| Hurricane Ridge | |
|---|---|
A drive to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center up Hurricane Ridge Road in May 2022. | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Elk Mountain |
| Elevation | 6,772 ft (2,064 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 47°55′28″N 123°21′07″W / 47.9244560°N 123.3519333°W[1] |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 13 mi (21 km) East-West |
| Width | 5 mi (8.0 km) North-South |
| Geography | |
  Hurricane Ridge Location in Washington  Hurricane Ridge Hurricane Ridge (the United States) | |
| Location | Olympic National Park Clallam County, Washington |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Parent range | Olympic Mountains |
| Topo map(s) | USGS Maiden Peak, Hurricane Hill, Mount Angeles |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Eocene |
Hurricane Ridge is a mountainous area in Washington's Olympic National Park. Approximately 18 miles (29 km) by road from Port Angeles, the ridge is open to hiking, skiing, and snowboarding and is one of the two most visited sites in the national park (along with the Hoh Rainforest).[2]
At an elevation of 5,242 feet (1,598 m), Hurricane Ridge is a year-round destination.[3] In summer, visitors come for views of the Olympic Mountains, as well as for hiking. During the winter months the small, family oriented Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area offers lift-serviced downhill skiing and snowboarding.
The road leading west from the Hurricane Ridge visitor center has a number of picnic areas and trail heads. A paved trail called the Hurricane Hill trail is about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long (one-way) with an elevation gain of about 700 feet (200 m). It is not uncommon to find snow on the trails even as late as July. Several other dirt trails of varying distances and difficulty levels branch off of the Hurricane hill trail. The picnic areas are open only in the summer, and have restrooms, water and paved access to picnic tables.
The visitor center was destroyed by a fire in May 2023; as a result, the area was temporarily closed to visitors for a month before it reopened with limited entry.
Hurricane Ridge is named for its intense gales and winds. The weather in the Olympic Mountains is unpredictable, and visitors should be prepared for snow at any time of year. The area receives 400 inches (10,000 mm) of snowfall annually.[4]
- ^ a b "Hurricane Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^ Rothman 2006, p. 356.
- ^ Hurricane Ridge in Winter, nps.gov
- ^ Rothman 2006, p. 323.