Hurricane Ridge, the focus of winter recreation in Olympic National Park, earns its name in winter. Storms, high winds, snow drifts or high avalanche conditions may delay crews working to plow the road, or force an early closure. The Hurricane Ridge parking lot often fills early, causing long delays at the Heart O’ the Hills entrance station. Please carpool and park close to other vehicles at Hurricane Ridge. Is Hurricane Ridge open right now? Check here or call (360) 565-3131, and see below for winter schedule.
Hurricane Ridge Road and Visitor Center: For safety, all vehicles (including 4WD) traveling above Heart O’ the Hills on the Hurricane Ridge Road between November 1 and April 1 must carry tire chains. From November 24, 2017 thru April 1, 2018, it is open 9-4 weather permitting Friday-Sunday, plus holiday Mondays (January 1, 15 and February 19, 2018), as well as December 26-28. Closed Monday-Thursday and December 25. During this winter plowing schedule, the road closes to uphill traffic at 4:00 p.m. and all vehicles must be below the Heart O’ the Hills gate by 5:00 p.m. After April 1 the road may be open as weather, staffing and road conditions allow. By early May the road is usually open 24 hours a day. Hurricane Ridge Deli & Rental Shop: From December 8, 2017 through April 1, 2018, food and ski/snowshoe rentals are available at Hurricane Ridge 10-4 Friday thru Sunday and holiday Mondays, as well as December 26 through January 1. Closed December 25 and April 2-May 4. Starting May 5, 2018 gift shop/deli hours will be 10-6 weekends only through May 20, then daily starting May 25. May open other days as conditions allows. Hurricane Ridge Downhill Ski, Snowboard & Tubing Area has two rope tows, a poma lift and tubing park, and is operated by the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club, www.hurricaneridge.com. It operates 10-4 weekends and holiday Mondays (January 1 and 15, February 19) from December 3, 2017 through April 1, 2018, as well as December 26 to 29 and March 16. Closed December 24 and 25. Full day rates are $34 for all runs, $32 half day. Rope tows for full and half day are $26 and $24. Tube park rate (including tubes) is $10 per hour. Only tubes furnished by the ski area will be permitted in their tube park. Cross country skiers in the ski area must use ski leashes. Skiing/Snowboard/Snowshoeing Lessons: Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club offers winter sports lessons for ages four and up. Private lessons are also available. For more information see www.hurricaneridge.com or (848) 667-7669. Equipment Rentals: Several businesses on the Olympic Peninsula and in the Puget Sound area rent winter recreational equipment. Hurricane Ridge Rental Shop (hours and dates below) packages include skis, boots and poles. The shop requires a driver’s license to rent equipment.
Camping: The closest vehicle camping is at Heart O’ the Hills. Backpackers must get a permit at the WIC. Because of storms, overnight winter parking is not allowed at Hurricane Ridge.You must park 3.3 miles below the Ridge at Third Peak. Camps must be 1/2 mile away from the Hurricane Ridge parking lot and out of sight of ski/snowshoe trails. Be prepared for a snowy drive down in case a storm forces a road closure on your return day. Snowshoe With A RangerJoin a ranger to experience winter wonders on snowshoes. If you can walk, you can snowshoe! Snowshoes and instructions provided. Cost is $7 for adults, $3 for youth 6-15 years old, free for children 5 years old and under. Participants should prepare for cold, snow, wind or even rain. Dress in layers, wear warm, waterproof boots and bring hats, mittens, sunscreen and sunglasses. If the road is closed, walks are cancelled. Snowshoe Walks: From December 16, 2017 through April 1, 2018, snow permitting, this easy to moderate walk is offered at 2:00 p.m. on weekends and holiday Mondays (January 1 and 15, February 19). The walk lasts 1.5 hours and covers less than a mile. Group size is limited to 25 people. Signup starts at the Hurricane Ridge information desk 30 minutes before the walk. Snowshoe Walks for Community Groups: Clubs, youth groups or schools can reserve a 10:30 a.m. walk for groups of 7 to 25 people. From December 16, 2017 through April 1, 2018, these 1.5-hour walks are offered on weekends and holiday Mondays (January 1 and 15, February 19), snow permitting. Reservations must be made in advance by calling (360) 565-3136. 
Cross-Country Skiing and SnowshoeingWith its easy access and 15 to 20 miles of routes, Hurricane Ridge is the focus of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Olympic National Park. Though winter explorers of all abilities can enjoy the area, flat, easy, beginner ski terrain is limited to the meadows above the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. Backcountry skiers can explore several slopes and bowls in the area. No trails are groomed or marked; however, two routes use unplowed roads which can usually be navigated. NOTE FOR SNOWSHOERS, WALKERS, SNOWBOARDERS AND SKIERS: Do your part to help everyone enjoy this area. Snowshoers, walkers and snowboarders, please stay to one side to avoid damaging the ski tracks on trails, and do not snowshoe or walk through the downhill ski area. Before heading out on any trip remember to register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and check current avalanche conditions. Below are descriptions of routes in the Hurricane Ridge area. EasiestThe MeadowsThe meadows above the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center offer gentle, easy terrain for everyone and excellent views in fair weather. Because the meadows are exposed to the sun and wind, they can be icy or wind packed. More DifficultHurricane Hill Road 1.3mi/2.1 km one wayBeginning just west of the visitor center, this trail first descends steeply, then follows the rolling, moderate ridgeline along the unplowed Hurricane Hill Road. Experienced skiers can use this trail to reach the Hurricane Hill Route (see Most Difficult), as well as several bowls for backcountry skiing. In clear weather there are good views to the north and south, especially at the trail/road terminus at the Hurricane Hill trailhead. Much of this ridgetop trail is sheltered by a subalpine forest, making it a good choice in windy, inclement weather or when there is elevated avalanche hazard. Wolf Creek Trail 8 mi/12.9 km one way to Whiskey Bend This route begins 0.6 miles west of the visitor center along the unplowed Hurricane Hill Road (see above) and descends through meadows and forests into the Elwha Valley. There are several south-facing slopes near the beginning which are good for backcountry skiing. The Wolf Creek Trail is seldom snow-covered at lower elevations. Users usually just descend a few miles through forest and several meadows with nice south views, then return the same way. Obstruction Point Road: To Waterhole 3.4 mi/5.5 km one way Rather than descend the exposed, steep, often drifted and icy route of the summer Obstruction Point Road, the winter route starts at the sharp curve along the Hurricane Ridge Road, 0.5 miles below the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. Park in the pull-off below the curve, cross to the east side of the road and walk the snow bank back uphill to the curve. After descending a steep but short meadow, the route intersects and follows the unplowed Obstruction Point Road. Other than the initial descent, the first 1.5 miles are relatively easy and sheltered by forest. After a steep climb, the route crosses below Steeple Rock and onto a short section of exposed slopes which can be drifted, icy and difficult to traverse. After that, the trail flattens and meanders through sheltered subalpine forest. Beyond Waterhole, it climbs steeply (see below). Most DifficultHurricane Hill Route 1.6 mi/2.6 km one wayThis route starts at the end of the Hurricane Hill Road route and climbs 700 feet to the summit of Hurricane Hill. There are several very steep sidehills if users follow the summer trail route, so use extreme caution under icy or elevated avalanche hazard conditions. As an alternative, skiers and snowshoers can follow the ridgeline, which has fewer steep sections. Be careful to stay off cornices that build up along the lee side of the ridge. Under good conditions, advanced skiers or snowshoers will find this a rewarding trip with good views and some nice slopes. Obstruction Point Road: Waterhole to end 4.3 mi/6.9 km one way (Obstruction Point Road is 7.8 mi/12.5 km one way) This route begins midway out the unplowed Obstruction Point Road (see description above for the first 3.4 miles to Waterhole). After Waterhole, the route gains 900 feet, climbing steadily for 0.5 miles to open slopes on Eagle Point. In clear weather, views can be spectacular but steep sidehills and exposure to storms make this a difficult route. It is recommended only under good conditions for experienced skiers. Travel beyond Obstruction Point can entail steep terrain with high avalanche potential. Sunrise Ridge 2.1 mi/3.4 km one way Begin this route by crossing below the intermediate rope tow and tube park, then climbing to the right of the ski hill (stay right of the trees). After crossing under the top of the ski area’s intermediate rope tow, this route follows a narrow ridge toward the south side of Mount Angeles. There are several avalanche prone areas along the way, so check conditions and use caution under unstable conditions. Be especially careful to stay off cornices that form along the ridge and side ridges. Several nice slopes on the east side descend to the Hurricane Ridge Road. Other AreasDepending on the snow level, other roads and trails in the park and in OlympicNational Forest may be snow-covered. Check at the visitor center for current snow levels. The Deer Park Road may provide opportunities. For safety, this steep, narrow road is closed to cars at the park boundary, 9 miles from Highway 101, at around 2,000 feet of elevation. The road climbs steadily about 9 more miles from the park boundary up to Blue Mountain. If the snow level is low enough, the road may be skiable from the boundary; but users usually need to hike several miles before reaching snow. For other routes on the Olympic Peninsula, refer to guides such as 100 Best Cross-Country Ski Trails in Washington, by Tom Kirkendall and Vicky Spring, Snowshoe Routes: Washington by Dan Nelson, or Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Washington by Martin Volken. Snow SlidingSnow sliding is a favorite pastime for some, but it has also been one of the most dangerous activities at Hurricane Ridge. Serious injuries, even permanent disabilities occurred when people collided with trees, other sliders, or lost control and ended up in the road. For your safety, sliding/tubing is permitted in only two locations:
Perspectives Winter Speaker SeriesLearn more about your park at the free Perspectives winter speaker series. Talksare at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, November through April. Due to renovation of the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, talks will be at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 South Peabody St., Port Angeles. Refreshments provided by Friends of Olympic National Park. December 12 - Ozette Archeology: A Retrospective Paul Gleeson, Chief of Cultural Resources–retired, Olympic National Park Over 300 years ago a mudslide at the Ozette village crushed buildings and encapsulated a moment of rich village life and Makah tradition. Evidence of this tragedy surfaced in 1966, offering an extraordinary view of the past. Learn about this discovery from Paul Gleeson, who worked on the excavation. January 9 - Geology and Earthquakes on the Olympic Peninsula Dann May, Peninsula College Evidence on the landscape reveals the history of a massive earthquake and tsunami that struck this region in 1700. Learn how these destructive geologic forces have shaped the dramatic and beautiful landscape in our backyard. February 13 - Fishers on the Olympic Peninsula Patricia Happe, Ph.D., Wildlife Biologist, Olympic National Park Fishers were reintroduced to Olympic National Park in 2008-2010 and quickly spread throughout the Peninsula. Dr. Happe will share the latest results from the multi-agency monitoring of this forest carnivore’s comeback. March 13 - A Final Assessment of Elwha Revegetation Josh Chenoweth, Restoration Ecologist, Olympic National Park Come learn the results of six years of revegetation efforts in the Elwha reservoirs and hear predictions on future vegetation changes. As active revegetation winds down and nature takes over, learn what worked and what didn’t. April 10 - Whale Rescue John Calambokidis, Research Biologist, Cascadia Research A dramatic response by multiple agencies led to the successful rescue of a stranded gray whale from a beach near Kalaloch in Olympic National Park. Come listen to those whose efforts helped rescue the whale and get an update on the latest gray whale research. |
Last updated: January 15, 2018