Hurricane Ridge

Good paved trail. Great views. Show up early for decent parking. Bring bear spray for the mountain lions. Bring water.

If there is any mountain trail that you are considering to do in the Olympic area this is it. There are switch backs closed to the summit and only that part is quite exhausting. But the view is rewarding. We also encountered a snowy slope in June. The trail signs went missing from there on, so we had to improvise a few meters. Hiking poles are really useful. We were told by frequent hikers that you can see a bear if you are in luck, and indeed we did! As we were returning back to the starting point a mama bear and her cub was standing next to the trail. We were prepared with a bear spray and container. We had a very safe encounter. Parking area is large enough. There are toilets and a potable water area.

Easily one of the best experiences i had with nature. Went on a cloudy day and the clouds were just swimming around. On a sunny day i guess the experience will be different, definitely beautiful but different. Felt lucky to have experienced or seen something like this

This place is beautiful and a must visit if you are going to the Olympic National Park! Just be aware of huge crowds during a weekend or holidays: the entrance is metered and the waiting time at the gate could be hours due to the limited parking lots on the top of the mountain. It is also easy to see wildlife on trails .

Spectacular range of mountains clearly visible in an open weather and providing a magnificent view of the snow clad mountains. On other side is the ski range (in winter) and we spotted a lot of deers and elk in the summer time. An easy drive up north from Port Angeles to the top of the viewing point with ample parking space.

Stunning views. Make sure to check the vistor center before coming up to find out about night hikes to learn about the stars but its a beautiful area

We visited Hurricane Ridge on the second week of May. The trail was still partially covered with snow, no markings, and not paved, so we spent time appreciating at the magical snow-capped mountain ridges located just in the parking area of the visitor center. Clean and well-maintained restrooms are also available on the site. You'll experience foggy weather and winding road from the main entrance going up to the Hurricane Ridge, but it will be all worth it when you get to the top.

So beautiful, easy trail if interested, but you can enjoy the views without any hiking or walking

I loved my day here at Hurricane Ridge. Even the 18 mile drive from Port Angeles is beautiful with a couple scenic stops on the way. At an elevation of 5,242 feet, Hurricane Ridge is one of the two most visited areas in Olympic National Park. The Hoh Rainforest is the other one. Activities include hiking, skiing and snowboarding. Some people come up here just for the views. The main visitor center is at the beginning of the main road in Port Angeles. Hurricane Ridge is a mountainous in Olympic National Park. I drove up here to hike the popular 3.4-mile out-and-back Hurricane Hill Trail. There other trails in the area including a nature trail at the top. Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge and Visitor Center was sadly destroyed by fire in 2023. So there is only a temporary structure in its place. There are shuttles that will take you up here from Port Angeles if you don't want to drive. The view from Hurricane Ridge is amazing. There are some wildlife up here as well like Mule Deer. There are entrance stations that charge a fee to enter after you pass by the Visitor Center. Sometimes there can be a line.

Must-visit part of Olympic National Park - easily accessible by road from Port Angeles. We visited on our first afternoon in the area, and stopped by the ranger station on the way up to learn about the Park, collect maps, and buy our annual National Park pass ($80 - we break even if we visit two additional parks by next July). The drive was scenic, with yellow, purple and white wildflowers along the side of the road and on the steep slopes. As we climbed, we made sure we drove well below the speed limit because of the sharp and blind hairpin bends, and to stay out of the way of vehicles careening down the opposite way to get to other parts of this sprawling National Park. Once we got to the Ridge, we found parking and used the restrooms. Then we took in the beautiful surroundings - green meadows, gorgeous tree-covered slopes and valleys, and magnificent peaks, many snow-covered even in late July! Our family huddled and decided on a short hike, which allowed us to add in views looking north, towards the Juan de Fuca Strait and Victoria, BC (Canada!) beyond. More beauty than I can adequately describe here! The hike lasted almost an hour. It was a bright, warm day, and we were tired but happy to get back in our rental AWD SUV and drive slowly back down to our B&B in Port Angeles! Thank you, Hurricane Ridge, for a memorable start to our Olympic National Park visit.

Beautiful! Be warned the drive up (and especially down) is breathtaking, but frightening if you're nervous about heights. You are climbing up a huge mountain ridge and meandering up cliffs on the way to the top. But your reward will come when you experience the glory of the Olympic Mountains! This is the perfect location to watch the sun set, or view the stars. We went in July, and it was perfect weather. There are trails and sweeping views of Mt. Olympus with its glaciers. Bring a jacket, blanket, and maybe some camp chairs. There is an abundance of wildlife, but I'm happy to say I didn't encounter a bobcat. Important note--the visitors center burned down last year and they haven't built a new one. I heard it was a nice one. There are restrooms to replace though, and they were kept pretty decent. Come see nature in all its glory, if you dare! Lol

Mid July is not a good time to visit, the trails are free of icy snow but there's not much wild flowers there, even there are, the flowers are tiny and loosely bloomed along the trail. We managed to see deer and the chubby marmot.

Definitely a must-do in Olympic NP. The road up is long and very scenic. At the top, there are myriad trails leading from the expansive parking area - short easy ones and longer, steeper trails. Great view of the Olympic Mountains.

Hurricane Ridge has to be one of the most enchanting places I've ever visited with its wildflowers, clear blue skies, tree-covered hills and mountains in the distance. While walking along the trails, we even spotted some tame deer just several feet away from us. I was truly in awe the entire time. When we drove towards the entrance at 8:30A, a line of cars had already formed and were gradually admitted. (We visited during July, so it was peak time for tourists.) Once we finally got to the gates, the park ranger explained that they were letting cars proceed one at a time with at least 90 seconds between each one. From here, it was 15 miles uphill all the way to the parking lot at the top. You'll encounter many switchbacks and curves along the way, so take the drive carefully. When coming down, be extra careful as there are no barriers that would prevent you from flying off the cliffs. There are signs that recommend switching to low gear going downhill. Finally, we made it to the main parking area. A few months ago, the lodge here burned down and it still sadly remains in shambles. Due to this, a bunch of portable bathrooms are in the parking lot, which was limited to 375 cars. Luckily, we didn't have an issue finding a space. A short straight walk up the path from the parking lot will take you to a magnificent view of pristine hills. Two rangers stood here, helping guests with navigation and answering any questions. We started down the short Meadow Trail first, which was a good warm up. We then trekked up to Sunrise Point which had a fair amount of inclines and slopes, but rewarded us with an amazing view at the end. There were so many crickets hopping around in addition to some flies and bees. In the afternoon, we drove a few minutes to the Hurricane Hill Trail. It is apparently just 1.6 miles one way, but has a 5000+ foot elevation gain, so this one was relatively grueling and I'd consider it moderate difficulty for novice hikers like myself. Despite the path being fully paved, there are a number of inclines and there is not much shade. The scenery is beautiful though! You'll see lots of wildflowers and have an unobstructed view of the Olympic Mountains across the way. We were a little concerned after seeing a cougar warning posted at the beginning of the trail, but we only saw some deer, chipmunks and a marmot. There were also a ton of other hikers that we saw on our way up and back. After hiking and exploring from about 9:30A to 2:30P, we were thoroughly exhausted, but had such a memorable day. As one of the most popular spots at the Olympic National Park, this is a must regardless of whether you want to hike or just simply enjoy the views.

A very long hike but worth it at the end! On one of the hikes you can see Canada and snow at the end!

Post fire: Limited vehicle access. If you're not driving up the hill by 10am, it's just easier to take the bus that leaves every hour and it's convenient. Beautiful scenery, view is 10/10 and great for elderly who have trouble with the serious hikes in Olympic. There's been more wildlife that's crept up since the closure for a few months so keep your eyes peeled. The trails are very easy

Went in early august and it's just awesomeeeeeeee.. fantastic views and amazing nature . It can get a bit cold up there , even in peak summers. . There is a good cafe and a visitor center on top of this mountain. Really awesome place . Drive up wasn't that bad . Just drive slow in turns . Lots of view points before you end up in hurricane ridge . Loved the clouds and the whole thing was so photogenic ... there were some small trails to get better views but we stayed right next to the visitor center to take tons of pics ! Well worth it . Loved it . Thumbs up

Hurricane Ridge is a great area to explore while visiting Olympic National Park. It's one of the most easily accessible areas of the park as it's just a short drive from the Olympic National Park Visitor's Center. The views are picturesque and you'll be able to spot Mount Olympus right from the back deck of the building. This is also a great spot to purchase souvenirs and to grab snacks and water as the main visitor center lacks this. Hurricane Ridge is also a popular starting and ending point for several hiking trails. I hiked the Hurricane Ridge Trail and the views were fantastic. If you're looking to take a break and enjoy lunch with a view, this is is the perfect place for that. The deck features panoramic views of the gorgeous snow capped mountains. Lots of picnic areas and benches are available here. There's actually tons of parking, but with any National Park, it can fill up pretty quickly. Hurricane Ridge acts as a second visitor center with park rangers and access to maps and gifts. There's also a small restaurant where you can grab some food. The drive to Hurricane Ridge from the visitors center is absolutely lovely! A very windy but picturesque little adventure to day the least. If you're planning a visit to Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge is a great place to stop along your park tour.

Beautiful mountains Gods revelation of his Love to humanity my whole family decided to come and visit hurricane ridge every time we visit Washington state

Went in Dec 15th. You can drive to the upper parking lot and hike to the trail heads (about 1.5 miles). The roads are wet but not icy yet. The climb to the trail head is knee deep snow in some places and icy in others. Recommend good hiking shoes or maybe snow shoes.

If you're going out to the peninsula any time during the summer, you have to make a stop here! It only takes a couple of hours to see the views and walk the small trails. Visitor center is very nice and the abundance of deer is always fun.

Absolutely stunning views and great hiking in Olympic park. Imagine mountain vistas and ocean views. Excellent hiking. Went early so there was plenty of parking and it wasn't busy. It started getting busy at 11 am. Lodge has clean bathrooms and also great views. Highly recommend sunrise point.

The highlight of our trip and went up twice at sunset Spectacular and serene place! Pretty drive up and dawn with amazing views! A must!

Hurricane Ridge is a great place to be above the clouds, standing on a mountain and hike! This is part of the Olympic National Park so you'll need a day pass or a NP pass. Long, winding road up the mountain lands you at the top, which is Hurricane Ridge. Some easy trails are right next to the parking lot. There is a gift store, cafe and restrooms available. It's a short drive from the town. Deer will be right near you. Bring a jacket or hoodie even if it's summer! The temp drops 10-20 degrees up here.

Oh my...Hurricane Ridge I missed you so! It had been YEARS (some might say decades) since I'd been to The Ridge. But finally I found myself returning to beautiful northerly parts of the Olympic Peninsula, this time with my daughter in tow to show her its amazing beauty. We wanted to camp inside the National Park but (thanks covid) had to settle for a spot at the nearby Port Angeles KOA. From there, it was about an hour's drive to the tip-top of The Ridge - and totally worth it. The views at the top are absolutely astounding. With a good 180 degrees of forested and/or snowy peaks, blue skies (if you're lucky) and deep green valleys below I could literally have stood there all day. We also did a quick walk over to the other side of The Ridge (easily accessible via a mostly-level, paved path) for views to the north, over the Strait of Juan de Fuca and to Canada beyond. In this area we encountered actual, deep patches of SNOW (in June!) and a few hungry (but thankfully not carnivorous) deer. From this viewpoint we ambled across the snowy patches and up a slightly more rustic/steeper loop trail which eventually took us back down to the parking lot. We felt lucky to find ourselves alone on most of this trail (hello social distancing) and even got to watch two marmots frolicking in the summer grass. It was, well, sorta magical. After returning to the parking lot we hit the gift shop, with limited access and enforced masks and social distancing. There was some limited grab-and-go food availability in the former cafeteria area, and of course lots of souvenirs and sweatshirts to choose from. I picked up a new copy of a book I'd enjoyed years ago: "Across the Olympic Mountains." It's a great read if you like mountaineering/historical books. Hurricane Ridge is a gem of not only the peninsula and the Oly National Park but of the entire state, if you ask me. It's a must-visit and well worth the drive.

Hurricane Ridge is the heart and sole of Olympic National Park. It was the first destination on my itinerary and was a terrific starting point for exploring. Upon arriving here...I spent the evening just outside this Hurricane Ridge area in the town of Port Angeles. Port Angeles was great for grabbing any supplies and a lunch for then coming up here to Hurricane Ridge. To arrive here at Hurricane Ridge I had to drive the Hurricane Ridge Road for 20 miles uphill. I'd say this 20 mile trek took at least 30 - 40 minutes. Also, don't forget...upon driving this road...there'll be a "Welcome to Olympic National Park" sign early on right off the road that's definitely worthy of pictures to ensure that you actually made it here!!! Along the 20 mile drive...there's nothing to see in terms of roadside stops and pullovers. So...no need to worry about missing anything. Upon arriving at Hurricane Ridge...the parking lot can fill up quickly especially during the peak times of summer and over the weekends. I'd certainly recommend getting here early in the morning which I did around 8am and then had no issues getting a parking spot. What's absolutely wonderful about Hurricane Ridge is the overall scenery here. You're simply afforded fantastic views of the Olympic Mountain Range. In any which direction you look...there's moments to stop and appreciate how high up you feel....being sort of parallel to the clouds in the distance. I got fortunate visiting on a partly cloudy day over the summer. The clouds really elevated the entire setting. I was able to snap some wonderful pics of the clouds hovering in and out of the mountains. It felt pretty liberating to walk among the grounds at Hurricane Ridge. And yes, there were plenty of picnic tables situated all over...perfect for enjoying lunch and relaxing. Btw...there were deer roaming around and they were comfortable with people. You could walk up to them closely and they didn't run away...quite unusual for what you'd typically expect of deer. Regardless, please don't feed them as they'll become dependent on humans instead of scavenging for themselves. Hurricane Ridge is host to the primary Visitor Center of Olympic NP. Here you can grab all the gifts and souvenirs you may need, get your Parks Pass stamped, questions for Park Rangers answered, bathrooms and plenty of hikes, paths and walkways to enjoy the majestic backdrop. Behind the Visitors Center was beautiful for views. You can sit down along the ledge and just gaze out among the surroundings. Lots of tourists were taking family photos from this back porch area. On the other side of the parking lot were easy self guided trails going along Hurricane Ridge. All were short walks with no elevation...perfect for anyone and provided many opportunities for photos to bask among the great outdoors. My favorite hike that I'd recommend was situated 1 mile down the road from the Hurricane Ridge VC. It's called Hurricane Hill. From the VC...I actually drove this 1 mile and found parking (although this lot is small and filled up quickly after early morning) for starting this inspiring hike! This Hurricane Hill Trail was 3.2 miles round trip gaining about 650 feet in elevation. The hike started off nice and easy and it wasn't until near the end where the elevation really kicked in. Making it to the apex of Hurricane Ridge was gratifying...feeling like I was on top the world! But along the way this Hurricane Hill had amazing moments to capture pictures especially during early morning when the sun was rising and clouds broke away from the Olympic Mountain Range. Also, this hike and path was paved. Up at the top of Hurricane Hill were opportunities to explore in different directions...(lol, like a kid in a candy store)...I walked to a number of different viewpoints to appreciate the stunning landscape! Hurricane Hill was my most memorable moment among Hurricane Ridge. But...I highly recommend to those spending a good portion of the day here to grab lunch and groceries and enjoy eating and breathing in the fresh air at the picnic tables only after you do some worthwhile hiking, lol! Overall, I used about half of my day here at Hurricane Ridge. That was good enough for me. Though...whether you spend more or less time is according to your own itinerary and travel plans. As I'm sure everyone knows...Hurricane Ridge is the epicenter for discovering how beautiful Olympic National Park can be. There's no need to rush along your explorations as I don't believe things got much better than this place. From Hurricane Ridge, I did continue my journey of the Olympic Peninsula headed in a counter clockwise direction going towards the Lake Crescent section, eventually through Hoh Rain Forest and finally to the Pacific Northwest Beaches area over an extended weekend trip. Hurricane Ridge is certainly the main event of Olympic National Park. I recommend to all the adventurers out there to begin their itineraries starting here.

Hurricane Ridge is where everyone visits when traveling to the Olympic National Park, all for good reason. You're surrounded by mountains and hills, so someone is bound to bust out their Julie Andrews. My boyfriend and I visited the Olympic National Park and made Hurricane Ridge our first stop, as we were staying in Port Angeles, which is only about 45 minutes away from the city center. We started at the visitor's center where you can get more information from the rangers about where to go. The center is larger than other visitor's centers in the park, as it has a refreshments area, restrooms and gift store. There was also tons of parking. Visiting the visitor's center will provide you an amazing view of the ridge. But if you're up for it, I recommend hiking the Hurricane Hill trail. The Hurricane Hill trail has its own separate parking lot not far from the main visitor's center. But note that the parking lot gets full, since it's so much smaller. We were lucky to snag a spot as someone was leaving. We also arrived here around 9am. Get here early! The Hurricane Hill trail is pretty long; it took about an hour to hike up and reach the highest point. The last half mile of the trail is the hardest/steepest. Much of the trail is paved, so is wide enough for many people to use at once. Along the way you will see colorful wildflowers, wildlife, like deer, chipmunks, and marmots. It's a solid workout that'll have you sweating! The views are absolutely gorgeous. The mountains in the background with the clouds moving all around you makes you realize how high up you are. There was even snow when we visited in early July. So glad we were able to hike up Hurricane Hill trail, which is worth spending some time here and basking in the beauty of this national park. One of the bet hikes I've done. Bucket list item checked!

Well worth the drive, which in itself is special, and the views from the top are amazing. Nice visitor center with helpful Park personnel. This is probably a 5-star attraction if you are inclined to do some hiking while you are up there, but because of my wife's hip surgery we had to be content with just the area around the visitor center.

This is a "must-see" destination if you're staying in or near Port Angeles while visiting Olympic National Park. Our family (my wife, two sons - ages 14 and 12 years) and I had roughly 3 hours to spare, and drove 45 minutes to the upper visitor center from the Port Angeles visitor center (where you can pickup a map of the entire park, buy passes, or ask about weather conditions). Although we did not have time to hike the Hurricane Hill Trail, we walked across the road from the Visitor Center to enjoy gorgeous views of the water and British Columbia from the scenic overlook, enjoyed the Cirque Rim Trail (which had pretty wildflowers and deer eating peacefully), and climbed a short distance to reach Sunrise Point. The views of evergreens and mountains were magnificent in late July, and easy to access from short trails (less than 1 mile). Be sure to bring a fleece jacket with you as the temperature is much cooler at 5,400 feet than in Port Angeles. Also, be sure to put your smartphone on airplane mode as the network signal from Canada is stronger than Verizon Wireless (which means you'll incur roaming charges).

Absolutely Stunning Ridge. The views are outstanding to say the least. It is quite the long, windy to get there, but the road is excellent and to me it is absolutely worth it.

A phenomenal place to visit! The vistas and overall scenery make this a must do if you are in the area. Definitely one of my favorite parts of the Olympic National Park!

Loved it came her about twenty one years ago and wanted to revisit. Waterfalls, wild flowers, deers all over. And there info center there a restaurant with canned clam chowder that was okay. Lots of nice hiking trails . Hopefully I'll come back in less then 21 years .

We checked this must visit destination off the list recently. If visiting the Olympic National Park, visit Hurricane Ridge. There is an entry fee for a vehicle pass of $30.00. Take a drive up to the visitors center and enjoy endless breathtaking views, and wildlife. Bring hiking shoes, plenty of trails to enjoy! We saw plenty of dear, unfortunately no bear sightings. The visitors center has a bathroom, this is where you can get those amazing photo ops! Drive/walk past the visitors center, you'll find more hiking trails, more views, bathrooms and parking. Please be watchful of vehicle speed, we encountered lots of dear standing in and along the road.

Because of all the smokes we weren't able to see the Olympic mountains. They have a short trail you can stroll around across the visitor center. The gift shop were open and they have some good selection of merchandise. Hope to go back one day and get to see the beautiful mountains.

There are so many beautiful spots to hike and visit in Olympic National Park and this is one of them! It was beautifully breath-taking here! Husband, sister, and B-I-L's (Brother-In-Law's) did Hurricane Hill - Elwa Trail (that would be 12 miles round trip, but they opted to just do half of it, so bottom to top, for time sake) and since they were the first hikers of that path for the season (according to the Ranger) (in June believe it or not), they apparently lost the trail 3/4 of the way up. Thank goodness they managed to find their trail. This trail is a straight incline...ALL.The.Way.Up. They even hiked Hurricane Hill with me, our 1-year old, and my sister AFTER spending all morning and afternoon on their hike; our hike was shorter, 1.3 mile one-way from the parking lot to the summit. This shorter trail has a steady incline up to the summit, but has some flat spots and are not as crazy as the Elwa Trail. The views here are absolutely (PNW) spectacular. We hiked this on a weekday and saw about 3 dozen people here (I'm sure its more when school is out or during the weekends). On our way down and out of the park, we even saw a baby black bear with two cubs! This is def worth the stop! *Cost to enter the park, so buy a multi-day pass *Restrooms at the visitors center, but visitors center is not open 24-7 fyi *Bring water, snacks, and hiking shoes.

Hurricane Ridge has some amazing views - - like out of a scene from The Sound of Music. Parking is ample and free. The visitor center has a decent shopping space, bathrooms, some snack items, and people to answer your questions. From the parking lot, there are various hiking trails on which to wander. Because they have so many visitors, the wildlife are pretty tame and used to having their photos taken. You can easily come within a few feet of a deer who will just ignore you while she chills. As you walk along the paved paths, you can expect to walk through clouds while looking at packed snow in the middle of July. It's a fascinating and wonderful landscape that I highly recommend visiting.

This is one of the most beautiful areas in Washington. It's quite the drive from Seattle (about three and a half hours, including the ferry ride) but it's definitely worth it. The drive there has a lot to stop at on the way so you can break up the drive to make it easier. Hurricane Ridge is one of the few beauties you can drive right up to. Hiking into a destination is fun, but not always feasible. This allows you to drive right up to the views. There are a bunch of trails in the area for hiking. Some of which, are paved and pretty easy for beginners/those of us not in the best shape. You have to do the hike to Sunrise Point. It has the classic spine looking trail that's a just breathtaking. There's also a visitor center with a cafe and souvenirs. Please add this place to your list!

Just went on a Friday in august. Park opens at 7:15am. We got there at 8:10 am and made it in no problem w our car. They stopped letting any more cars in and closed the road up at 10am! They have a limit to the amount of cars allowed based on porta potty use (they fill up) since the visitors center burned down. Make sure to check info at the visitors center at the bottom of the hill and/or get there early! There's also a shuttle service that runs all day if the road is closed to cars.

Hurricane Ridge is a must visit if you are in the area. You can see glaciers, wildlife and easy hikes. i've observed black bears, marmots, and lots of deer in the many trips i've made here. if you are a "local", it's worth getting the yearly pass, which sometimes allows you to bypass the occasional long line to pay. It's a National Forest/Park with fees. During the summer, well most of the year, the snack bar & store is open. Every time i go, i tell myself, i need to come more often. it's about 45 minutes from Sequim & perhaps 20 minutes from Port Angeles.

This is such a beautiful place! The drive up to here is quite lovely and there's a ton of parking at the top. Several trails jut out from the parking lot and it was extraordinary to be seeing snow in the middle of summer! I highly recommend coming here for beautiful vistas, nice hiking trails, and some amazing photos!

Absolutely great views with a few trails at the top to enjoy. Unfortunately the Hurricane Hill Trail was closed for maintenance during our visit yesterday but still found a few others we enjoyed. I was surprised how crowded it was for a weekday as plenty of people on the trails, a very busy & crowded welcome center up top & a pretty full parking lot. It was much colder & windy up top so if you go just dress in layers. The drive up & down with plenty of spots to pull over was enjoyable as well. Overall very glad we went.

Beautiful place a nice short hike for kiddos an see some cool things along the way. A nice place for a short hike but there's a lot of view points as well. Definitely go for a little get away

Lovely view. You can see mountains at the peak which is not that far from the parking lot. Walking through the trail was very nice. We found deer very near to us. Some parts had snow still a year ago exactly. You can also keep going where the lookout and take beautiful pictures. It gets crowded but be patient. You will get a parking spot.

This hike is the best bang for your boots - it's not incredibly difficult yet you'll still be rewarded with stunning views. Oh yeah, and you drive on a paved road most of the way up. Me and my knobby knees were lovinnnnnn' it. Once you get to the trailhead, it's about a 1.5+ mile hike uphill. You'll have gorgeous alpine and mountain views all the way up, plus you'll pass a meadow. The top of the ridge has some rock formations that you can climb and take in the snow-capped mountains on one side and the brisk ocean on the other. On our way down, we took another path the veers to the right, which was much more lush and less-traveled. We came across a lot of wildlife too - like grouse, deer, rabbits and Olympic Marmots (which are only found in WA)! When we were heading out in the late afternoon, a lot of deer came out from all parts of the trails. One even poked it's head into our car!!! Enjoy the wildlife and drive slow. We went in mid-September but I imagine it's beautiful any time of the year.

Beautiful sightseeing spot just 45 minutes from Port Angeles! You do need a National Park Pass as you will go through the park entrance gates to get here. If you're lucky you'll see a mountain goat, but not for long as most have been airlifted to the Cascades and all others will be shot :( They are an invasive species and about a decade one gored a beloved community medical professional to death. Still sad to think there will no longer be goats up here in the future but I am not an environmental scientist so I defer to their knowledge about these things. There is a decent sized parking lot up here but arrive early for a guaranteed spot in peak months. Due to COVID-19 there are still lots of tourists making their way to these parts even though peak season is usually Memorial Day to Labor Day.

I'm so sooo glad I finally got to hike at the Hurricane Ridge of the 4 or 5 times I visited the Olympic National Park. This was actually the highlight of my visit of the most recent weekend that I visited the Olympic Peninsular over the 3-day weekend. The Hurricane Ridge is part of the Olympic National Park. To enter (assuming you bring a car), it costs $20 (valid for 7 days and for any other parts of the Olympic National Park like the Hoh Rainforest, too). You can also get in with Olympic National Park pass (I believe it's $40) or other interagency entrance fee (like the National Park pass), too. You can actually visit Hurricane Ridge without having to hike at all. There's a visitor center at the Hurricane Ridge right before you get into the center, so you can just stop by, grab some information and decide what trail or route you want to do. Hurricane Ridge is suitable for just campers, drivers who just want to do it for scenic views, or hikers who want some exercise alike. We chose to hike up the Hurricane Hills, which was leads to one of the highest points (if not the highest!) on the Hurricane Ridge. The Hurricane Hills itself was about 1.5 miles in length and about 1,000 ft in elevation. The trail can be a little sleep at some point, but it was not too difficult if you keep a manageable pace and not trying to rush hiking up the hills. I saw many children below 5 years old were actually able to climb up..so if they could do it, you could do it, too! The top of the trail leads to quite an amazing, breathtaking view. You can see Port Angeles, the backdrop of the mountains, and even the British Columbia (if the sky is clear), too. Along the route, we also got to see different animals like winter wrens (a type of birds), marmots, chipmunk and deer. The animals were super cute and were actually not timid at all. I'd definitely go back to Hurricane Bridge again during my next visit in the Olympic Peninsular. The one thing though...this place is probably best to visit in the summer (and not when it's rainy--not too many roofs to cover your heads and not when it's cold and snowy -- the path going up is quite narrow, serpentine and steep...so it's definitely not a good idea to visit during the winter, especially for a 2-wheeled drive car). Overall, beautiful place with excellent view of the Olympic Peninsula. There are lots of options for you to choose (just hiking, camping or sightseeing) and definitely a destination worthwhile a visit!

This is possibly my favorite mountain area. When I went there I felt like I was on an island in the clouds. There was a ton of fog surrounding. We were floating on air :)

Decided to take advantage of a beautiful 80-plus degree Sunday to visit the Olympic National Park's Hurricane Ridge. This is my second visit and the kiddo's first ever visit. We stopped at the Visitor's Center to get some info from the extremely helpful ranger. Then we briefly waited in line five miles up the road to pay for our park entrance fee. This costs $20 per vehicle and good for up to seven days. Beautiful drive all the way up and still early in the season that it wasn't too crowded. Mostly cars, few RV/trailers, several motorcycles. Just be cautious on the curvy roads and three tunnels - especially for those hardy cyclists making the climb to the top! Lots of parking once you arrive at Hurricane Ridge where another Visitor's Center is located which also has an interpretive center, gift shop, and café. We took advantage of the clear viewpoints along the trail and took lots of photos. We were able to see across the Strait towards Canada, Mount Baker, and of course, the amazing Olympic Mountain Range. Glorious and highly recommended if you find yourself on the Olympic Peninsula (Port Townsend, Sequim, Port Angeles area). The entire national park is a treasure, but Hurricane Ridge makes it accessible for folks who want to take in a day trip or hike.

Stunning Only thing- make sure you make good timing so you can see the mountains nice and clear. Also if you're lucky you might see some wildlife!

Fun 5200ft destination in northern Olympic Nat'l Park only 17 mi by road from sea level Port Angeles. Winter& Summer Outdoors

Normally pretty cloudy, one day this guy parked his snowmobile right on top of my Prius. It's totaled, but this place is totally beautiful. I drive a Ford F-250 now so it's all good.

Beautiful park to visit and hike! Easy to moderate trails. Family friendly. Lots of wildlife!

Excellent sightseeing. Try to do it on a clear day but also realize everyone in the area has that same idea. Busy days can be a long wait at the guard tower. Winter is a great time to go up there with less tourist traffic and lots of snow all season. The gift shop and cafeteria are well-maintained and moderately priced along with excellent customer service.

What an adventure! I loved this drive and adventure up the mountain. The views are stunning and the deer that hang out everywhere are almost magical. We stopped at the Switchback Trail and it was absolutely beautiful the way you get to walk over the falls. Wow. I cannot wait to go back. My kids had the best time playing in the snow. How fun to be up here in Spring with snow everywhere. This place is one of my new favorites!

Hurricane Ridge is one of my most favorite places! The views are pure magic. I would recommend this trip to anyone and any age. You won't regret it!

We went during the Labor Day weekend and it was packed. I would recommend getting to the parking lot around 9 am. Plenty of hiking and a great view of the mountains on a clear day! This is a must if you are visiting from the Port Angeles side. We stayed in Seqium and it was close enough option for the park.

The most stunning views in Olympic National Park are at Hurricane Ridge. The name of the Ridge is due to the hurricane strength winds that blast it during the winter. From Seattle, you can see the Olympic Mountains to the west. Even from a distance, the majesty of the Olympics cannot be diminished. Of course, their magnificence is only magnified with an up close view of the mountains. While you see the east side of the mountain range from Seattle, you get views of the west side of the mountains from Hurricane Ridge. It is incredible that a drivable and walkable ridge formed parallel to the very rocky and impassable Olympics to provide eye level views of the snowcapped peaks of the mountain range. In addition, the sharp contrast between the overarching, lush green of the countless number of pine trees and the eternal white of the snow is truly a sight to behold. Even if it is cloudy in Port Angeles, it may be sunny up on Hurricane Ridge because it has an elevation of 5,242 feet. You can check with the Olympic National Park Visitor Center down in Port Angeles on the conditions at the top. My friend and I experienced a day with this contradictory weather. It was a gloomy Pacific Northwest overcast in Port Angeles. As we drove up the road to Hurricane Ridge, we drove slowly because we went through the cloud and it was basically like trying to drive in thick fog with questionable visibility. However, we emerged out of the cloud and were suddenly hit with the spectacular, sunny views of Hurricane Ridge. It was like a fairy tale story when the protagonists go through a disconcerting experience by entering a portal to the unknown but become awestruck when they get transported to a magical place. It is a 45 minute drive to Hurricane Ridge from Visitor Center to Visitor Center. You will get unparalleled views of the mountain range around the Visitor Center up on the ridge. There are short trails across from the Visitor Center. Definitely take the brief walk up the High Ridge Trail (0.5 mile loop) to Sunrise Point. It offers a great view of the valley and road you drove up to get to the ridge. In addition, walk around the short Cirque Rim Trail (0.5 mile one way) to enjoy views of Vancouver Island and British Colombia to the north on a clear day. While the elevation and views around the Visitor Center will take your breath away, I highly recommend driving the 1 1/2 miles down the end of the narrow road for the trailhead to Hurricane Hill. It is only a 3.1 mile hike round trip to the Hill and back. The trail is mostly flat. Most of the elevation change occurs near the end but there are manageable switchbacks that help. Nonetheless, the challenge of the hike is more about breathing at a higher elevation [again, the 5,200+ feet] than the elevation change. Hurricane Hill is at an elevation of 5,757 feet. However, I still assess the difficulty of the hike as moderate at best. It is likely easy for regular hikers. Of course, the views at the higher elevation of Hurricane Hill is certainly worth it. It took my friend and I 2 hours to complete the hike. I will qualify that time by noting that we went at a very leisurely pace to take in the beauty and snap a lot of pictures. It took us 30 minutes to get from the top back to the beginning of the traillhead when we stop sparingly for pictures. If you are visiting Olympic National Park and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile.