Hurricane Ridge Road is the route that leads to the Olympic Mountains. It can be a perfect day road trip from Seattle as this road is considered one the most beautiful road in Washington.
The Hurricane Ridge Road is also a well-liked location for wildlife viewing, offering chances to see creatures like deer, mountain goats, and marmots. Overall, the route provides visitors to Olympic National Park with a special and lovely experience.
Where is Hurricane Ridge Road located?
The road is located in the state of Washington near Seattle in the northwest of the United States of America. The road starts in the city of Port Angeles.
Hurricane Ridge is a mountain area that is in the Olympic National Park. This National Park is a UNESCO worldwide heritage site as an International Biosphere Reserve.
You can locate the road on the map just below:
Enlarge the map
Facts about the Hurricane Ridge Road:
Road Description:
The road is an asphalted road. It starts in downtown Port Angeles and goes into the mountains of the Olympic National Park.
It is 27 kilometers (17 miles) long with an average gradient of 7%.
While driving the Hurricane Ridge Road you will see amazing landscapes. Indeed, on a clear day, you will have a breathtaking 360-degree view of the mountains, the valley, and the sea.
You can also drive the North Cascades Highway or the Hood Canal Scenic Byway.
When was Hurricane Ridge Road built?
Hurricane Ridge Road was built in the 1950s in order to increase the number of visitors to the Olympic Mountains National Park.
This project was led by Fred Overly who also build the Hurricane Ridge Lodge.
How to get to Hurricane Ridge Road?
In order to get to Hurricane Ridge Road, you need to get to Port Angeles town. You can go to Port Angeles by road but also by taking the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island which will save you some time.
Once in Port Angeles, drive the Olympic Highway, WA-101, and then take Race Street which will end on the route.
You can visualize how to get there on this map of the drive:
What to do nearby Hurricane Ridge Road?
The area is very tourist and there are lots of things to do and places to visit in the Olympic Mountains. For example, you can visit Hurricane Ridge and the Olympic National Park Visitor Center. You can check the operating dates on their website.
In summer there are a lot of trails or mountain bike paths there. Also, the Hurricane Ridge Road itself is very appreciated by cyclists.
In the winter you can ski in the Olympic mountains at the Hurricane Ridge Ski Resort.
You will easily find some accommodations (campgrounds, hotels, Airbnb’s) in Port Angeles if you want to stay there for more than one day or have some scenic vacations in this area of the US. If you are planning to camp overnight in the Olympic National Park you will need a permit (more details here).
A preview of the drive:
If you are planning to go to the Olympic Mountains, you can watch this video to have an idea of the drive:
Is Hurricane Ridge Road open in winter?
The road is open 7/7 from mid-May into October. The rest of the year, the road and the visitor center are typically open only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
The annual snowfalls in the area are more than 10 meters high (32 ft) so during the winter season, all vehicles must have tire chains and have to exit the road by 5 pm. In case of extreme weather conditions, the road can be closed.
Before going to Hurricane Ridge, please check the official website of the National Park Services in order to have the newest information about access and weather conditions.
Hurricane Ridge Road is considered one of the best drives in Washington state. So if you are in the area it can be the perfect day trip from Seattle for example. You can breathe fresh air and looks at the amazing landscapes. Also, you will enjoy activities like skiing in winter and hiking in summer.
Pictures credit: © Cody Logan / Wikimedia Commons.
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