Public Input Sought on Proposed Improvements to the Boulder Creek Trail and Campground

Date: February 5, 2009
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

Olympic National Park is seeking public input regarding a proposal to rehabilitate the Boulder Creek trail and former automobile campground. The park proposes to restore a 2.2-mile section of the old Boulder Creek Road to a trail by removing the asphalt, improving and removing stream crossings, and restoring and rehabilitating the Boulder Creek campground.

The Boulder Creek Road was built in the early 1900s and provided vehicle access to the former Olympic Hot Springs Resort and automobile campground. The road was closed to vehicle traffic and converted to trail use in 1982 because of slope failure and serious erosion. Since then, the Boulder Creek trail has remained a population hiking route, both for visitors to the Olympic Hot Springs area and for more extensive wilderness hikes.

In the years since its conversion to trail, the old road has deteriorated considerably. Several drainages have culverts that have been washed out or plugged with debris and sections of asphalt have been washed away.

The NPS proposes to rehabilitate the Boulder Creek trail for foot and stock use by removing the deteriorating asphalt and culverts and replacing bridges. The proposal also includes rehabilitating the Boulder Creek campground to prevent continuing damage to the park’s resources by removing the asphalt, designating campsites, and revegetating the areas around campsites.

The National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) that will evaluate the environmental effects of this proposal. Interested members of the public are invited to provide input on the proposed projects. Comments received during this initial scoping period will be used to help define the issues and concerns to be addressed in the EA.

Comments should be submitted on-line by visiting the website for the National Park Service’s Planning Environment and Public Comment system.

Comments may also be sent to the following address no later than March 9, 2009. The EA will be released this summer.

Superintendent – Boulder Creek Rehabilitation
Olympic National Park
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362

Fax: [phone]
Website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov

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

For more information about this project, people may visit National Park Service’s Planning Environment and Public Comment website or call the park at 360-565-3004.