Olympic National Park Operating Hours & Seasons

 
English: Downed cypress, Olympic National Park...

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The Olympic National Park is open all day, every day, throughout the year, the roads, campgrounds and facilities at Olympic National Park, however, are not!

As with planning any trip, especially to a National Park, it’s best to check out the state of Olympic National Park before you leave home, it’s always wise to expect the unexpected. Emergency situations happen with very little warning and cause flooding, wild land fires, blow-down etc, which means that some areas of the park may have to be closed down temporarily. You can check out recorded road information at any time by calling (360) 565-3131.

Let’s take a look at the operating hours and seasons for many of the facilities at Olympic National Park. Bear in mind that these are not exact dates, just kind of “ball park” so if you’re planning a visit close to the date then don’t forget to check it out before you leave home.

More current news and information on the Olympic National Park Facebook page.

Olympic National Park Visitor Centers & Ranger Stations

  • Many of the Ranger Stations at Olympic National Park don’t really have set opening hours, the hours vary, so you just need to check the bulletin boards for Deer Park Ranger Station, Eagle Ranger Station, Elwha Ranger Station, Mora Ranger Station, Ozette Ranger Station and Staircase Ranger Station.
  • Storm King Ranger Station at Olympic National Park is open every day from the middle of June through to the middle of September.

 

  • Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station is open from the middle of June through to the middle of September, but only Thursday through Monday.
  • Kalaloch Ranger Info Station is open from the middle of June through to the end of September, and from mid May to mid June it’s open Thursday through Monday too.
  • Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is open daily from mid June through to mid September, it’s also staffed daily during the winter season (mid December through end March) and on weekends only in the springtime, April through to mid June. 
  • Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is open daily from beginning of May through to end September, weekends only from the beginning of October through mid April (except Christmas day) and Friday through Tuesdays between mid April and the beginning of May.
  • Olympic National Park Visitor Center is open year round except for Christmas day and Thanksgiving.
  • Wilderness Information Center (which is found within the Olympic National Park Visitor Center) is open year round too.

Olympic National Park Campground Opening Hours

There are loads of different campgrounds at Olympic National Park, and all are on a first come, first served basis except one at Kalaloch, so that seems like a very good place to start. Remember that these “middle of” and “end of” are very vague so if you’re planning a visit around the middle or end of that month, check it out before you leave home.

  • Kalaloch Campground – is open all year round and it is possible (and very wise) to make a reservation, particularly in the summer time.
  • Altair Campground – opens from the end of May until early in September.
  • Deer Park Campground – opens from the end of May until the middle of October, snow permitting.
  • Elwha Campground – is open all year round, however, there is no water from the end of October through to the end of April.
  • Fairholme Campground – opens from the beginning of April until the end of October.
  • Graves Creek Campground – is open all year, but again doesn’t have water facilities between the end of October and the end of March.
  • Heart o’ the Hills Campground – is open all year, but if there’s any snow is only accessible by walking.
  • Hoh Campground – opens year round.
  • Mora Campground – is also open year round.
  • North Fork Campground – is open all year, but is primitive, even by National Park standards – no potable water and pit toilets.
  • Ozette Campground – opens for the whole year, but is another Olympic National Park campground which does not have water between the end of October and the end of March.
  • Queets Campground – is another like North Fork, open all year but primitive.
  • Sol Duc Campground – opens all year although there’s a high possibility of the road being closed in the winter time due to snow. There is no water available from the end of October until the end of March.
  • Staircase Campground – is open all year, but is without water from end of October until end of April.
  • South Beach Campground – is open from mid to end of May, until beginning to mid of September.

So there you have it, if you fancy camping in Olympic National Park you know when and where to go!

Many of the roads at Olympic National Park are open all year round – weather permitting. You know what I’m gonna’ say next don’t you, yep, CHECK IT OUT BEFORE YOU GO.

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