Changes to Fees Proposed for Olympic National Park; Public Input Sought

Date: May 11, 2007
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

Olympic National Park is seeking public input about proposed changes to entrance and user fees that would take effect in January 2009.

“Since 1997, we have used $12.5 million in fee revenue to complete dozens of projects to benefit visitors and resources at Olympic,” said park Superintendent Bill Laitner. “We are very interested now in hearing what our visitors and neighbors think about proposed fee increases at the park.”

Proposed changes and increases are outlined below.

• Seven day entrance pass: $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, $12 for an individual (currently $15 for vehicles, $5 for individuals);
• Olympic National Park Annual Pass: $50 (currently $30)
• Camping: An increase of $2 per night is proposed for all front country campgrounds; overnight charges would range from $12 to $20 as detailed below.
• • $12 – Deer Park, North Fork Quinault, South Beach
  • $14 – Altair, Elwha, Fairholme, Ozette, Graves Creek, Heart O’ the Hills, Hoh, Mora, Staircase
  • $16 – Kalaloch (except summer), Sol Duc and Hoh campground reservation loop (see below)
  • $20 - Kalaloch, June 22 through September 3 when reservations are available

An additional change is proposed at the Hoh campground, where one camping loop could be added to the reservation system. Nightly fees in this loop would increase to $16 during the summer reservation season. Public input is invited about this proposal and regarding which loop should be added to the reservation system.

“We have worked hard to simplify Olympic’s wilderness permit fees and are interested in the public’s response to proposed changes in that area as well,” said Laitner.

Wilderness Use Permits

• $10 for 1 person
• $20 for 2-3 persons
• $40 for 4-6 persons
• $60 for 7-9 persons
• $80 for 10-12 persons

The 50% senior and disability discounts would be eliminated for wilderness permit fees, along with the discounted annual pass for a second household member. Currently, Wilderness Use Permits cost $5 per permit, plus $2 per person per night.

Fees now provide about $1.5 million each year for a wide variety of park projects, in addition to the cost of collecting fees and staffing entrance stations. In 2006 alone, fees provided the necessary funding for:

• Replacing 50 picnic tables and 130 fire grates in the Hoh and Mora campgrounds;
• Removal of dilapidated buildings;
• Repair of southern coastal trails;
• Renovation of numerous bulletin board displays around the park.

Projects slated for coming years include restoring grounds at the Quinault Valley’s historic Kestner Homestead, replacing underground electrical lines to Hurricane Ridge, reconstructing the Deer Lake Trail, replacing exhibits at Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and improving accessibility of park walkways.

The park invites members of the public to provide input on these proposals to increase entrance and user fees at Olympic National Park. Comments will be accepted through September 30, 2007. Comments should be submitted online by visiting the National Park Service’s Planning Environment and Public Comment system.

Comments may also be sent to the following address.

Olympic National Park Fee Program Office
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362

Fax: [phone]
Website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov
Email: e-mail us

Commentors should be aware that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While commentors can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the NPS cannot guarantee that this will be possible.