Hurricane Ridge Olympic National Park, Washington
At 5,242 feet on the north edge of the Olympic Peninsula, Hurricane Ridge is where Olympic National Park reveals a completely different face from its rainforest valleys and wild coastline. Up here it's alpine — subalpine meadows blooming with lupine, paintbrush, and avalanche lily in summer, black-tailed deer grazing within arm's reach of the parking area, Olympic marmots whistling from rocky outcroppings, and on clear days a 360-degree panorama that sweeps from the glacier-draped summit of Mount Olympus to the south, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Canada in the north. It is one of the most accessible high alpine experiences in the Pacific Northwest, 17 miles of paved road from Port Angeles to the ridge.
Cost Covered by the Olympic National Park entrance fee — $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. America the Beautiful Pass accepted.
2026 Conditions — Read Before You Go The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge, built in 1952, was destroyed by fire in May 2023. As of early 2026, the $80 million rebuild project is on hold due to federal budget cuts. This means there are currently no indoor facilities at Hurricane Ridge — no visitor center, no café, no gift shop, no indoor shelter from weather. Portable toilets are available. Check the NPS Olympic website at nps.gov/olym/hurricane-ridge-post-fire.htm for the latest updates before your visit, as conditions are evolving.
Road Access Hurricane Ridge Road is open daily from 7 AM to 9 PM, mid-May through October. In winter, the road is plowed and open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, weather permitting — call 360-565-3131 for the 24-hour road and conditions recording before heading up. The road can close without notice due to weather, rockfall, or construction. Always check conditions before leaving Port Angeles. The 17-mile drive gains over 5,000 feet of elevation — it's a paved mountain road with curves, rockfall sections, and wildlife — slow down and watch for deer and marmots on the road, especially near the top.
Vehicle Limits Due to the loss of the lodge's water and wastewater infrastructure, vehicle access to Hurricane Ridge is currently limited to 315 private vehicles per day. The road will close to additional vehicles once that limit is reached — typically by midday on busy summer weekends. Arrive before 9 AM on summer weekends to avoid being turned away. The Clallam Transit Shuttle from Port Angeles runs several times daily June through October for $1 per trip — an excellent option that bypasses the vehicle cap entirely.
No Indoor Facilities — Come Prepared With no indoor warming spaces available, weather preparation is essential. The ridge is fully exposed and conditions change rapidly — sunny and 70°F in Port Angeles can mean wind, rain, or even snow at the top. Bring layers, rain gear, and food. There is no water available at the summit. Fill up before you leave Port Angeles. Weather at Hurricane Ridge is notoriously unpredictable even in summer — check the NOAA forecast and the Hurricane Ridge webcam (available on the NPS site) before heading up.
Hiking The signature hike is Hurricane Hill — a 3.2-mile round trip on a paved trail gaining about 700 feet to an exposed ridgeline summit with views of Mount Olympus to the south, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island to the north, and Puget Sound on clear days. Wildflowers line the trail in July and August. The High Ridge Trail is a shorter, easier walk through the meadows above the parking area with excellent wildlife viewing. For a more strenuous option, the Klahhane Ridge Switchback Trail is about 3 miles round trip with 1,400 feet of gain to dramatic views of the full Olympic range. Pets are not permitted on any trails at Hurricane Ridge.
Obstruction Point Road From the main parking area, a narrow 8-mile gravel road leads east to Obstruction Point — no RVs, trailers, or buses. This is the starting point for backcountry routes deeper into the Olympics, including access to the Badger Valley and Grand Valley areas. Wilderness permits for overnight camping in this area are available through Recreation.gov or at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles.
Wildlife Olympic black-tailed deer are essentially unbothered by humans at Hurricane Ridge — they graze near the parking areas and trails in large numbers throughout summer. Keep 75 feet of distance and do not feed them regardless of how tame they appear. Olympic marmots are endemic to the Olympic Peninsula and exist nowhere else on earth — watch for them on rocky slopes. Black bears also move through the area.
Cell Service No reliable cell service at Hurricane Ridge. Download maps and the NPS app before leaving Port Angeles.
