Laws & Policies

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Park Regulations

Superintendent's Compendium

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

Appendix F and Appendix G Maps - The following maps indicate designated areas within the park (NOTE: a Special Use Permit may be required for these activities):

Public Assembly Maps and Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter Area Maps

• Barnes Point (Lake Crescent): Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Barnes Point (Lake Crescent): Public Assembly
• Elwha: Sales or Distribution of Printed Matter
• Hurricane Ridge: Public Assembly
• Hurricane Ridge: 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

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

 

Closures

The superintendent's compendium for Olympic National Park contains most closures and other local regulations. Closures not included in these compendiums are listed below. This page shows areas closed and uses limited by temporary regulation and does not include closures of facilities and services.

Consistent with applicable legislation and Federal administrative policies, and based upon a determination that such action is necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural or cultural resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, equitable allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities, the Superintendent makes the following changes to Olympic National Park regulations:

 

Ruby Beach Closure

Heavy construction operations will take place to improve drainage and pave the parking area and entrance road for vehicle and pedestrian accessibility. This temporary closure is necessary to protect the safety of park visitors and provide security for construction equipment and personnel while these activities occur.

By order of the Superintendent of Olympic National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a)(1):

The Ruby Beach Road and parking area, and beach access trail, are closed to all public access from June 16, 2022 through September 16, 2022.

Notice of closure will be posted and the area will be monitored to ensure compliance. The designation will remain in place until rescinded. Your cooperation in complying with this temporary restriction is greatly appreciated.

 

Quillayute River and Dickey Boat Launch Closure

This temporary closure is required for safety purposes related to helicopter overflights scheduled for the Quillayute River Reach 3 Restoration Project.

By order of the Superintendent of Olympic National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) (1):

The following areas are closed to all public access:

• The Quillayute River is closed to boating and all other use from the park boundary at Richwine bar, downstream within Olympic National Park, to the floodplain south of Mora Campground from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm daily from June 20, 2022 to June 26, 2022.
• The Dickey River boat launch is closed from 6am-8pm daily from June 20, 2022 to June 26, 2022.

Notice of closure will be posted and areas will be monitored to ensure compliance; please see map below for more information. The designation will remain in place until rescinded.

Quillayute River Floodplain Closure

This temporary closure is required for the safety of the public and the contractor during the construction for the Quillayute River Reach 3 Restoration Project.

By order of the Superintendent of Olympic National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) (1):

The following area is closed to all public access:

• The Quillayute River floodplain south of Mora Campground, within Olympic National Park, will be closed from June 1, 2022, until completion of the Quillayute River Reach 3 Restoration project and vacation of the construction sites by the contractor. See the map below of the closed area.

This closure does not include the Mora Campground, picnic area, or any portion of the Slough Trail.

Notice of closure will be posted and areas will be monitored to ensure compliance; please see map below for more information. The designation will remain in place until rescinded. Your cooperation in complying with this temporary restriction is greatly appreciated.

 

Temporary Area Closures near Mora Campground and Quillayute River Closure area

 

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