Hurricane Ridge - Olympic National Park

You can click some of the photos for larger views (Note - 350k+ file size). Feel free to copy for wallpaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Ridge Meadow Loop Trails (ONP)

Directions:
In Port Angeles on US 101, turn south onto Race Street. Follow 1 mi to Heart O' the Hills Parkway. Follow 5 mi to entrance station and continue on Hurricane Ridge Rd 12 mi to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.

Features:
Big Meadow Trail and Cirque Rim Trail are paved, looped meadow trails approximately 1/2 mile long that are relatively flat and accessible with assistance. The trails begin near Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center providing excellent views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca on clear days. Wander through sub alpine forests and meadows filled with wildflowers in the summer. This is a good area for seeing black-tailed deer and marmots. See the Map.

Other Info:

The Visitor Center at Hurricane Ridge provides a topographical relief map of Olympic National Park, a theater, exhibits, emergency first aid, potable water, accessible restrooms and a small restaurant. In the summer a wide variety of interpretive ranger programs are available. An elevator and ramp provide access to lower level terrace with picnic tables, gift shop, and snack bar.

Hurricane Ridge and Visitors Center from Big Meadow Trail, Olympic National Park

Hurricane Ridge and Visitors Center from Big Meadow Trail.

Looking east on Big Meadow Trail at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park Looking west along Big Meadow trail at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

East and West views on Big Meadow Trail.

Trip Notes:

Aug 12, 2002 - Wow! Great trail: Both the Big Meadow Loop and Cirque Rim Trail are wheelchair accessible with assistance.

The Big Meadow trail has interpretive signs along the way with outstanding views of the Olympic Mountains. Although the panorama vista was magnificent, my favorite part of both these trails was the snags and weathered, downed trees, twisted by the wind and snow.

It was hot the day we were there (by Olympic Peninsula standards) and a black tail deer was avoiding the hot sun by laying under some alpine shrubs near the trail.

A high percentage of folks that visit, never take the Cirque trail and do not see the views from the other side of the ridge clear across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the mountains of Vancouver Island, Canada. This trail has several benches for resting and an overlook.

My scooter had no problems taking either trail although the beginning of the Big Meadow trail is a long incline. I took it slow, keeping an eye on my battery meter to make sure I wouldn't pop a circuit. I got off the scooter on one small incline on the Cirque Rim trail although I probably could have made it up that one. Several places on the Cirque Rim trail have drop offs nearby and I took it really easy (1 light from turtle for you Pride scooter folks) going down the inclines. One in particular has a turn at the bottom. One has to trust that the breaks will indeed work if you take your hand off the throttle. The faint of heart may not like that, but just take it nice and easy and you'll reap the rewards of great scenery.

A park ranger, named Karen I think, was very helpful and concerned about our views on accessiblity. She also showed us where the elevator was in the visitor center even though she was very busy.

Cirque Rim trail at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

Cirque Rim trail

More photos from Hurricane Meadow Trails (click on thumbnails for large, wallpaper sized photos)

Cirque Rim trail head or end, depending on which direction you first start off from. Meadow on Cirque Rim trail at Hurricane Ridge Looking north to Port Angeles, Strait of Juan deFuca and Vancouver Island. It was hot and hazy this day and not as clear as it can be.

Hurricane Ridge Trail (ONP)

Directions:
Past the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center the Hurricane Hill Road continues along the ridge. The last 1-3/10 of a mile is not for the faint of heart. The road is extremely narrow and comes right to the edge of the ridge, the absence of a guardrail is sure to raise your pulse.

Features:
Hurricane Hill is a great introduction to the high country. This trail runs along a ridge with spectacular views on either side. The climb to Hurricane Hill is about 650' above the parking lot, but along the way you will find meadows full of wild flowers, alpine forest and views, views, views. The 1.5 mi paved trail climbs through mountain meadows to the top of Hurricane Hill with mountain peak vistas and views of Port Angeles and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Wildflowers are numerous in early summer. Wheelchair accessible first .5 mile only. This portion is paved but with steep drop-offs and no guardrail.

Other Info:
Along the way, before the road finally ends at the Hurricane Hill Trailhead, there are two beautiful picnic areas. Paved trails that are accessible with assistance lead to picnic tables (some with extensions) overlooking the Olympic Mountains; however, the restrooms are not accessible.

 
 

Accessible Trails on the Olympic Peninsula