Nearby — Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area: The Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area is a small ski area in the northwest United States, located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. It is within Olympic National Park, seventeen miles (27 km) south of Port Angeles.
And here it is. Stand at the edge and let your eyes walk that skyline — ridge after ridge of the interior Olympics, snow holding in the high folds even in summer. On a clear morning the first sun catches Mount Olympus and sets the whole range glowing pink and gold before the valleys below have even woken up. This is the best seat for the best show on the peninsula. If you ever get the chance, come back for sunrise — set an alarm, bring coffee, and have this whole wilderness to yourself while the light comes up. Stay a minute; the air's clean and the quiet is the kind you drive a long way for. Stay with me — Boone's got something to leave you with up here.
Photo: Cody Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Sunrise viewpoint is a short, high-reward walk reached via the paved Cirque Rim and gravel High Ridge nature trails at Hurricane Ridge. A gentle climb leads to an overlook perched above Hurricane Ridge Road, where a panorama opens toward Mount Angeles, the northern Olympic foothills, and the Olympic Range marching south. An interpretive sign identifies the peaks, and a bench invites you to linger over the view of British Columbia and the surrounding waters.
Despite its modest length, the trail packs an outstanding effort-to-reward ratio, climbing through subalpine terrain where black-tailed deer and Olympic marmots are often seen. The well-graded path is suitable for families and makes an easy add-on to a Hurricane Ridge visit. As the name suggests, the east- and north-facing outlook is a fine spot for early light, though the views are rewarding at any time of day.
- • Reached on foot from the Hurricane Ridge area via the Cirque Rim/High Ridge nature trails; the spur to Sunrise Point is roughly 0.9 mile with about 200 feet of gain.
- • Rated easy and family-friendly; plan 30 to 60 minutes round trip depending on how long you stop for the view.
- • Requires the standard $30-per-vehicle 7-day Olympic National Park pass and access up Hurricane Ridge Road.
- • Best in summer (July-August) when the road is fully open, the meadows bloom, and snow has cleared from the trail.
- • Pets are not permitted on these trails; the upper, gravel portion is not as smooth as the paved Cirque Rim section, so wear suitable footwear.