Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is Olympic National Park’s most easily reached high-country destination, 17 road miles south of Port Angeles. At the end of the ridge road, a parking and viewpoint area opens toward the Bailey Range and the park’s subalpine country. The main panorama is right by the road, so you don’t need a long hike to get the big view.

From Port Angeles, the narrow, winding road takes about 45 minutes. On a clear day, the payoff starts as soon as you reach the road end; fog and low clouds can hide the farther peaks after the climb. I’d make the panorama the reason to come when visibility is good, or pair the drive with a walk or winter outing that still gives you something to do if the view is wrapped in cloud.

The 12,201-square-foot Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge was built in 1952 and burned on May 7, 2023. It once held exhibits, a café and gift shop, and winter rentals. A seasonal outdoor contact point offers ranger information, and public restrooms are available at the road end. There is no food service at the ridge, so plan to arrive with what you need.

The paved Cirque Rim trail gives you a short walk from the road end. Longer options include Hurricane Hill and ridgetop routes, while steeper trails descend toward subalpine lakes and valleys. In spring, wildflowers cover the meadows, and black-tailed deer are often seen grazing nearby.

When the road and weather cooperate, Hurricane Ridge is also a winter recreation area for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding. The local winter sports club operates two rope tows and a Poma lift when conditions allow, so the road-end campus has a different feel from its summer viewpoint stop.

The Bailey Range is the headline view from the former lodge site. Leave some of the meadow in the foreground instead of cropping tightly to the peaks; it gives the panorama a sense of place. Clear weather matters more than a particular time of day, since cloud can erase the distant range.