Laws & Policies

Park Regulations

Regulations specific to Olympic National Park are contained in the Superintendent's Compendium.

Federal regulations covering all National Park Service lands are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Chapter 1

Public Assembly and the Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter

The following maps indicate designated areas within the park (NOTE: a Special Use Permit may be required for these activities):

• Barnes Point (Lake Crescent): Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Barnes Point (Lake Crescent): Public Assembly
• Elwha: Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Hoh Visitor Center: Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Hoh Visitor Center: Public Assembly
• Mora: Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Mora: Public Assembly
• Olympic NP Visitor Center (Port Angeles): Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Olympic NP Visitor Center (Port Angeles): Public Assembly
• Ozette: Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Ozette: Public Assembly
• Quinault: Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Quinault: Public Assembly

 

Emergency Closures

Emergency Closure of Lake Aldwell, Updated March 8, 2012
Map of Closed Area, March 8, 2012

Emergency Closure of Lake Aldwell Effective October 20, 2011

 

Firearms Information
As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in this park.

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. As a starting point, please visit our state’s website: LINK

Federal law also prohibits firearms in certain facilities in this park; those places are marked with signs at all public entrances.

 

Drones and other "UAVs" Prohibited in the Park

Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Olympic National Park is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent.

Determining Factors: The use of unmanned aircraft potentially presents unacceptable risks to visitors (collisions between unmanned aircraft and visitors, the uncontrolled fall of unmanned aircraft, contact with spinning propellers or rotors of unmanned aircraft.) These risks are greatest in the park’s non-Wilderness areas, where the greatest concentrations of visitors are found. The use of unmanned aircraft adversely impacts visitor experience by negatively affecting scenic and natural sound opportunities, and by potentially interfering with terrestrial and avian wildlife.

The use of motorized equipment is also prohibited in designated Wilderness; approximately 95% of park lands are designated Wilderness. A full prohibition of UAV use within Olympic National Park is necessary in order to prevent potential risks to visitors, impacts to visitor experience and impacts to wilderness character.

Additionally, the unregulated use of unmanned aircraft would potentially violate several other regulations in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including 2.2 Frightening Wildlife, 2.12 Creating an Audio Disturbance, 2.17 – Delivering or Retrieving an Object by Airborne Means, 2.34 – Making Unreasonable Noise, 2.34 – Creating or Maintaining a Hazardous Conditions, and 5.13 – Creating or Maintaining a Nuisance.

 

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between:

National Park Service

and

Hoh Indian Tribe
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Makah Indian Tribe
Quileute Indian Tribe
Quinault Indian Nation
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
Skokomish Indian Tribe

To establish a framework for cooperative government-to-government relationships

July 10, 2008