Your first experience when visiting Olympic National Park will likely be the twisting, turning road that takes you up a 7% grade to the sky-high summit. The visitor center sits at 5,242 feet (1,598 meters) of elevation. From this vantage point on a clear day, you can see the Olympic Mountains and the Salish Sea, also known as the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The Pacific Northwest is known for its soggy weather, which is better for vegetation than visibility. From Hurricane Ridge the views may not always stretch far, but the wildflower-strewn meadows and hiking trails at your feet are beautiful. Snow-covered peaks provide scenic backdrops for much of the year.
Summer means hiking at Hurricane Ridge. Pick up a map and get the latest updates from a ranger at the visitor center then set off on an alpine adventure. Hike Hurricane Hill for 360-degree views across the strait toward Victoria, Canada, and southwest toward Mount Olympus. Look for lupine, Indian paintbrush and avalanche lilies as you walk along the ridgeline, through glacially carved valleys and past subalpine lakes. Listen for the numerous marmots, known by their distinctive shrieking whistle. More hiking trails are available from Obstruction Point Road, which forks off the main road before the visitor center.
Hurricane Ridge is less accessible in the winter months, with the road opening Friday through Sunday and on Monday holidays. Check the road conditions before arrival via a 24-hour status phone number. Snow sport enthusiasts come for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding, as well as downhill skiing and snowboarding at the Hurricane Ridge Ski, Snowboard and Tubing area.
Find Hurricane Ridge 30 miles (32 kilometers) south of Port Angeles. The road is open at all times during the spring, summer and early fall, weather permitting. Winter hours are typically mid morning to dusk, unless inclement weather conditions force a road closure. Purchase an Olympic National Park entrance pass, good for one week, at the Heart O’ the Hills entrance gate. Stop at the visitor center for information, snacks, water and gifts.
