Submitted by Olympic National Forest
The Olympic Peninsula is a great destination for that last long weekend of the summer season, and the Olympic National Forest offers these tips to help enjoy the national forest and other public lands safely and responsibly.
Fire danger continues to be high.
Restrictions on campfires on campgrounds and in dispersed areas are for everyone’s protection. Fuels remain very dry throughout the Olympic Peninsula; therefore, campfires are prohibited forest wide. Gas stoves are permitted. There are currently no large fires on the Olympic National Forest. Research your route, and plan alternatives in case conditions change. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to return – ask them to monitor the news and alert authorities if needed, or if you don’t return as expected.
Expect crowds.
High use is always expected on Labor Day weekend and with more people visiting the outdoors higher than usual visitation is expected. Even in dispersed areas, suitable campsites could be few and far between. If you’re headed outdoors, pack your patience – have a plan, and have a backup plan. Don’t ruin your weekend by arriving unprepared!
Recreate responsibly.
If you aren’t familiar with the 10 Outdoor Essentials, the seven principles of Leave No Trace, or Smokey Bear’s fire prevention tips, now is a good time to review these responsible recreation basics and the Recreate Responsibly guidelines. You can also find activity-specific tips for everything from hunting to hiking to horseback riding on the Tread Lightly website. This includes packing out all trash and following forest orders, including the alcohol prohibition along the Lake Cushman Corridor.
Take your time as you get know the many outdoor opportunities on your national forest and be a responsible recreationalist to help keep forests available for everyone to explore.
To learn more about the Olympic National Forest, visit the Forest Service website. For alerts and notices, follow us @olympicforest.
