Hiking Hurricane Ridge to Sunrise Ridge in Olympic National Park

Looking for more hikes and things to do in Olympic National Park?
Hike to Sol Duc Falls and visit the hot springs, or head to the coast to explore Rialto Beach & Hole-in-the-Wall

WE HIKED IT

July 2021, about 3.5 hours including a brief lunch break

CURRENT INFO

For information about Hurricane Ridge, visit the National Park Service website. Find hiking reviews for the first portion of this hike (to Sunrise Point) on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. We followed the hike as described in the book Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano. You can read an excerpt from this book about the Sunrise Ridge trail on the Mountaineers website.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Since Hurricane Ridge is located within Olympic National Park, you must present an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) or pay the $30 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) when you enter the park. You can also purchase an annual pass at a park entrance station. Olympic National Park has its own annual pass available for $55, but I prefer the America the Beautiful Pass, which covers entrance fees for all national parks as well as other national lands. Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free pass — fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
• There is a large parking lot at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
• You can start the hike from the visitor center, or look for a signed trailhead on your right shortly after you enter the parking lot. From this starting point, you can head straight to the High Ridge trail and skip the Big Meadow loop and Cirque Rim trail.
• The Big Meadow loop and Cirque Rim trail are paved, accessible trails and are a great option for anyone who can’t do a longer or more strenuous hike. Maps of these trails and other short hikes at Hurricane Ridge are posted at the visitor center. Snap a photo so you can refer back to it as you explore the area.

• For a short, yet hilly hike with fantastic views, do the High Ridge Loop. It’s also worth hiking up the short trail to Sunrise Point from the High Ridge trail (see map above), whether or not you plan to hike further along Sunrise Ridge. We incorporated both the High Ridge loop and a side trip to Sunrise Point in our hike.
• For a wheelchair accessible hike, the Hurricane Hill trail is a wonderful option.
• Restrooms, a gift shop, and snack bar are available at Hurricane Ridge Lodge.
• Pets are not allowed on trails.
• The trail along Sunrise Ridge is very exposed, so bring sunscreen, shade hats, and plenty of water.
• The trail is narrow and the loose dirt can be slippery, so wear shoes with good traction. Because this is a ridge hike, expect some steep drop-offs. poles are also recommended.
• Hurricane Ridge area hikes are generally open from late May through mid-autumn, depending on the weather and snow levels. Check the trail conditions before you go.
• What about winter? Hurricane Ridge is a great place to visit year round, and in winter sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are popular. There are even a few downhill ski lifts! This is a popular place to come for winter fun, so be aware that the parking lot can fill up on weekends. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

In many ways, Hurricane Ridge is the heart of Olympic National Park. Trails here provide high country views without any backcountry hiking. Sunrise Ridge is a wonderful hike that provides non-stop views, and, in summer, lovely wildflowers. You’ll share the trail with others, but it’s noticeably less crowded than the High Ridge or Hurricane Hill trails (although you will also hike the High Ridge trail as part of this route).

THE KIDS’ TAKE

We had hiked to Sol Duc Falls the day before, so the kids weren’t too keen on the idea of another hike so soon. Fortunately, the hike across Sunrise Ridge is dramatically different from Sol Duc, giving them something completely new to explore. Ten-year-old J got into it once we were out on the open ridge, but this part was a challenge for five-year-old T. The steep drop-off was scary! I stayed with him and encouraged him to take it one slow step at a time (and as a parent, I was inwardly thankful for his caution!). It was difficult at first, but he did great, and had a real sense of accomplishment by the time he was done.

So, should you take your young kids on Sunset Ridge? As always, that’s a personal call. Experienced hikers from around age five and up will likely enjoy this trail, which can be thrilling. The child should be old enough that you trust them to hike carefully and responsibly — no running or horsing around near the edge. For kids who are ready, but have some trepidation, it can be a real confidence booster to conquer those fears. Stay close and provide support, but give your child the chance to hike on their own and experience the awe and wonder of alpine hiking!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

The Sunrise Ridge trail is just one of many hiking options at Hurricane Ridge. For a longer trek (about 7.5 miles total), continue one more mile along Klahhane Ridge before turning back. Looking for something wheelchair accessible? Hurricane Hill is a paved trail offering more panoramic views.

Don’t forget to stop by the visitor center, which offers information about the geology and flora and fauna of the Olympic Peninsula. Stamp your national park passport book and chat with a ranger to plan your visit. A short film shown at the center beautifully illustrates the natural forces which have shaped this land. Down the road in Port Angeles, the main visitor center for all of Olympic National Park offers more exhibits and a great little bookshop.

There is so much more to see and do in Olympic National Park! Want to camp? We stayed at Fairholme Campground on gorgeous Lake Crescent. If you prefer to stay closer to Hurricane Ridge, Heart O’ the Hills Campground is the closest option. It’s also a fun place to play in the snow in winter! The Sol Duc Valley is another lovely area to visit, with a hot springs resort and a hike to a stunning waterfall. Heading to the coast? Check out the incredible Rialto Beach.

It’s a beautiful drive from Fairholme Campground on Lake Crescent to Hurricane Ridge. With nothing but blue skies overhead, we drove the winding road into the Olympic Mountains. I could not have imagined a more perfect day for our visit.

We took some time getting ready — applying sunscreen, using the restroom, and freshening up our water supply. Leaving from the visitor center, we headed for the Cirque Rim trail, a paved path showcasing views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca toward Canada’s Vancouver Island.

Soon, however, our eyes were drawn toward something much closer at hand. Just off the trail, mere steps from where we stood, a young buck nestled in a den of fallen logs. I’ve seen many deer in my life, but never quite so close. He paid no attention to us humans, apparently quite snug and at ease in his shelter. T noticed a movement in the branches behind him, and sure enough, we could just make out a second pair of antlers. Two deer! Our hike was off to a great start.

Before long, we reached the end of the Cirque Rim trail. At the trail junction, we had a choice to go either right or left along the High Ridge trail. Since the High Ridge trail is a loop, either direction led to Sunrise Ridge. We decided to head left, knowing that we could take the other route down on our return.

At this point, we left the paved, easy trail behind for a steep uphill trek. J was a bit shocked by the sudden change, and took a break at a bench by one of the switchbacks. Fortunately, this stretch of the trail, while steep, doesn’t last long, and soon we arrived at another crossroads. This time, the choices were to either head right to reach Sunrise Point, or left to follow Sunrise Ridge. While Sunrise Ridge was our ultimate goal, Michael and I decided to take a quick detour to Sunrise Point. The kids don’t find viewpoints as compelling as us adults, so opted to wait at the trail junction. A conveniently placed bench made a fine place to rest.

The trip to Sunrise Point took only minutes, and was well worth it for the higher views. For those not continuing on to Sunrise Ridge, this is a great place to turn around and head back to the visitor center. For us, the fun was just beginning.

Looking ahead along the Sunrise Ridge trail, I felt a twinge of apprehension when I saw the ridge ahead of us. Michael headed out without hesitation, but I waited with the boys, allowing other hikers to take the narrow trail first. Once we were free to go, J quickly pulled ahead. He’d rested enough and was ready to tackle the trail. Five-year-old T, on the other hand, started with trepidation. The drop-off along this section of the trail might not look too steep in a photo, but in real life it’s a different story. The dry, crumbly dirt required careful attention to avoid slipping.

“Just keep an eye on your feet,” I encouraged T. “Don’t look down the hill.” On the steepest sections, I walked directly behind him, tightly clutching his hand.

Once we passed the ridge and made it back into the forest, T was noticeably more at ease.

“I thought I couldn’t do it, but I did!” he told me triumphantly.

There were more trials to come, however. An opening in the trees looked gave us a tantalizing glimpse eastward across Puget Sound toward the Cascade Mountains. Here in the Olympics, more views meant more open ridges. T offered himself words of encouragement as he walked.

“You can do it,” he affirmed. “Mom, I told myself that I can do it!”

“That’s great, sweetie! Keep it up!”

T was indeed making great progress. We even caught up with Michael and J, who were enjoying the view north toward Vancouver Island from a high knoll along the Sunrise Ridge trail.

Coming down from the knoll, we rounded a corner and were soon back in the woods. We encountered a small downed tree that hadn’t yet been cleared, but overall the trail was in great shape. It became steeper, with a series of switchbacks winding down through the trees. At the base of the switchbacks, one final ridge lay between us and our destination.

It was a long ridge, and by this time T’s hunger was growing. Heck, I was feeling pretty hungry myself. Michael had once again pulled ahead, and our lunch was in his backpack. There was nothing to do but to keep going, even when the going got tough. T struggled. To be fair, we both did. But we trudged on and then, suddenly, we saw them — both Michael and J, waiting for us at the end of the trail.

To clarify, it wasn’t really the end of the trail, just our chosen turnaround point. It was here that the trail once again split in two directions: left up Mount Angeles, or right along Klahhane Ridge. I knew this only because I followed the map included in my copy of Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula. On the trail itself, there is nothing more than a small wooden sign with an arrow pointing ahead that helpfully says, “trail”. Something tells me the national park system needs more money for better trail signage.

We gathered under a narrow strip of shade near the trail junction to eat our lunch. A few other hikers passed us as they continued on toward Klahane Ridge. It was tempting to continue on ourselves; now, fortified with lunch, I was ready for more hiking. But I also knew that adding two more miles to our hike might not be the best option for the kids, especially since we planned to stop by the visitor center and gift shop before they closed. Lunch finished, we turned around to make our way back.

The return hike was a joy. Everyone felt better with full bellies, and T was now an expert ridge hiker. The uphill switchbacks appeared daunting, but barely slowed us down, although I did take several minutes to pop in on a few small meadows tucked among the trees. There, just steps beyond the trail, a dazzling carpet of lupine glowed in the summer sunshine.

With the switchbacks behind us, the trail now led gently downhill. If anything, the views were even better than what we experienced on the trip out. The Olympic Mountains formed a perfect panorama across the horizon, drawing us onward. Ahead of us, the trail spooled across Sunrise Ridge like a ribbon. Below us, Hurricane Ridge Road wound its way steadily upwards.

We crossed the final ridge, the one that had given T so much trouble earlier on. Now, his newfound confidence was inspiring. Back at the trail junction with Sunrise Point and the High Ridge trail, we turned left onto the High Ridge loop, and followed the steep trail down to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. Before we knew it, we were back at the parking lot.

We stashed our hiking packs in the car before heading back to the visitor center, still taking in the sweeping mountain views as we walked. Hurricane Ridge on a sunny day never disappoints, and this was a hike none of us will soon forget.