Olympic National Park sources

Obstruction Point Road will be fully open to public access this Friday, July 26.

Road crews are nearly finished clearing and grading the road surface between the Waterhole picnic area and the road’s terminus at the Obstruction Point trailhead.   

The first three miles of road were re-opened for the summer season on July 19.

The timeline for opening the Obstruction Point Road this year has been dependent on natural snowmelt. The road has not been plowed due to reductions in supplies and materials funding, as well as reduced maintenance staffing as a result of the mandatory five percent budget sequester.

In applying the five percent cut, park staffers have given highest priority to protecting public, staff and partner safety. Park staffers are also working hard to minimize impacts on park visitors and local communities.

Current road information is available by calling Olympic National Park’s recorded information line at 565-3131 or online at nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/current-road-conditions.htm.

The Obstruction Point Road is Olympic National Park’s highest elevation road, leading from Hurricane Ridge (5,242 feet above sea level) about eight miles east to Obstruction Point at 6,150 feet. It is typically open mid-July through mid-October, depending on snow and weather conditions.