewater systems, campgrounds, roads, trails and visitor centers,” Creachbaum said.
According to a statement issued by the park today: “At Olympic in 2014, approximately $2.2 million in fee revenue provided for improved visitor facilities and services, including trail and wilderness bridge repair, new visitor center exhibits and operation of the park’s wilderness information program.
“This summer, visitors will find newly improved accessible parking spaces and walkways at the Hoh and Quinault visitor centers, trail repairs in the Hoh and Sol Duc valleys and south coast route and wilderness information for hikers and backpackers.”
Based on comparisons with area facilities and opportunities, the park also proposes increased rates for camping, overnight wilderness use and RV sewage dumping.
Those changes are charted by clicking on the arrow to the upper right of the fee chart.
Entrance fees apply only to people 16 years of age and older; youth and children 15 years old and younger enter the park for free. Olympic National Park also hosts nine entrance fee-free days throughout the year.
More information about these options, along with the Senior, Access and Military passes that provide free entry are available at http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
