Parking
Start at the east end of the Hurricane Ridge parking area.
Overview
About High Ridge Trail
Why go
- 360-degree mountain views after a short climb
- A true loop with an optional Sunrise Point spur
Heads up
- The 220-foot climb is concentrated into a short walk
- The open ridge is exposed to strong wind and lingering snow
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation5,217–5,417 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
6 active Olympic alerts
- InfoNo potable water at Hurricane RidgeMentions Hurricane Ridge, referenced in this guideNo potable water is available at Hurricane Ridge; bring your own drinking water.Official details
- CautionUS 101 Hoh River Bridge reduced to one laneUS 101 at the Hoh River Bridge is restricted to one lane of alternating traffic; obey the signals and 25 mph speed limit.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Your drive to High Ridge Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Olympic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Olympic audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Hurricane Ridge0:00 / 0:33
“You're approaching Hurricane Ridge, where the Bailey Range panorama opens up right beside the parking area. You don't need a long hike for this one.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Olympic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Griff Fire’s Steep Slopes
- Hurricane Hill: Summit or Picnic
- Trees That Grow Sideways
- Switchback Trail to Victor Pass
- 204 audio storiesacross Olympic’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Olympic Marmot, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 148 trails, 94 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking High Ridge Trail
Why take this loopHigh Ridge Trail is a 0.
High Ridge Trail is a 0.5-mile loop at Hurricane Ridge that climbs about 220 feet from the parking area to open, 360-degree mountain views. The path is partly paved, with dirt sections, and takes about 30 to 45 minutes with a stop at the top. It is a good short walk if you want a real uphill route and a panoramic payoff without committing to a longer hike.
The climbThe trail forks near the start, and either branch reaches the high point.
The trail forks near the start, and either branch reaches the high point. Pavement gives way to dirt as you climb. Mount Angeles comes into view from the first hill; on the open ridge, turn around for the full panorama. Take a moment at the top for the wide view in every direction.
Add Sunrise PointA separate 0.1-mile dead-end spur leads to Sunrise Point.
A separate 0.1-mile dead-end spur leads to Sunrise Point. It is an optional extension beyond the loop, so it is not included in the half-mile distance.
Snow, wind, and open meadowsWinter brings roughly 30 to 35 feet of snow to Hurricane Ridge, and it can linger into summer.
Winter brings roughly 30 to 35 feet of snow to Hurricane Ridge, and it can linger into summer. Winds can gust above 75 mph; snow and wind help keep the subalpine meadows open. In spring, wildflowers cover the meadows and black-tailed deer are often seen grazing. This is an exposed, high-elevation walk, so conditions can change the feel of even a short outing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Olympic
710 sightingsOlympic MarmotMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
30 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
42 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
71 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
306 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Olympic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
