Fees: Olympic National Park has entrance fees, which are valid for seven days or by annual pass. Other 12-month passes available are a National Parks Pass, Golden Eagle Passport, Washington and Oregon Recreation Pass, and a Golden Age Passport for permanent U.S. residents age 62 and older. Wilderness camping permits are required for overnight wilderness camping within Olympic National Park and can be obtained at the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) in Port Angeles, the Quinault WIC (South Shore Lake Quinault USFS Ranger Station) or the Forks WIC in Forks, WA. A Frequent Hiker Pass is available that covers wilderness fees for 1 year from date of purchase. There are also daily or annual Olympic National Forest trailhead parking permit fees at selected trailheads within the forest. For a list of trailheads where permits are required (numbering 20 in 2005), visit the ONF website, click on “Passes and Permits,” then click on “Trailheads Needing Pass.”
Volunteer Passes: In Pacific Northwest national forests, a pass can be earned by contributing to a work project on national forest land. Participating on one work party earns a free one-day Northwest Forest Pass. Participating on two work projects earns a second one-day pass. Two one-day volunteer passes can be redeemed for a 12-month volunteer pass. The passes cover parking on National Forest Service land only. The Washington Trails Association is one of several groups that coordinate volunteer trail-maintenance projects within the state. Contact information for the WTA: (206) 625-1367, www.wta.org. The volunteer program at Olympic National Park was undergoing revision at the time of this book’s printing. For the latest information on opportunities and recognition, contact the Park’s volunteer coordinator at (360) 565-3141.
Food Storage Regulations: Olympic National Park is home to an active black bear population, and secure food storage is a topic of elevated interest among the park’s wilderness rangers. Olympic’s black bears are not as notorious as the marauding bruins of California’s central Sierra, and by promoting conscientious food storage within Olympic National Park, rangers hope to keep it that way. Their goal is to keep bears gathering food in natural bear fashion rather than pilfering available human food. Doing so reduces the chances of food-induced bear-human conflict.
So be aware: For overnight backcountry trips, the park requires that all food, garbage, and scented items (including toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, lip balm, and toiletries) must be either 1) stored in animal-resistant containers, 2) hung from park bear wires, or 3) hung at least 12 feet high and 10 feet out from the nearest tree trunk 24 hours a day.
Use of bear canisters, which typically weigh two-plus pounds when empty, is mandatory in areas without bear wire and where food cannot be hung at the prescribed height and distance. That likely could involve just about any trip that includes a high-elevation campsite (loosely defined as any site higher than 4,500 feet). Lighter, soft-sided food bags, such as the Ursack, have not been approved for use in Olympic National Park.
If you don’t own a canister, the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles has a pretty good supply of them, from a variety of makers, available for loan. The park suggests a $3 donation for using one. Keep in mind: On busy weekends the WIC may run out of canisters. The park’s Web site offers a list of area locations where canisters can be rented or purchased.
Bear wires, which use a simple pulley system to hoist food bags up to a secure height, are found in some of the park’s most popular backcountry campsites. They’re a wonderful creation. Claim a hook early in the day on busy weekends.
Quotas and Reservations: Within Olympic National Park, overnight quotas are in effect between May 1 and September 30 for high-use wilderness camp areas. The park does this to help minimize impact and negate overcrowding, in an effort to preserve a wilderness ambience. Reservations between these dates cannot be made more than 30 days in advance of your departure date. Permits for quota areas must be picked up at the WIC or a staffed ranger station during business hours.
Quota areas, subject to change, are Royal Basin/Royal Lake, Flapjack Lakes, Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin/Mink Lake area, Hoh Lake and C.B. Flats, Grand Valley, and Lake Constantine. Within quota areas, camping is permitted only in designated sites. Campsites are not individually assigned; they are available to permit-holders on a first-come, first-served basis. Deviating from a permit’s itinerary within a quota area is not allowed, except in an emergency.
Permits are not available at Hurricane Ridge. Permits for Grand Valley, Badger Valley, and all Hurricane Ridge area trips must be obtained through the WIC in Port Angeles.