Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park: Scenic Drive, Best Hikes & Sunset Views

When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Affiliate Policy. During our two weeks exploring Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge ended up being one of our favorite stops. After days of walking along the western coast, hiking through moss-covered forests, making it to the edge of the contiguous U.S. and checking out waterfalls near Lake Crescent, it was time for us to explore the Olympic Mountains near Port Angeles. Getting to Hurricane Ridge: Nearby Stays, Drive and Parking Sequim, which is just 25 minutes east of Port Angeles, was our home base for the 4 days we stayed in the northern side of the park. Because we booked our stays late, we split our stay between the Red Lion Hotel in town and an Airbnb out in the country. Both places were pet-friendly which was important since we were exploring the Peninsula with our dogs, Toby and Lily. We left them behind for the day since dogs are only allowed in certain places and specific trails in the park. Grand Valley Trail, 8-Miles from Hurricane Ridge Our drive from Sequim to Hurricane Ridge took us about an hour and the worst traffic we encountered was along US 101 through Port Angeles. Once you turn onto Race Street, it’s a straight shot up to the ridge. The 17-mile drive from Port Angeles is scenic and the views keep getting better as you get closer to the top of Hurricane Ridge (5,242 feet). If you’re visiting during the summer, the road will be open and mostly clear. During the winter months, the road is only open Fridays through Sundays and holiday Mondays (weather permitting). Check the Olympic National Park road conditions page for the latest updates. We visited Hurricane Ridge on August 7th, right in the middle of one of the best times to visit the Olympic Peninsula. That timing gave us warm, mostly clear weather and plenty of daylight for hiking and time to catch a sunset. You can check out the Hurricane Ridge webcam for a live view of the area. Port Angeles Weather Hurricane Ridge Entry Fees and Parking Guide An America the Beautiful Pass covers entrance to Olympic National Park. We didn’t have any trouble finding parking at Hurricane Ridge. There were plenty of spots available throughout the day and into the evening. Unlike some other popular park areas like the Hall of Mosses, we didn’t feel stressed about needing to arrive early to grab a spot. Until we reached Hurricane Ridge, it was hard to believe all of these landscapes belonged to the same National Park. We had spent the last 1.5 weeks walking along beaches and hiking rainforest trails. Now we were standing in the mountains looking toward Mount Olympus. Best Times to Visit Hurricane Ridge for Sunrise and Sunset We ended up driving up to Hurricane Ridge multiple times during our first day in Sequim. In the morning, we drove along Obstruction Point Road for our hike on the Grand Valley Trail. Later that evening, after spending some time back at our Airbnb with Toby and Lily, we made the drive to the ridge for sunset. With the sun setting, the mountains looked bluer and the sky lit up in red and gold colors. If we visited Hurricane Ridge again, visiting during sunset would be at the top of our list. Grand Valley Trail and Obstruction Point Hike One of the highlights of our day was driving Obstruction Point Road, an 8-mile gravel road often called “Washington’s Scariest Road.” At the end of the road sits the Grand Valley Trail trailhead, more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Despite the road’s reputation, it didn’t feel dangerous. It was just steep enough to require you to stay focused. The parking lot at Obstruction Point was small and full, but there was safe room to park along the road. From the parking lot, we hiked about 4 miles out and back which took us roughly four hours (we were too preoccupied with the view to keep track of time). It was mostly sunny and warm, but the altitude kept it feeling cool and comfortable. The trail was open and exposed, with very little shade or trees. Along the way, we spotted yellow, purple and red wildflowers that had popped up in the dusty and mountainous terrain. One of the best moments we had was reaching a rocky outcrop about 1.6 miles in. From this viewpoint, Mount Olympus completely filled the horizon. This has been one of the most beautiful mountain hikes we have ever been on. If you’re curious what we bring along for our hikes, check out the gear we use! Watching the Sunset at Hurricane Ridge After our hike, we drove back to our Airbnb to spend some time with our dogs. We took them to one of Sequim’s nearby dog parks so they could run, stretch their legs and burn off some energy. We then dropped them back off at the Airbnb and made one final stop at the ridge. This was our last evening on the Olympic Peninsula before driving back to Alabama, so we made the drive back up to Hurricane Ridge to catch the sunset. As the sun dipped behind the peaks, the mountains’ faded to blue and sky began glowing with red and gold. It was the perfect way to end our time in Olympic National Park. We sat in the parking lot, where the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center once stood (it burned down on May 7th, 2023) until the sun had completely set. Stargazing at Hurricane Ridge As we walked back to our car, we ran into a small astronomy group who had set up with a massive telescope in the parking lot. They kindly let us take a closer look at the moon which showed the detailed craters. If you’re visiting during the summer months, keep an eye out for the Night Sky Program! They might be stationed in the parking lot when the sky is clear. Hurricane Ridge Visitor Tips & Seasonal Advice Dress in layers: It can be cooler up at 5,242 feet, even during the summer. Parking is usually easy: We didn’t have any parking issues when we visited in August. Dogs: Pets are only allowed on paved areas. Road access: The ridge road closes in winter except weekends and holidays. Check current road conditions before you go. Other Places to Visit in Olympic National Park While Hurricane Ridge offers stunning mountain views and accessible hikes, Olympic National Park has so much more to explore: Rialto Beach and First Beach: Located near the town of Forks, one of the best places in the park to see sea stacks, driftwood and tide pools. Sol Duc Falls: One of our favorite waterfalls in Olympic, with a short forest hike leading to a beautiful three-pronged cascade. Marymere Falls: A short, family-friendly hike through a rainforest which leads to a beautiful waterfall. Peabody Creek Trailhead: A lesser-known trail offering a peaceful forest hike and opportunities to see some wildlife. Cape Flattery: Though technically just outside the park boundaries, it’s the northwesternmost point of the contiguous U.S. with a breathtaking ocean view. Hoh Rainforest: One of the park’s most visited areas, this temperate rainforest features moss-draped trees and trails like the Hall of Mosses. Each of these spots feature a unique side of Olympic and offers plenty of adventure no matter what type of trip you’re planning. Click on the pins in the map below to explore our favorite nearby spots in Olympic National Park. Google Map needs advertisement cookies to load. These cookies cover both our site and the embedded content. Or View on Google Maps Why Hurricane Ridge Should Be on Your Olympic National Park Itinerary Hurricane Ridge is definitely one of the more popular and touristy spots in Olympic National Park; think of it like the Hall of Mosses but with mountains. That said, we may have been lucky with minimal crowds during our visits. If you only have a half day in the park and are near Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge is a great way to spend it. Between the scenic drive, incredible mountain views and sunset, it ended up being one of our favorite stops in Olympic National Park.