OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A film and a fee-free weekend into the park will mark the commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
Olympic National Park will join other national parks across the country by inviting the public to enter the park for free Saturday through Monday.
The fee waiver applies only to entrance fees.
Fees will be charged for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions.
Also over the holiday weekend, the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles will screen a 30-minute video, “A New Time, a New Voice,” about the life and work of the Rev. King.
The program will be shown at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday through Monday, with additional viewings available upon request.
The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Most other park roads and facilities are scheduled to be open throughout the weekend.
Visitor center open
The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, snack bar and ski shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day of the long weekend, including Monday.
As of late Wednesday, the Ridge still lacked enough snow — by about 1 foot — for downhill skiing.
In the unlikely event that rope tows operated by the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club are opened for this weekend, the notice would be published on www.hurricaneridge.com.
But there are still snowshoe walks, cross-country skiing and tubing for children.
The winter season’s ranger-led 90-minute snowshoe walks at Hurricane Ridge are available at 2 p.m. today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
People should register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes before the scheduled walk.
Space is limited.
A suggested $5 donation from each participant helps the park repair and replace snowshoes.
Group snowshoe walks will be provided the same days at 10:30 a.m.
Reservations are available by phoning 360-565-3136.
Snowshoers and cross-country skiers who want to travel beyond the immediate Hurricane Ridge area are asked to sign in at the registration box in the visitor center and be prepared for steep terrain and the possibility of avalanches.
Tubing and sliding are permitted only for children 8 and younger at the Small Children’s Snowplay Area just west of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
Hurricane Ridge Road
Hurricane Ridge Road is scheduled to open daily at 9 a.m., weather permitting.
Visitors are encouraged to carpool if possible, since parking at Hurricane Ridge is limited to 200 vehicles.
Minor delays are possible at the Heart O’ the Hills entrance station if the parking lot is full.
All Points Charters & Tours will provide twice-daily van service from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Shuttle vans leave the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on Railroad Avenue at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and will pick up passengers at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., at 9:05 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. before the 45-minute drive to Hurricane Ridge.
Vans leave Hurricane Ridge at about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The round-trip fare is $20 per person.
To reserve a spot on a van, phone 360-460-7131 or email tours@goallpoints.com.
On weekends when the entrance fee has not been waived, a $15 fee per vehicle and $5 fee for individuals on foot, bicycles or motorcycles is good for up to seven consecutive days at any park entrance. Children 15 years and younger are admitted free.
The Olympic National Park Annual Pass, which can be used for one year after purchase, is $30 and is available at entrance stations.
Road status and current conditions are available by phoning the park’s recorded information line at 360-565-3131 or by visiting www.nps.gov/olym.
