Visitors who plan to visit the Pointe Du Hoc Ranger Monument should be advised of the following updates:

Visitor access to the grounds has also been limited due to noticeable degradation of the site caused by foot traffic.

Why have these steps been taken?

In 2019, the staff at Normandy American Cemetery (NOAC) observed a very noticeable degradation of the site caused mostly by foot traffic beyond established walking paths. Erosion and deformation of the craters were also reported. It was decided by the agency to limit the passage of visitors where many trails had been made and to protect the bomb craters in hopes that the sight would begin to naturally repair over time. Since then, there has been some positive improvement.

In September 2021, ABMC began additional research with the goal of opening access to the craters to visitors again while managing further degradation.

On October 26, 2022, new interpretive panels were installed along the walkways that lead to the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument. These panels improve the site experience, ensuring visitors do not miss the stories of the American Rangers who scaled the 100-foot cliffs, and helping us ensure that their legacy lives on.

Buildings and structures were also studied to assess the safety of visitors as they toured them.
Several were found to be unsafe. It was decided to install fencing to protect both the resource and visitors until an upcoming multiyear restoration project is complete that is scheduled to begin in 2023.

In March 2023, due to significant natural landslides, the pedestrian path (in red below) from the “Flakstellung/Rudder” bunker to the observation bunker was closed for safety reasons and another access path constructed (in blue). A large landslide in November 2023 forced the closing of the platform on the Flakstellung/Rubber bunker to the visiting public.

Welcoming visitors in the safest way possible and that ensures the preservation of these sacred sites is of utmost importance.

If you have any questions, please send contact our staff directly at +33 (0)2 31 51 62 00 or send an email to NormandyVisits@abmc.gov.

To learn about the operational status for all ABMC cemeteries, please visit: www.abmc.gov/operational-status.