As you may remember, at the end of May we reported that the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge (Visitor Center) had succumbed to a devastating fire. The fire’s cause has still yet to be determined and an active investigation is still underway. However, as one of Olympic National Park’s (ONP) most popular destinations, the park has decided to reopen the area, and here’s what we know so far.
In an announcement made this week, the National Park Service stated that Hurricane Ridge will reopen as of June 27th. However, it is important to keep in mind that parking spaces will be limited and there will be no indoor spaces to protect visitors from weather. Portable toilets will be made available.
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Here’s the deal, the daily parking limit is 315 vehicles, 175 of which can be supported at a time. The Hurricane Ridge Road will have limited access from 7 AM to 9 AM and once capacity is reached for the day, the road will close to cars visiting the area. This will be enforced as the park will monitor the entry system. That being said, the park will also make adjustments as needed, including the daily vehicle capacity.
“We are excited to re-open this area to visitors and are committed to restoring permanent visitor services in the future,” said Superintendent Sula Jacobs about the reopening.
While the car limit is small, there’s still a way to visit even if the road is closed for the day. ONP encourages visitors to use the Clallam Transit Shuttle to avoid the long lines at the Heart O’ the Hills entrance. The shuttle operates several runs a day and most importantly runs even if the road closes to private vehicles.
With that, enjoy!
