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 Rain Forest Visitor Center).[2]

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[1]
Dimensions
Length	13 mi (21 km) East-West
Width	5 mi (8.0 km) North-South
Geography
Hurricane Ridge Location in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Hurricane Ridge Hurricane Ridge (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Olympic National Park Clallam County, Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
Parent range	Olympic Mountains
Topo map	USGS Maiden Peak, Hurricane Hill, Mount Angeles
Geology
Age of rock	Eocene

At an elevation of 5,242 feet (1,598 m), Hurricane Ridge visitor center 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 Hurricane Ridge visitors center offers several conveniences, including an information desk, gift-shop, restrooms, and a snack bar. The exhibits in the visitor center are open year-round, but limited to Friday through Sunday during the winter months.

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.^[tone] The area receives 400 inches (10,000 mm) of snowfall annually.[4]

History

The Hurricane Ridge Lodge and Hurricane Ridge Road were built in the 1950s as part of a plan by Fred Overly, Olympic National Park's second superintendent, to increase park visitation.[5] The lodge was dedicated by Congressman Henry M. Jackson in September 1952.[6] The lodge's role as a concession facility was replaced in the 1980s with more interpretative uses, focusing on Olympic National Park topics including as geology and wildlife.[7]

Skiing facilities established at Hurricane Ridge were intended to replace those at Deer Park in the 1950s, however in the following decades skiing in national parks was criticized.[8]

The Olympic National Park began restricting winter access to Hurricane Ridge in the late 1990s, which was followed by a decline in visitor numbers. Park officials restricted winter access to Friday through Sunday in 2005. In 2011 and 2012, the park agreed to return to its original winter schedule for a trial period after the local community raised $75,000 to bridge the estimated budget gap. Despite a 35% visitor increase, Olympic National Park officials declared the trial unsuccessful and returned to three-day-a-week access during the winter months.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Hurricane Ridge is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[9] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Olympic Peninsula. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks, causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snowfall (Orographic lift). As a result, the range experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months. Hurricane Ridge averages 30 to 35 feet (9.1 to 10.7 m) of snow annually.[10] During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but due to high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer.

Gallery

Summits

Principal summits of Hurricane Ridge from west to east:

References

• Rothman, Hal K. (July 2006). American Eden: An Administrative History of Olympic National Park (PDF).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Ridge.

• Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area
• National Park Service: Visiting Hurricane Ridge
• Hurricane Ridge info – outdoorplaces.com
• Hurricane Ridge: weather forecast

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