Hurricane Hill (HurricaneRidge)
5.1KM
0.2kM
1d
Hurricane Hill is the most popular day hike in the Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic National Park, offering one of the highest effort-to-reward ratios in the state. Because the winding access road does the heavy lifting, delivering visitors to an elevation of over 5,000 feet, this relatively brief hike transports you instantly into the high alpine. The partially paved, wide trail climbs steadily along an exposed ridgeline. Hikers are treated to sweeping meadows of wildflowers, incredibly aggressive but cute Olympic Marmots, and a climax at the summit that provides a mind-bending, dual-sided panorama: the jagged, glaciated interior peaks of the Olympic Mountains to the south, and the blue waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada's Vancouver Island to the north.
Mission Directive / X-Factor
“The Ocean and Ice Contrast. The 'X-Factor' is the wildly contrasting views. From the exact same spot on the summit, you can look one way and see a treacherous, icy, forbidding mountain range (Mt. Olympus), and then turn your head and look down at freighters and cruise ships sailing the ocean inlet toward the Pacific.”
Hazard Assessment
It is called 'Hurricane' Ridge for a reason. Wind gusts at the summit can be sustained, dangerously cold, and capable of knocking over small children.
MITIGATION: Bring a hard wind-shell jacket, even if it is sunny and warm in the parking lot.
Deer and marmots here are habituated to humans. Mountain goats (though mostly relocated) can be territorial.
MITIGATION: Do not feed the wildlife, and give them a wide berth. The deer will aggressively approach to lick the salt/sweat off your gear.
Critical Loadout
Water Logistics
HIKING
PATHWAY
Washington (Olympic National Park) // hiking
The Ridge Walk
Leaving the trailhead at the end of the road, walking the paved incline through the subalpine meadows.
Summit Panorama
Reaching the end of the trail, exploring the viewpoints overlooking the Strait and the interior mountains, and returning.
| Step | Sector / Waypoint | Dist. | Gain (↑m) | Duration | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ridge Walk Leaving the trailhead at the end of the ... | 30 mins | --- | 30 mins | Standard Segment |
| 2 | Summit Panorama Reaching the end of the trail, exploring... | 1 hour | --- | 1 hour | Standard Segment |
Technical Specifications
DOC_REF: GOLDEN_HIKING_US_014Refuge Capacity
Hotels and motels in Port Angeles. Excellent camping at Heart O' the Hills campground halfway up the road.
Regulatory
- Permit NONE
- Authority NPS (Olympic National Park)
No hiking permit required for this day trip.
Climatology
- OptimalJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Summer offers wildflowers and clear views. In the winter, the road is only open Friday-Sunday (weather permitting), chains are often required to drive up, and the area becomes a popular destination for snowshoeing. Regulations change; verify with the official park or local authority before departure.
Emergency / Comms
- Rescue (EU) 112 ACTIVE
- Signal Partial
Compare With Other Hikes
Side-by-side metric analysis. Compare Hurricane Hill (Hurricane Ridge) directly against similar routes ÔÇö distance, elevation gain, HikeMetrics Hazard Score, and more.
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