NPS - National Park Service

03/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/29/2024 10:03

Olympic National Park overnight wilderness permits available April 15; East Fork Quinault River Trail and Enchanted Valley pilot project begins May 15; most trails damaged by[...]

Date:
March 29, 2024
Contact:Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. - Starting at 7:00am on April 15, Olympic National Park wilderness adventurers will be able to reserve permits for overnight trips for the summer season - May 15 through October 15. Permits can be reserved online at Recreation.gov or by calling the Wilderness Infromation Center at (360) 565-3100. Day hikers do not need wilderness permits.

New this year, the East Fork Quinault River Trail and Enchanted Valley will be managed like the Seven Lakes Basin, Grand Valley, Cape Alava and similar permit areas on a trial basis. For the duration of the trial, which will last up to three years, there will be a maximum of 208 users or 30 permits per night, whichever is reached first. This change will help protect the wilderness experience and natural resources in the picturesque valley.

Public comments will be collected from May 15 through October 15 throughout the trial. Comments will inform the final decision about the management change. Wilderness users are encouraged to share how this change improves or impacts their experiences. Instructions for how to submit comments will be posted online at: ParkPlanning - East Fork Quinault Trail and Enchanted Valley Overcrowding (nps.gov)

In the wake of the 2023 Olympic Lightning Fires, backcountry trail and Burned Area Emergency Response crews developed a strategy to reopen damaged trails as safely and quickly as possible. Of the eight areas that originally closed, only two will not reopen by the start of the summer season: the burned sections of the Skyline and Elwha Trails. These sections will remain closed until trail crews can return to the areas to assess the damage and plan for repairs.
For more information about how to reserve permits and prepare for a memorable experience in Olympic National Park's wilderness, call the Wilderness Information Center at (360) 565-3100 or visit: Visiting Wilderness - Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)