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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005 The Olympic Hot Springs Road has reopened, following a three-year closure while contractors removed the Glines Canyon Dam. Visitors may now reach the Boulder Creek Trailhead. The Boulder Creek Trailhead provides hiker and stock-user access to the Olympic Hot Springs Trail, a 2.5 mile hike from the trailhead. "Access to the Glines Canyon overlook and former Lake Mills will continue to be available only from the Whiskey Bend Road," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum. "Additional work needs to be done before we can safely open the viewpoint and old boat launch, so while the Olympic Hot Springs Road itself is open, the parking area at Glines Canyon is closed."
Access to these areas is expected to open in late spring 2015, after fencing and other protective measures are installed and the parking area completed.
The Olympic Hot Springs Trail is also open. Vistiors are urged to consult the current trail conditions report and to be prepared for ice, snow and slippery conditions. The Crystal Creek Bridge is closed to all travel due to extensive rock slide damage, but Crystal Creek can be crossed via a foot-log. Hikers are urged to use caution, as the foot-log is often icy at this time of year.
More information is available by calling the park's Wilderness Information Center (WIC) at 360-565-3100 or visiting the WIC inside the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles.
Visitors wishing to reach Glines Canyon viewing areas and a trail to the former Lake Mills should use the Whiskey Bend Road. A ten-space accessible parking area and viewpoint opened two weeks ago, providing an excellent viewpoint where people can enjoy views of the canyon, river and former lake bed.
"Extensive restoration work has been done in the Olympic Hot Springs areas while the road has been closed -- visitors are reminded to camp only in designated campsites and to avoid stepping on plants when using the area," explained Creachbaum. "We also ask the public's help in keeping the hot springs area in good condition for all our visitors -- whatever is packed in must be packed out."
Visitors are further reminded that marijuana use is prohibited on federal lands within the state of Washington, including Olympic National Park.
Background and more information about Elwha River Restoration is available at the park's website.
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Last updated: February 28, 2015