Hurricane Ridge is a mountain area in Olympic National Park in Washington 17 miles south of Port Angeles. It's about a mile high and offers gorgeous views that can be enjoyed throughout the year whether it be fall, winter, spring, or summer! Hurricane Ridge offers a great variety of hiking trails and excellent areas for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. There are walking trails near and around the visitors center which is where the park recommends you start. An orientation movie and informative videos can be viewed at the visitors center for those who would like to learn more about the area. Restrooms, an information desk, gift shop, and snack bar are also located here. The gift shop offers ski and snowshoe rentals during the winter.

The Hurricane Hill trail is a popular hike during warmer months that most visitors take so they can see the beautiful panoramic view at the top. The view is best on a very clear day. You will be among the tall, snow-capped mountain peaks and have wonderful 360-degree views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Range, and Vancouver Island as well as parts of Canada! In the prime summer months, wildflowers are in full bloom all around you. You most likely will see a lot of wildlife during your trip. Deer, marmots, ground squirrels, chipmunks, mountain goats, and even black bears are common sights by visitors. Be careful not to leave your backpack unattended because the chipmunks and ground squirrels are known to climb into them. Marmots are frequently seen and heard in this area so make sure to listen for the whistle of the marmot. Whistle to them and they will whistle back to you.

Although the hike is not incredibly difficult, you do need a fair amount of stamina to hike this out and back trail. The Hurricane Hill trail begins 1.5 miles beyond the visitors center at the end of the road. The trail has a slight incline the whole way to the top so you do get a fair amount of elevation gain. You won't regret taking this hike once you see the spectacular views.

Hurricane Ridge also has a ski and snowboard area that's fantastic for the outdoor winter enthusiast! Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area is one of the two currently operating ski lifts in the National Parks. This area is perfect for all your winter recreation needs! The average snowfall per year is 400 inches. The summit elevation is 5,240 feet.