Hurricane Hill Trail in Olympic National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse national parks in the United States, with a rocky coastline, dramatic mountain ranges, clear lakes, and beautiful rainforests. It truly has something for everyone! You can spend your days walking along sandy beaches, hiking through moss-covered rainforests, or hiking to breathtaking viewpoints.

Hurricane Ridge Road is one of the best places to view the stunning mountains in Olympic National Park and should be on every bucket list. Although you can enjoy the views from the parking lot, one of the best ways to experience everything the area offers is to hike the Hurricane Hill Trail.

The trail has some of the best views of the surrounding mountains and will take your breath away with its beauty! This guide has everything you need to know about hiking Hurricane Hill Trail in Olympic National Park.

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Hurricane Hill Trail Overview

Hurricane Hill Trail Length and Difficulty

Hurricane Hill Trail is 3.4 miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, making it moderately challenging. The trail is easy to follow and well-maintained since it is one of the most popular hikes in Olympic National Park. The entire trail has breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, so the hike goes by quickly!

Hurricane Hill Trail Parking

Parking for Hurricane Hill Trail is at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road. The drive to Hurricane Ridge is a stunning 17-mile road to a beautiful viewpoint of the surrounding mountains. The main parking lot is near the Visitor Center, but the trailhead parking is another mile past it. The parking lot is relatively small, but Hurricane Ridge Road has a few nearby parking lots you can use if the trailhead lot is full.

Because driving Hurricane Ridge Road is one of the best things to do in Olympic National Park, it gets busy. The national park only allows a limited number of cars to go to the top and temporarily closes the entrance once the parking lot is full and only opens it once people begin to come back down. I recommend arriving at the entrance station in the morning to avoid sitting in traffic.

Is Hurricane Hill Trail Dog-friendly?

No, Hurricane Hill Trail is not dog-friendly. Dogs are only allowed on a few trails in Olympic National Park, and Hurricane Hill Trail is not one of them.

Best Time to Hike Hurricane Hill Trail

The best time to hike Hurricane Hill Trail is in the summer and early fall when the trails are snow-free, and the weather is beautiful. But the road to the trailhead is open on weekends in winter if you want to enjoy some snowshoeing!

What to Pack for the Hike

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

Where to Stay Near Hurricane Hill Trail

If you are spending the night near Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, Port Angeles is the best place to stay. The small city has plenty of lodging options, restaurants, and gas stations, and it is a quick drive to the entrance Hurricane Ridge entrance station and many must-see attractions. There are also many other cute towns near Olympic National Park with accommodations!

If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Olympic National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!

Port Angeles Hotels:

Port Angeles Campgrounds:

Hurricane Hill Trail Guide

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.

Hurricane Ridge Road is one of the most beautiful drives in Olympic National Park. The views from the Visitor Center are spectacular, allowing the entire family to enjoy them! But if you want to experience more breathtaking views, I recommend hiking the Hurricane Hill Trail.

The Hurricane Hill Trail is one of the most popular trails in Olympic National Park for good reason. The entire trail offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and the end viewpoint will take your breath away with its 360-degree views.

Although the trail gains over 800 feet of elevation, it is not overly strenuous. The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow along a wide, gravel path. The Hurricane Hill Trail has beautiful views along the entire hike, which helps distract you from the elevation gain.

The Hurricane Hill Trail begins at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road in a small parking lot. The first half-mile is relatively flat as it follows along the ridge through some pines. You can see some pretty views looking west over the Bailey Range between the trees. After a half-mile, the trail comes to the Little River Trail Junction, and you will want to continue straight to stay on Hurricane Hill Trail.

The Hurricane Hill Trail slowly becomes steeper over the next half-mile as it climbs to Hurricane Hill. The west side of the trail opens up, offering incredible views of the Bailey Range that will take your breath away! The views also help distract you from the elevation gain.

Just before the summit, the trail becomes steep with three switchbacks. It is the steepest section of Hurricane Hill Trail, but the switchbacks help! The views also open up as you begin the steep ascent, offering a preview of what is to come at the end. At the top of the switchbacks, the trail comes to the Elwha-Hurricane Ridge Trail Junction, where you want to continue right to stay on Hurricane Hill Trail.

Hurricane Hill Trail finally levels out as it approaches Hurricane Hill and its various viewpoints. Hurricane Hill has the best views, in my opinion, because it offers 360-degree views of Olympic National Park. I recommend walking around the top to the other viewpoints because they will not disappoint!

Once you finish enjoying the views, you will follow Hurricane Hill Trail back to the parking lot. The views on the way back are spectacular, giving you a different perspective on the trail. Of course, the mountain views never get old!

If you want to enjoy another short trail on Hurricane Ridge Road, you have a few to choose from! The 1-mile hike to the Sunrise Viewpoint near the Visitor Center is an easy hike with spectacular views. You could also hike that with the Cirque Rim Nature Trail, which offers great views looking north into Olympic National Park.

If you want to hike Hurricane Hill Trail when you visit Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, you are in the right place. This guide has everything you need to know about hiking the Hurricane Hill Trail.