Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse national parks in the United States, with a rocky coastline, dramatic mountain ranges, clear lakes, and beautiful rainforests. It truly has something for everyone! You can spend your days walking along sandy beaches, hiking through moss-covered rainforests, or hiking to breathtaking viewpoints.

Hurricane Ridge Road was one of the first things I put on our itinerary because it is one of the best places to view the stunning mountains in Olympic National Park. Trust me, photos do not do it justice!

Although you can enjoy the views from the parking lot, one of the best ways to experience everything the area offers is to hike the Hurricane Hill Trail. We loved hiking this trail because the views of the surrounding mountains were breathtaking. If you have time, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary!

If you want to hike Hurricane Hill Trail, you are in the right place! I created this guide to have everything you need to know about hiking Hurricane Hill Trail in Olympic National Park.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

How to Get to Hurricane Hill Trail

Parking for Hurricane Hill Trail is at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road, a stunning 17-mile road to a beautiful viewpoint of the surrounding mountains. The drive to the trailhead was almost as beautiful as the views from the trail!

The main parking lot is near the Visitor Center, but the trailhead parking is at the end of Hurricane Ridge. The parking lot is relatively small, but Hurricane Ridge Road has a few nearby parking lots you can use if the trailhead lot is full. We had to loop around a few times before we found a spot.

Because Hurricane Ridge is one of the most popular places in Olympic National Park, it gets busy. The national park only allows a limited number of cars to go to the top and temporarily closes the entrance once the parking lot is full and only opens it once people begin to come back down.

I recommend arriving at the entrance station in the morning or closer to sunset to avoid sitting in traffic. We visited just before sunset, and although it was still busy, we did not have to wait long to find parking.

If you are spending the night near Hurricane Ridge, Port Angeles is the best place to stay. The small city has plenty of lodging options, restaurants, and gas stations, and it is a quick drive to the Hurricane Ridge entrance station and many must-see attractions. There are also many other cute towns near Olympic National Park with accommodations.

Hurricane Hill Trail Overview

Hurricane Hill Trail is a stunning trail that you will quickly fall in love with like we did! It is easy to follow and well-maintained since it is one of the most popular hikes in Olympic National Park. The entire trail has breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, so I recommend taking your time to enjoy each and every viewpoint!

Hurricane Hill Trail Stats

Length: 3.4 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Best time to hike: Summer to early fall
Facilities: The visitor center has restrooms.
Webcam: I used this webcam to check the conditions before visiting.
Not dog-friendly: Hurricane Hill Trail is not dog-friendly. Dogs are only allowed on a few trails in Olympic National Park, and Hurricane Hill Trail is not one of them.

Hurricane Hill Trail Map

What to Pack for the Hike

This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:

Hiking Hurricane Hill Trail: Step-By-Step Guide

Hurricane Ridge Road is one of the most beautiful drives in Olympic National Park. The views from the Visitor Center are spectacular, allowing the entire family to enjoy them! But if you want to experience more breathtaking views, I recommend hiking the Hurricane Hill Trail.

The Hurricane Hill Trail is one of the most popular trails in Olympic National Park for good reason. The entire trail offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and the end viewpoint will take your breath away with its 360-degree views.

Although the trail gains over 800 feet of elevation, it is not overly strenuous. The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow along a wide, gravel path. The Hurricane Hill Trail has beautiful views along the entire hike, which helps distract you from the elevation gain.

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.

Hurricane Hill Trailhead

The Hurricane Hill Trail begins at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road. You can park anywhere on Hurricane Ridge, but the trailhead is at the end just past the visitor center.

As I mentioned, Hurricane Ridge is one of the most popular places in Olympic National Park, so it is almost always busy. We had to do a few loops in the parking lot before we found a spot.

If Hurricane Ridge is overcrowded, the park staff will hold cars at the gate at the beginning of the road. We luckily were able to avoid that since we visited closer to sunset, but it happens quite a bit midday.

Trailhead to the Switchbacks

The first half-mile is relatively flat as it follows along the ridge through some pines. We were in awe of the pretty views looking west over the Bailey Range between the trees.

After a half-mile, the trail comes to the Little River Trail Junction, and you will want to continue straight to stay on Hurricane Hill Trail.

The Hurricane Ridge Trail slowly becomes steeper over the next half-mile as it climbs to Hurricane Hill. The west side of the trail opens up, offering incredible views of the Bailey Range that will take your breath away! The views helped to distract us from the elevation gain.

Just before the summit, the trail becomes steep with three switchbacks. It is the steepest section of Hurricane Ridge Trail, but the switchbacks help! The views also open up as you begin the steep ascent, offering a preview of what is to come at the end.

At the top of the switchbacks, the trail comes to the Elwha-Hurricane Ridge Trail Junction, where you want to continue right to stay on Hurricane Hill Trail.

The Summit of Hurricane Hill

Hurricane Hill Trail finally levels out as it approaches Hurricane Hill and its various viewpoints. Hurricane Hill has the best views, in my opinion, because it offers 360-degree views of Olympic National Park. I recommend walking around the top to the other viewpoints because they will not disappoint!

The Summit to the Parking Lot

Once you finish enjoying the views, you will follow Hurricane Hill Trail back to the parking lot. The views on the way back are spectacular, giving you a different perspective on the trail. Of course, the mountain views never get old!

Other Trails Near Hurricane Hill

If you want to enjoy another short trail on Hurricane Ridge Road, you have a few to choose from! The 1-mile hike to the Sunrise Viewpoint near the Visitor Center is an easy hike with spectacular views. You could also hike that with the Cirque Rim Nature Trail, which offers great views looking north into Olympic National Park.

If you want to hike Hurricane Hill Trail when you visit Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, you are in the right place. This guide has everything you need to know about hiking the Hurricane Hill Trail.