National Park readies for winter with shorter hours, campground closures

Olympic National Park is getting ready for winter, as hours will be changed at its visitor and information centers, and campgrounds and roads will be closed for the season.

Beginning Sunday, the Visitor Center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles, will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday only.

Hours change that day also for the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center and the Forks Park and Forest Information Center, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday only.

The Wilderness Information Center will be open daily through Oct. 15, closing for the season on Oct. 16.

After Oct. 15, hikers should visit the Visitor Center in Port Angeles for assistance with planning, wilderness use permits and animal resistant food containers.

Heart O” The Hills, Hoh, Kalaloch and Mora campgrounds remain open all winter, with running water and flush toilets available.

Other campgrounds, including Elwha, North Forks, Ozette, Sol Duc and Staircase remain open but provide pit toilets only and no running water.

The Altair, Deer Park and Fairholm campgrounds close for the season by the end of October.

The South Beach campground is already closed.

Obstruction Point Road will close to overnight parking beginning Monday. The road will be open daily as weather allows but will close at dusk each day.

Deer Park Road will close for the season Oct. 31, or earlier if weather requires.

The Hurricane Ridge Road, which is now open 24 hours a day, will close to overnight use as the weather become colder and snow begins to fall.

A winter schedule for the Ridge and the Ridge Road will be announced later.

All other park roads remain open, except for Queets Road, which is closed at Matheny Creek bridge because of storm damage, and the Dosewallips Road, which is closed because of a washout outside the park boundary.

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