Hurricane Ridge

At the very least, you’ll want to take the drive up to Hurricane Ridge, if weather and road conditions allow. It’s well marked and only 17 miles south of the visitor center along the Heart o’ the Hills/Hurricane Ridge Road. The journey up the mountain is spectacular. Watch for signs to Lookout Rock, a viewpoint you won’t want to miss. Carrying on, you’ll pass through thick forests past sub-Alpine meadows, all the way to the top of a 5,000-foot ridge. From here, if the weather is permitting, you’ll see the splendid Olympic Mountains and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Look for easy Meadow Loop Trails that guide you through meadows covered in summer with wildflowers, but bring a jacket no matter what time of year. It gets cold up here! Keep in mind, this is an area that gets an annual snowfall up to 35' which can last into the summer.