Cirque Rim Trail

Why hike it

If you want huge Hurricane Ridge vistas without a big effort, Cirque Rim delivers. It’s a short, paved walk along the rim of a glacial bowl with wide-open views north to Port Angeles and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and on clear days even toward Canada. Expect an easy, family-friendly outing with frequent wildlife sightings in subalpine meadows.

The experience

This is an easy, mostly level, paved path starting by the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The official Cirque Rim segment is about 0.5 mile total to its overlook, with benches and plenty of room to linger. It skirts fragile meadows on the lip of a classic glacial cirque—stay on pavement to protect the vegetation. You’ll likely see black‑tailed deer browsing the meadows and hear Steller’s jays and Clark’s nutcrackers working the ridgeline.

Variations and connections

Many visitors link Cirque Rim with nearby paved paths like Big Meadow or continue to Sunrise View Point for a longer version (about 1.3 miles round trip). You can also tie in High Ridge for different angles on the mountains. All of these are short, intertwined ridge-top paths—mix and match to fit your time and energy.

Know before you go

It’s exposed up here—there’s little shade and Hurricane Ridge earns its name, so bring layers and sun protection. In summer it can feel hot and dusty; in winter these routes are snow-covered and used for walking/snowshoeing when conditions allow. Parking fills fast at Hurricane Ridge; arrive early on weekends and clear days. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Standard park entrance fees apply.

Best time to hike

Late spring through early fall offers the best combo of clear views and wildflowers in the meadows. For photography, early morning and late afternoon light flatter the peaks and the Strait, and you’ll have a better shot at deer activity. In winter, check current conditions and stay on snow where present to avoid damaging the meadows.