Subalpine Vistas from Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is one of the most visited places within the Olympic National Park in Washington. THIS is the area to visit if you would like to see the mountainous parts of the park. Hurricane Ridge gets its name from the unpredictable weather here. The area is known for strong winds, clouds and snow. As such, you might want to check the weather forecast before you plan your drive to the ridge.

On a clear day, the views are the highlight of this part of the national park on the Olympic Peninsula. Hurricane Ridge offers panoramic views of the Olympic Mountain Range, and if you know where to look you might even spot the summit of Mount Olympus that is quite well hidden by other mountains and ridges.

Hurricane Ridge is open throughout the summer allowing you to drive up to the visitor center, take in the views and even hike the many trails in the area. However, in the winter it is only open Fridays to Sundays and certain holidays, weather permitting. If you go during the winter months, there’s skiing, snowshoeing and sledding to be done here.

The drive to the top of the Ridge

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Hurricane Ridge lies in the northeastern part of the national park and has to be accessed from the outside of the park. There are no roads crisscrossing this almost-a-million-acre park. You drive around the park and take the road to get to the points on your itinerary. 

Our morning drive to the ridge was a pleasant one. The 17-mile route to the top started at some wooded areas and then it hugged some mountainsides till we got to the top. The wilderness at the bottom of the ridge was a reminder of the amount of rain these parts receive every year. The overlooks beside Hurrican Ridge Road pointed out to the mountains in the area, the Strait of San Juan de Fuca/Salish Sea and even British Columbia in Canada.

And at the end of the drive was a stunning panorama of the Bailey Range thanks to the clear day that it was. 

Later, we took in sights from a few more overlooks around the ridge, did a short walk through a small sub-alpine meadow that had plenty of wildflowers, and we even hit the Cirque Rim Trail, before we left there. 

How to explore Hurricane Ridge

1. Take a panoramic shot of the Bailey Range

The view Bailey Range is one of the most celebrated sights on Hurricane Ridge. If the weather conditions are perfect, the mountain range that resembles the serrated blade of a knife, can be seen from the parking lot, the visitor center and several of the hiking trails in the area.

2. Spot Mt. Olympus in the distance

This is also one of the most popular, as well as easy to get to spots to spot the tallest mountain of the Olympic Range. Mt. Olympus might be 7980 ft. in height but sighting it is a bit of a challenge because of the other mountains surrounding it.

If you have no intention of hiking to it, some of the best views of Mt. Olympus can be got from Hurricane Ridge and the trails around here.

3. Take in the vistas behind the visitor center

After taking in the Bailey Ridge and spotting Mt. Olympus, you might want to head to the patio behind the visitor center for from there you get a different perspective of the surroundings. Here you go a little downhill from the parking lot so the mountains look loftier and you get a closer look at some of those tree-covered ridges.

4. Walk through the Big Meadow Trail

The Big Meadow Trail across the parking lot from the visitor center is a great place to walk through to enjoy the area and its vegetation. The trail is just a quarter-mile one and it is paved so it is a trail for everybody. If you are there in the summer you are going to be walking through lots of wildflowers that adorn the meadow.

You also get some great views of the surrounding mountains.

5. Spot Unicorn Peak and Unicorn

Further north from the big meadow is an overlook from which you can catch some other popular views of Hurricane Ridge. Using the information board there, you can look for Unicorn Peak, Unicorn Horn — another formation beside it — and Griff Peak on the ridge before you.

6. Enjoy vistas of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and British Columbia

Further east of the Unicorn Peak, Unicorn Horn and Griff Peak, you can sight the city of Port Angeles, the Strait of Juan de Fuca (that marks the boundary between the US and its neighbour in the north), and Southwestern Canada.

7. Hike the Cirque Rim Trail

After taking photographs of the peaks and the watery international border, continue on the Cirque Rim Trail for more mountain air, exercise, and more subalpine sights. Look at the trees and plants, wildflowers and also for the ski-lifts-towers that look like they belong to another age.

8. Keep your eyes peeled for some fauna native to the area

While you walk the trails of Hurricane Ridge, keep an eye out for local wildlife. We happened to see an elk and some Olympic marmots while we were there. 

You might be able to see Black-tailed deer, Black Bears, Olympic Chipmunks, and many birds while you are here.

Did you know: That this is also where you go to see an Olympic Marmot that is endemic to the Olympic Peninsula? 😉

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9. Try out more Hikes in the area

Big Meadow Trail and Cirque Rim Trail might be the most popular trails for they are short and wheelchair/ stroller accessible. However, if you would like to hike some more, there is the High Ridge Trail, the hike to Sunrise Point, and to Klahhane Ridge.

10. Don’t forget to step into the visitor center

Also, don’t forget to visit the visitor center for your souvenirs and more information about Hurricane Ridge or how to see the rest of this National Park.

Linking to —
Our World
My Corner of the World

You might also want to visit —
Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rainforest
Olympic National Park’s official site

More–
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