PORT ANGELES — Apparently Mother Nature didn’t get the message that the final three-day weekend of the summer is coming up.
Despite a threat of rain, reservation-only campgrounds on the North Olympic Peninsula have almost filled up, but officials say the first-come, first-serve campgrounds in Clallam County, on state lands and in the Olympic National Park and Forest may still have spots available.
Of the 14 campsites in the Olympic National Park, only one requires reservations — the Kalaloch campground off U.S. Highway 101.
But if you don’t already have a reservation, you might be out of luck, said Kathy Steichen, assistant chief for resource education for the park.
For the first-come, first-serve sites, getting there early in the day may be the best bet for landing a spot, she said.
“It seems like there’s always people coming and going,” she said.
“Even if a campground is filled one night, it may not be filled the next.”
For a secluded, slightly less accessible campsite, the campgrounds at Queets and Dosewallips have had their roads washed out, which requires about a six-mile hike to the campground, she said.
Forest has 20 campgrounds
The Olympic National Forest has about 20 campgrounds, said Karyn Richards, recreational specialist for the forest, who noted they are all first-come, first-serve.
Some have fees, others don’t, with an average per night rate of about $10, she said.
The exception is the Rainbow Campground near Quilcene. A reservation is required at the group campground, with spots going for $50 a night, she said.
Campgrounds on state lands that require reservations have been virtually filled, said Joyce Riley, customer service specialist for the state Parks and Recreation Commission.
“People can make reservations nine months in advance, and they do,” she said.
“You can have a baby in nine months, that’s how far in advance you have to plan.”
The state does have a few first-come, first-serve campgrounds, including Bogachiel State Park and Old Fort Townsend State Park, but Riley wasn’t confident it would be worth the trip for campers.
“Don’t waste the $3.25 gas,” she said, adding that she is going camping in her backyard this weekend.
County has day-use parks
Clallam County also operates two campgrounds at Salt Creek Recreation Area and Dungeness Recreation Area. Both are first-come, first-serve.
But Joel Winborn, division manager for the Clallam County Public Works Department, said that the county has 16 day-use parks, which should be perfect for local residents.
But if you don’t have reservations and don’t want to jockey for spots at campgrounds this holiday weekend, you might want to consider staying inside and near home.
Light rains have been predicted through Saturday, and thunderstorms are a possibility on Sunday, said Danny Mercer, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The sliver lining, he said, was that Monday is expected to be partly cloudy.
And, as well all have witnessed this past week, gas prices are hovering near $3 per gallon for unleaded regular.