OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Olympic National Park has increased the number of vehicles that can enter the Hurricane Ridge parking lot from 315 to 345 per day.
Portable toilet capacity has been closely monitored and 30 more vehicles per day can be accommodated, according to the park in a press release issued Wednesday.
In the first week, the vehicle quota has been reached as early as 10 a.m. and as late as 12:15 p.m., the park said. Wait times to enter have varied between no wait time and 1.5 hours.
“The first week of operation did include a holiday weekend, which increased visitation numbers,” the park said in the release.
The Clallam Transit shuttle to Hurricane Ridge has been operating six shuttles per day from The Gateway transit center in Port Angeles at the corner of Front and Lincoln streets. The average ridership has been 245 people per day.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive early in the morning to gain entry to Hurricane Ridge. The first 175 vehicles can enter without waiting, but the next 170 vehicles will experience wait times due to parking lot capacity.
Visitor capacity at Hurricane Ridge is limited because after the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burned down on May 7, the area was left without utilities. Portable toilets have a limited capacity.
