Read more: Overview, map, weather, how-to-get-there, itinerary ideas: Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA
Hurricane Ridge
Seventeen miles south of Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge is the park’s most easily reached mountain destination.
The paved Hurricane Ridge Road is open 24 hours a day from mid-May through mid-autumn.
During the “snow months”, the road is open, weather permitting, on weekends. Hurricane Ridge offers a visitor center, self-guided nature trails, a snack bar and gift shop, ranger-led programs in summer and a nearby picnic area. Camping is available at Heart O’ the Hills.
Life at Hurricane Ridge is shaped by wind and snow. Over 75 mile an hour gusts buffet the ridge, lending the name “Hurricane.” The 30-35 feet of snow that falls annually lingers into summer, shaping life year-round. Its weight challenges trees; its persistence maintains open meadows. As you explore, look for evidence that snow truly sculpts this landscape.
Web: Visiting Hurricane Ridge – Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Deer Park
Reached by an 18-mile winding gravel road, Deer Park offers spectacular alpine scenery, a small tents-only campground and hiking trails. A ranger station is staffed intermittently during summer and fall.
The last nine miles of this steep mountain road are gravel-surfaced, winding and narrow. Please use caution and note that the Deer Park Road is not suitable for RVs or trailers. From late fall until melt-out in late spring, the road is closed at the park boundary.
