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Olympic Park & Forest:
What’s the difference?
The National Forest system is based on multiple uses (including, logging, grazing, recreation, preservation) while the National Parks are only for recreation and preservation. There is overlap but the missions are different. The Parks are generally more scenic and with far more restrictions on use. Forests often have multiple use - more roads, timber harvest, cattle grazing, hunting and fishing and other public uses such as tree/mushroom/berry picking etc.
Northwest Forest Pass
National Park Passes
recreation.gov
Vehicle access into the Olympic National Park within the Hood Canal area is at Staircase. Located at the far end of Lake Cushman accessed via Hwy 119 from Hoodsport, there are a variety of pass options to enter:
Olympic National Park Annual Pass $55 – 12 month vehicle pass for the ONP only.
Vehicle Pass $30 – 1 vehicle/7 days
Motorcycle $25 – motorcycle and driver for 7 consecutive days
Person Pass $15 – One person on foot or bike for 7 (kids 15 and under free)
Wilderness Camping Permit - $8/person per night plus $6/permit fee (15/under free)
Passes to enter ONP are sold at Staircase Ranger Station. Other areas of the Olympic National Park may be accessed by foot via a number of trailheads beginning in the National Forest. No fee is required to walk into the Park for day use.
America The Beautiful Annual $80
This pass covers federal lands such as National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and BLM areas throughout USA. Use for ONP trails requiring a NW Forest Pass.
Overview courtesy of hoodcanaladventures.com
Required at U.S. Forest Service (USFS) trailheads in Washington that offer facilities such as restrooms, pit toilets and picnic tables. Annual pass costs $30 and day passes are offered at $5. Purchase a NW Forest Pass at Hood Canal Adventures (Brinnon); USFS Ranger Station (Quilcene); Eldon Store, Hoodsport Visitor Center (Hoodsport); and N Mason Visitor Center (Belfair). fs.usda.gov.
The following local trailheads require NW Forest or America The Beautiful:
Big Creek 4 Mile Trail (Lake Cushman)
Mt. Ellinor, Upper (Lake Cushman)
Big Quilcene (Quilcene)
Skokomish Lower South Fork
Lena Lake / Brothers (Hamma Hamma)
Mildred Lakes (Hamma Hamma)
Duckabush Trail (Duckabush Rec)
Ranger Hole (Duckabush Rec. Olympic