Olympic National Park opens summer with free entry today

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Today, the first day of summer, entry into Olympic National Park is free.

The park is marking the official start of summer with a fee-free day, waiving its usual $15-per-car admission.

Only the entrance fee is being waived. Fees will be collected for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions.

While visitors who arrive today will be allowed to enter the park free of charge, those who plan to spend time in the park beyond today will be expected to pay the entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.

Most park roads and campgrounds are open, with the exception being the Elwha Valley.

Olympic Hot Springs Road within the park has been closed since May 31 while road repairs are made at Fisherman’s Corner about one mile south of the park boundary.

Altair and Elwha campgrounds also are closed because of the roadwork, expected to last through the end of this month.

Additional fee-free days this year will be National Public Lands Day on Sept. 24 and Veterans Day weekend Nov. 11–13.

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