Everything You Need To Know About The Hurricane Ridge Hike

One of my absolute FAVORITE adventures in Olympic National Park was Hurricane Ridge. I am not going to lie, I am obsessed with mountains. Any area that has mountains, immediately becomes my favorite hang out spot. But, when researching the hikes around this area, I realized just how difficult it was to come up with a great guide. I went to Hurricane Ridge not really knowing what to expect or what to do. So, I felt that a Hurricane Ridge Hike ultimate guide needed to be available to help you prepare for this fantastic spot. This guide is filled with maps, packing lists, weather, and all sorts of information on the Hurricane Ridge trails. So, Keeping reading on for help with planning your excellent Hurricane Ridge adventure!

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How To Get To Hurricane Ridge

There are a few ways to get to Hurricane Ridge from Seattle.

1. You can take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge to get to Hurricane Ridge. It is about a three-hour drive and 100 miles. You can look at ferry times here. 
2. A straight drive through Tacoma is another option. The journey is about three hours and 156 miles.
3. Another ferry option is to head north and take the ferry to Kingston. It is a 3 hour and 20-minute drive and about 102 miles. You can look at ferry times here.

Port Angeles is the city located North of Hurricane Ridge and it takes about 45 minutes to drive from Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge. Let me warn you that the drive from Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge can be sketchy at times. Not only is the road curvy and windy, deer tend to pop out of nowhere. So please, be careful.

READ MORE ABOUT OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK: ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HIKING ONP

Hurricane Ridge Trail Map

Hurricane Ridge is an area located about 45-minutes south from Port Angeles high up the mountains. The stunning area is filled with great hikes, incredible views, plenty of parking, a visitor center, and great viewpoints. Even if you are not an avid hiker, I highly recommend this area for everyone. The views are spectacular and easy to experience. All you need is a car.

Olympic National Park Weather

Shown above is the average temperatures in the National Park but let me warn you that the Hurricane Ridge Area is at a higher elevation than the other sections of the park. It can get pretty chilly, so I recommend always bringing a jacket even in the middle of summer.

The road to Hurricane Ridge is open throughout the summer. During the winter season, the roads are only accessible Friday-Sundays but can close on weekends if the weather gets dangerous. Your car must have tire chains during the winter. This article will mainly talk about Hurricane Ridge during the summer but if you are interested in coming in the winter click here.

Hurricane Ridge Hotels

• Olympic Lodge: I stayed at the Olympic Lodge, which is one of the best hotels in the city. It isn’t a five-star hotel, and I feel like the lighting needs some major updating, but, it is the best hotel on the Peninsula. The concierge did tell me that they are remodeling soon. Also, the hotel is located close to Hurricane Ridge.  >Click Here To Check Pricing
• Sea Cliff Gardens: If you want something cozier, then check out this cute bed and breakfast. It located next to a cliff with spectacular views. Breakfast is good, the views are great, and the hosts are kind. >Click Here To Check Pricing

Read More: Where to Stay in Olympic National Park – 10 Best Cabins & Rentals

Hurricane Ridge Camping

The closest campground to Hurricane Ridge is the Heart O’ the Hills Campground. It is first come first serve, and the campground is located near the entrance of the Hurricane Ridge Road. For more information on ONP campgrounds, click here. 

What To Pack For A Hurricane Ridge Hiking

For a Day Trip

• Sunscreen: If you get burned quickly like my husband, this is needed. >Buy Sunscreen
• Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me I have done it so many times). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
• Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. I also love how they now have pink socks too 🙂 >Buy Hiking Socks
• Refillable water bottle: I always bring a Hydroflask on all my adventures. They are on the heavier side, but I know for a fact they will not break. I have had a few cheap water bottles break on me before. >Check Prices Now
• Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
• Sunglasses: It can get sunny, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
• Snacks: The best snacks for hiking are jerky, nuts, energy bars. >These bars are great for hiking.
• Camera: The camera I have linked was one of the first cameras I started using on my travels. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
• First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
• Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
• Leggings or Hiking Pants: I love wearing leggings while hiking because I love how comfy they are but don’t forget that the PNW is known for being rainy. I still try to wear leggings as much as I can and only wear them in Olympic NP if I know it won’t rain that day. Either way, here are my excellent hiking pants that are super durable. >Click For My Favorite Hiking Pants
• Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
• Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Out
• Jacket: It can get pretty chilly all year long. Bring a Jacket! >Buy My Favorite Jacket
• Light Jacket: The PNW weather can be unpredictable. That is why I brought three jackets with me. It wasn’t so cold when I hiked, so I brought a light jacket. >Buy This Light Jacket
• Rain Jacket: When hiking in Olympic National Park, you need this in case it starts pouring on you, which is always a possibility in the PNW. >Buy A Great Rainjacket Here
• Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
• Fire Starter and Matches: This is just in case of an emergency. >Check Out This Fire Starter
• Compass: I always carry this with me just in case. >Click Here To Buy
• Knife: You never know if you will need it. >Buy My Knife Here
• Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get lost or you take longer than you thought you would to complete a hike. Trust me, it happens even to me. >Buy A Headlamp Now
• Map: A map is essential so you don’t get lost. >Check This One

Hurricane Ridge Hike

Hurricane Ridge Loops and Sunrise Point Hurricane Ridge

• Distance: 0.9 Miles
• Elevation Gain: 219 ft
• Good For: Kids/Families
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

Doing this hike is a must for everyone. It is effortless and helps you get to know more about the area. Plus there is so many deer! They seem not to mind the hundreds of people walking around and so they are just hanging out all day near the trails.

Sunrise Point is a little bit of a walk uphill, but the views are spectacular on a clear day. You can see the ocean waters in the distance and of course all the surrounding mountains.

Hurricane Hill Via Hurricane Ridge

• Distance: 3.4 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 826 ft
• Good For: Kids/Families
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Trail Guide: Link

The Hurricane Hill trail is one of the best hikes in Olympic National Park. The views are spectacular throughout the whole hike, and the trail is well maintained. I recommend driving to the official Hurricane Hill parking lot because if you start at the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center, you will add an extra few miles to your hike. I did get to the parking lot around 7 am so I had no trouble finding a parking spot, but I could see it being difficult in the afternoon.

Most of the trail is an upward climb with so many views of mountains. Even if you are not an avid hiker, I recommend this hike. It might take you a while to complete but take your time, bring plenty of water and snacks.

Eventually, the trail hits a junction. The path shown in the picture above goes to Elwha Ranger Station. Do not go that route. Take a right to get to Hurricane Hill viewpoint.

When you get to the Hurricane Hill viewpoint, you will be greeted with 360-degree views of all the spectacular Olympic mountains. You can also see Canada and the ocean in the distance.

Mount Angeles/Klahhane Ridge

• Distance: 5.5 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,017 ft
• Good For: Experienced Hikers
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Trail Guide: Link

This trail is located next to Sunrise Point, and it is mainly for experienced hikers. I did most of the trail, so let me explain my experience. The beginning of the trail is very narrow and next to a very steep cliff. While ridge walking the first section, I started to get vertigo, and I had a small panic attack. But once I got through the narrow part, the trail becomes a bit easier to manage.

Most people hike to Mount Angeles Peak, which was my original plan. But eventually, the trail became narrow again. This time it was filled with snow (I visited at the beginning of June). Even with my crampons, I decided that the rest of the trail should be saved for another day. If you want to know more about Olympic National Park Trail Conditions, click here.

I recommend trying out this trail even if you can not finish it. The views are spectacular throughout the whole hike. I do not recommend this for small children. Do note, another backpacking option is visiting Lake Angele and doing the loops trail.

Hurricane Ridge During Sunrise and Sunset

Experiencing the sunset was my favorite thing to do at Hurricane Ridge. The colors of the clouds were outstanding, and the views were terrific everywhere you walked.

I recommend walking around to see which areas look best to take pictures of the sunset. Just sitting next to your car and taking in the views is another excellent option, which is what many people did. I thought about doing one of the hikes during sunset but realized that taking pictures near the visitors center was good enough. The views are just incredible.

Many people also drive up to take pictures of sunrise. A great spot is Sunrise Point Near the Klahhane Ridge trail.

Hurricane Ridge Hikes: Conclusion

I hope this Hurricane Ridge Guide helped you out. When I first started researching, there wasn’t much information out there about the area. It was a little confusing on what I could do around Hurricane Ridge, so I hope this cleared it up for you. If you are hanging out around other parts of Olympic National Park, check out some of these different areas:

• The Ultimate Guide On Rialto Beach
• Second Beach Camping and Hiking Guide
• Backpacking Guide Through Enchanted Valley
• The Best Hikes In Olympic National Park
• A Backpacking Guide To The High Divide Trail
• The Perfect 2-3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary

Hurricane Ridge Washington: Pin For Later