Mount Olympus from Hurricane Ridge © Shutterstock
Attractions: Visitor Center, Driving, Biking, Hiking
If you have to choose just one area of the park to visit, make it Hurricane Ridge. Some of the most spectacular vistas are available here as you peer across river-carved valleys to the glacier-capped peak of Mount Olympus. The 17-mile Hurricane Ridge Road is an attraction in and of itself. Great for motorists, and a challenge for cyclists, it begins in Port Angeles. An avid biker can climb from sea level to 5,242-feet in about 20 miles. Rest your legs while soaking in the views from Hurricane Ridge before making the exciting descent back to sea level (make sure your brakes work properly, because you’ll need them). The main deterrent for exploring Hurricane Ridge is Mother Nature. The region earned its name thanks to winds that can gust up to 75 miles per hour and as much as 30 – 35 feet of snow falls here annually.
Hurricane Ridge Road is open 24 hours a day between June and October. For the rest of the year it is primarily open on weekends (weather permitting). Call (360) 565-3131 for up-to-date road and weather conditions.
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center offers exhibits, an introductory film, and restrooms. It’s open all year. Hours typically run from 9am – dusk in summer and 9:30am – 5pm in winter when the road is open. Interpretive programs are offered from late June to September. Snowshoe and ski rental are available at the gift shop in winter.
Hurricane Ridge is an excellent area for hiking. Cirque Rim, Big Meadow (accessible with assistance), and High Ridge Trails are all one mile or less roundtrip. Klahhane Ridge Trail heads down toward Heart O’ the Hills and intersects Lake Angeles/Heather Park Loop after 3.8 miles (one-way). Hurricane Hill Trail (accessible with assistance) is a paved 3.2-mile (roundtrip) flat path with panoramic views. At the very end of Hurricane Ridge Road you can pick up Little River (8 miles, one-way) or Hurricane Hill/Elwha (5.8 miles, one-way) Trails, which lead to Little River Road and Elwha, respectively.