A tour to Hurricane Ridge | Olympic National Park of USA | Hurricane Ridge Vlog

Today I am going to share a mesmerizing journey of Hurricane ridge of Olympic National Park. I am fond of travelling, and when it comes to visualizing mother nature from an imminent distance, then I never wanted to miss it. So, when Didi (my friend’s sister who lives here in the USA) informed me about her plan and asked me to get along, then without any hesitation I said yes! Pratik my husband always drives here, as I have not applied for the driving test yet. So, our journey started at 10 am and we reached there at 1 pm. almost three hours from Seattle and Bellevue. Olympic National Park charges a fee to enter. You can also purchase a park-specific annual pass, so we decided to take the annual pass which provides the access to visit any national parks in the USA.

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). In clear weather, fantastic views can be enjoyed throughout the year. The road is open throughout summer. During the winter season, the road is scheduled to be open Friday through Sunday and holiday Mondays, weather and road conditions permitting, and closed all other days. All vehicles must carry tire chains during the winter season.

 

But we were lucky as we decided to visit the place during the summer, but before scheduling the tour weather should always be checked, although the weather over there is unpredictable. A general map and information regarding facilities, picnic areas, camping, and regulations can be found in the park’s Hurricane Ridge brochure.

There are a few ways to get to Hurricane Ridge from Seattle.

You can take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge to get to Hurricane Ridge. It is about a three-hour drive and 100 miles. A straight drive through Tacoma is another option. The journey is about three hours and 156 miles. Another ferry option is to head north and take the ferry to Kingston. It is a 3 hour and 20-minute drive and about 102 miles. But we decided to reach there via car, so we searched for no ferry no toll road and hence we went through the same.

Hurricane Ridge has several hiking trails, from ridgetop traverses to steep trails that descend to subalpine lakes and valleys. Obstruction Point Road (weather and snow permitting, open from July 4 through October 15), branches off right before the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, and provides access to a variety of trails as well. During the winter months, snow enthusiasts enjoy the winter scenery, along with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledging. Weather permitting, the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club operates two rope tows and a Poma lift. During the spring, wildflowers cover the ground of the subalpine meadows and blacktail deer are often spotted grazing. Sunrise and sunset on a clear day provide magnificent panoramic views of the park.

The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is a great place to start. The visitor Center is usually open when the road is open, with restrooms, exhibits, a park film, and a warming area. The entrance room and restroom are always open till 6 pm. It is better to bring your food, which we carry wherever we go, as we are vegetarian (no egg) In the USA egg eater is also considered vegetarian, hence I have mentioned that we do not eat eggs as well. But if you wish can purchase lunch and snack items from the deli in the visitor Centre gift shop and soak in the breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountain range in the outdoor courtyard.

While our visit we witnessed deer heard, kindly watch the video embedded here to know our journey and how we enjoyed our visit.

The nearest campground to Hurricane Ridge is Heart O’ the Hills campground, 12 miles north of Hurricane Ridge, and 5 miles south of Port Angeles. Open year-round, Heart O’ the Hills has 105 campsites in the old-growth forest. The city of Port Angeles is just 17 miles north. Lodging can be found through the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce website. Nearby Areas Heart O’ the Hills is the closest destination. The Elwha Valley and Deer Park are within a one-hour drive from Hurricane Ridge.

What To Pack for Hurricane Ridge car lane drive :  

• We need water bottles, keep the water bottle packet always ready in the back of your car for any trip. If required, take a bottle flask of hot water.
• Take snacks and homemade food item in case you will not get food of your choice.
• A toiletry bag containing facewash, sunscreen, comb, cream powder, makeup mirror etc.
• Extra set of clothes and footwear. 
• Sunglasses  
• Hiking shoes and socks 
• Data cable, mobile, camera, tripod, sd card data card, extra battery for your camera.
• leggings and hiking pants, light jacket and a jacket sweatshirt, cap or a hat.
• Raincoat
• Trash bags 
• Disposable glasses, spoons, forks, plates and bowls.
• Map and book should always be carried in case you will lose signal  
• A bag pack or a sling bag 

I hope this article will be helpful for planning a trip to the hurricane ridge. Also kindly watch the embedded video and subscribe to our channel just to motivate us.