LOCAL NEWS

Hurricane Ridge reopens, reaches capacity within 3 hours

Jun 27, 2023, 8:35 AM | Updated: 10:44 am

hurricane ridge lodge reopening...

The National Park Service announced Thursday that while "significant work remains to be done," they are working as fast as possible to safely reopen the area (Photo from the National Park Service)

(Photo from the National Park Service)

Update 10:38 a.m.:

Within three hours of reopening, Hurricane Ridge has already reached it’s capacity of visitors due to the park’s daily restroom limit.

The National Park Service at Hurricane Ridge tweeted out at 8:17 a.m., a little over an hour after opening they had reached half capacity. At 10 a.m., they announced that the road was closed to private vehicles due to the “daily sanitation limit.”

Original:

After a fire at a lodge in Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge closed the area indefinitely, officials are now saying the park is now reopen starting June 27.

The National Park Service (NPS) announced at the beginning of June that while “significant work remains to be done,” they are working as fast as possible to reopen the area to visitors safely.

Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in Olympic National Park destroyed

According to the NPS, access to the Hurricane Ridge area will remain closed beyond the Heart O’the Hills entrance station for the time being.

On May 7, the Day Lodge at Hurricane Ridge — a 71-year-old visitor center at Olympic National Park — erupted in flames. The fire was first reported by a law enforcement ranger on patrol. Both Clallam County Fire District 2 and Port Angeles Fire Department responded to the fire. By the time the crews arrived, the building had collapsed to the foundation. While the fire was quickly contained, with the fire only spreading minimally, the building was lost.

The Day Lodge was a two-story, 12,201-square-foot historic structure built in 1952. It was closed to visitors as it was undergoing an extensive rehabilitation project funded through the Great American Outdoors Act.

Officials originally said that the area would be closed indefinitely while they worked to “assess and mitigate any hazards to ensure the area is safe for the public” as well as determine what had caused the fire at the lodge.

“Investigators are at the site looking into the cause of the fire,” Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs said. “We’re also figuring out how to provide restrooms, how to manage parking, and how to eventually remove the lodge debris.”

Third-party certified fire investigators, alongside the NPS’ Regional Structure Fire Program Manager, are currently examining the site to determine the cause and origin of the blaze.

Hurricane Ridge is one of the most easily accessed mountain areas within Olympic National Park, frequently visited by both tourists and residents for its fantastic scenic views — in clear weather. Hurricane Ridge is located 17 miles south of Port Angeles. There are eight hiking trails tied to Hurricane Ridge, ranging from less than a mile to nearly 10 miles, and one camping ground.

Sen. Cantwell: WA will be ‘epicenter of severe wildfires’ in summer

While Hurricane Ridge is a popular area in Olympic National Park, with more than 300,000 visitors annually, there are 600 miles of hiking trails in other areas of the park, including the Pacific Coast, the lush forests of the Elwha and Sol Duc valleys.

“We want visitors to return to Hurricane Ridge, but we expect things to look different this summer. There will likely be limits on the number of vehicles that can visit the ridge each day,” Jacobs said. “There will also be some days when the road is fully closed due to debris removal. We ask that visitors keep an eye on our website for any alerts.”

Park access is currently limited to only 315 cars per day due to limited restroom capacity.

Local News

Image: A Seattle Police vehicle...

Frank Sumrall

Report: Seattle Police ended contract with AI service after Auderer’s comments

SPD canceled its contract with Truleo less than a month after Officer Daniel Auderer's comments about Jaahnavi Kandula's death were captured, a report says.

7 hours ago

Washington wildfires...

Ted Buehner

Maui and Spokane: 2 public warning systems and the need for preparedness

The tragic wind-whipped Maui wildfire last month took many lives. How does the public warning system here shape up in comparison?

9 hours ago

spd auderer...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle Police Officer Daniel Auderer reassigned

Daniel Auderer, the officer who made inappropriate comments over the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, has been reassigned to a non-operational position.

11 hours ago

Muskox calf...

Bill Kaczaraba

Meet Willow: Tacoma zoo’s new muskox calf is big enough to wander

Earlier this month, Charlotte the muskox gave birth to a female calf at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma. The calf, named Willow, is healthy.

12 hours ago

pierce county humane society...

Julia Dallas, KIRO 7 News

Pierce County Humane Society asking for help after 13 puppies rescued in 48 hours

The Tacoma and Pierce County Humane Society is asking for help after it received 13 puppies in 48 hours, all abandoned.

13 hours ago

Artificial Intelligence AI...

Bill Kaczaraba

UW researcher examines AI’s impact on teen learning

One University of Washington researcher says she believes, if used correctly, Artificial Intelligence can help teen students learn.

13 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Swedish Cyberknife...

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

September is a busy month on the sports calendar and also holds a very special designation: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Ziply Fiber...

Dan Miller

The truth about Gigs, Gs and other internet marketing jargon

If you’re confused by internet technologies and marketing jargon, you’re not alone. Here's how you can make an informed decision.

Education families...

Education that meets the needs of students, families

Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA) is a program of Omak School District that is a full-time online public school for students in grades K-12.

Emergency preparedness...

Emergency planning for the worst-case scenario

What would you do if you woke up in the middle of the night and heard an intruder in your kitchen? West Coast Armory North can help.

Innovative Education...

The Power of an Innovative Education

Parents and students in Washington state have the power to reimagine the K-12 educational experience through Insight School of Washington.

Medicare fraud...

If you’re on Medicare, you can help stop fraud!

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion each year and ultimately raises the cost of health care for everyone.

Hurricane Ridge reopens, reaches capacity within 3 hours