OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Spring has hit the highlands, or at least much of them, and national park workers are sprucing up campgrounds for visitors.
Although winter lay so lightly on the land this season that a ski season never opened at Hurricane Ridge and Olympic Mountain snowpack was only 6 percent of average Tuesday, some areas of Olympic National Park are still bound by snow and impassable.
Deer Park Road and campground, for instance, are not due to reopen until mid-June. While most of the road is snow-free, drifts remain at the upper elevations.
Campgrounds
But the Elwha and Sol Duc campgrounds, which are open even in the winter for primitive camping with pit toilets and no water, now have drinking water and flush toilets for the summer through Sept. 14.
“We’ve had an early spring at Olympic National Park, and we’re happy to see people already coming out to enjoy the warmth, sunshine and budding trees,” said Sarah Creachbaum, park superintendent.
“It’s still wintry at the park’s higher elevations, though, 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.”
Several feet of snow remains on the ground beginning at elevations above 4,000 feet.
Here are opening dates for areas of the park:
■ Hurricane Ridge Road — The road south of Port Angeles is open as weather and staffing allow. For daily updates, call 360-565-3131.
Beginning in early May, the road is generally open 24 hours a day, unless road work or late-spring snowstorms cause it to close temporarily.
■ Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center — The center will be open on weekends only beginning May 2 through June 7. It will be staffed daily beginning June 12.
The snack bar and gift shop on the lower level of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center will be open on weekends only from May 3-18 and will open daily beginning May 22.
■ Hurricane Hill Road — This 1.5-mile stretch of the road that leads past the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center to the picnic area and Hurricane Hill trailhead is expected to open by mid-June.
■ Obstruction Point Road — Reaching elevations over 6,000 feet, sections of the Obstruction Point Road are still covered with 4 feet to 5 feet of snow, with higher drifts in some areas.
This road is expected to open in mid-June, snow permitting. If conditions allow, it may open earlier.
■ Olympic National Park Visitor Center — The visitor center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
■ Wilderness Information Center — Located on the same site as the park visitor center, the Wilderness Information Center now is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will begin May 12.
■ Heart o’ the Hills Campground — This campground is open year-round, with drinking water and flush toilets available.
■ Dosewallips Road — The road remains closed because of a washout outside the park boundaries in Olympic National Forest, so access to the campground is walk-in (5.5 miles) only.
■ Deer Park — Deer Park Road and campground could open earlier than mid-June if conditions allow.
The campground provides primitive camping, with pit toilets and no drinking water.
■ Elwha Valley — Olympic Hot Springs Road is open to the Boulder Creek Trailhead, unless roadwork or weather conditions close it temporarily.
There is no access from the Olympic Hot Springs Road to Glines Canyon or the former Lake Mills, since construction of a new parking area and viewpoint continues.
This area is expected to open this summer.
Whiskey Bend Road is closed to vehicle traffic at Glines Canyon Overlook, 1 mile above the intersection with Olympic Hot Springs Road.
Winter rains caused a major washout that destroyed a 500-foot section of road.
The road remains open to foot, bicycle and horse travel, but all horse trailers must be parked and stock offloaded at the Elwha picnic area.
Horse trailers are not allowed on Whiskey Bend Road because it lacks a turnaround that will accommodate trailers.
Altair Campground is closed until further notice because of damage and loss of campsites and roadway caused by high winter flows along the Elwha River.
A timeline and plans for repairing and reopening the campground have not been completed.
■ Lake Crescent — Lake Crescent Lodge will open for the season May 2 and will remain open through Jan. 1.
It offers lodging options, a dining room, boat rentals and a gift shop.
■ Log Cabin Resort — The resort will be open from May 22 through Sept. 30 for lodging, RV and tent camping, a boat launch, dining room and store.
■ Fairholme Campground — This campground will be open from May 21 through Oct. 5, with drinking water and flush toilets available.
Beginning May 1, Fairholme General Store will be open Friday through Sunday through May 17. Beginning May 22, the store will be open daily through Sept. 7.
■ La Poel Picnic Area — This area will open for day use on May 23.
■ Sol Duc Valley — The Sol Duc Road is generally open 24 hours a day, unless roadwork or weather conditions cause it to close temporarily.
The Sol Duc Campground is open year-round, but drinking water and flush toilets were activated Thursday.
The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is open for the season with lodging, dining, hot springs and a small store.
■ Hoh Rain Forest — The Hoh Rain Forest Road is generally open 24 hours a day, unless roadwork 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 operating out of a temporary trailer while the main visitor center is under renovation.
The visitor center is now open Fridays through Tuesdays and will be open daily from June 17 through Sept. 7.
The primary visitor center is expected to reopen this spring, at which time the temporary facilities will be removed.
■ Pacific Coast — Kalaloch, Mora and Ozette are open, including all roads, campgrounds and trailheads, except for the Beach Four parking area and trail, which are closed due to erosion damage.
The Kalaloch and Mora campgrounds both provide 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 19. Daily hours will begin June 16.
Kalaloch Lodge is open year-round with cabins, lodge rooms, dining and a gift shop. For more information, see www.thekalalochlodge.com.
■ Staircase Campground — The campground, which is open year-round, will have drinking water and flush toilets for the summer season from May 22 through Sept. 28.
Otherwise, camping is primitive, with pit toilets and no water.
■ Queets Valley — Lower and Upper Queets roads are both open 24 hours a day, unless roadwork or weather conditions cause temporary closures.
However, Lower Queets Road is closed about a half-mile below Matheny Creek (1 mile before the end of the road) due to road damage.
The Queets Campground is open for primitive camping with pit toilets and no potable water.
■ Quinault Rain Forest — Quinault Loop Road, which includes Quinault North Shore and South Shore roads, is open.
The Graves Creek and North Fork roads are also open.
All Quinault area roads are typically open 24 hours a day, unless temporarily closed by roadwork or weather conditions.
The Graves Creek Campground and North Fork Campground are both open for primitive camping with pit toilets and no drinking water.
For more information, stop by the visitor or wilderness information center; call 360-565-3100 for current trail reports, spring hiking safety tips and trip planning suggestions; and check www.nps.gov/olym and www.olympicnationalparks.com.
