⚠️ Conditions & Alerts
Always verify current conditions before heading out. Update this page on WiFi.
Open this page on WiFi before every trip. The service worker will silently refresh the latest closures, restrictions, and alerts in the background. Content below reflects March 2026 — real-time changes appear after your next WiFi update.
Seasonal Road Closures
- 🏔️Hurricane Ridge Road: Closes November–May depending on snowpack. Call (360) 565-3131 for current status. Weekend winter openings possible with plowing.
- 🌲Obstruction Point Road: Open July–October only, weather permitting. 8-mile unpaved road — high clearance recommended.
- 🛣️Sol Duc Road: Open year-round to Sol Duc Falls. Upper road may close in winter storms.
- 🌊Hoh Road (Upper): Open year-round, but flooding possible December–February. Check conditions.
Permit Requirements
Entry Fee: Olympic National Park charges a $35 vehicle fee (valid 7 days) or use an America the Beautiful Pass. Fee applies at all entrance stations.
- 📋Day hikers: No permit required. Sign wilderness permits at trailhead registers on backcountry-access trails.
- 🏕️Overnight backpacking: Wilderness permit required. Available at all ranger stations. Peak season quotas on popular routes.
- 🏖️Ozette Coast Route: Overnight permit required. Quota system — reserve at nps.gov/olym or walk up at Ozette Ranger Station.
- 🎣Fishing: Washington State fishing license required. Separate tribal fishing regulations apply on reservation lands.
Fire Restrictions
- 🔥Front-country campgrounds: Campfires generally allowed in established fire rings. Never leave unattended.
- 🚫Backcountry above 3,500 ft: Campfires typically prohibited May 1–Oct 31. Stove use only.
- 🌡️Drought/smoke events: Stage 1 or 2 fire restrictions may be declared July–September. Check nps.gov/olym for current stage.
- 🪵Firewood: Use only dead wood found on-site. Do not bring firewood from outside the park (pest quarantine).
Weather Patterns
- 🌧️Hoh / Quinault: Wettest spots in the contiguous US — 140–170 inches of rain per year. Gear for rain any month.
- ☀️Rain shadow: Sequim and the north coast receive only 16 inches/year due to the Olympic rain shadow. Dramatically drier.
- ❄️High country: Snow possible at elevation any month. Hurricane Ridge averages 30+ feet of snow annually.
- 🌫️Fog: Coastal areas frequently foggy in summer mornings. Usually burns off by noon.
- ⚡Thunderstorms: Less common than inland WA but can develop quickly over the mountains. Get off ridgelines if lightning.
Current Information Sources
When you have signal, verify conditions at:
- 🌐nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/conditions.htm — Official NPS conditions page, updated daily
- 🥾wta.org — Washington Trails Association trip reports from real hikers
- ☁️forecast.weather.gov — NOAA point forecasts for specific trailheads
- 📞ONP Road & Trail Conditions Hotline: (360) 565-3131