Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center

It was ok going up seeing the view but the lodge wasn’t open nor had food/​drinks to sale like it said. The views was the best part nothing special about the lodge

Mount Olympus is one of Washington State’s most isolated peaks and Hurricane Ridge is the most popular place to get a glimpse of the iconic 7,956-ft tall mountain. So, hurry up the mountain to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center for a look or refuge from the weather … or a restroom.
Take in the view … except when it’s raining, foggy, snowing, dark, or misting … which is often … because the mountain gets 200 inches of precipitation (mostly snow) each year. No matter the weather, the windy ridge is distinctive. Much like the 80s rock band the Scorpions, the Visitor Center says, «Here I am, rock you like a hurricane.»
* Located about 17 miles south of Port Angeles
* Only Open daily in summer (June — September)
* Open weekends other seasons IF the road is open
* Park entrance fee is $ 20/​car and good for 7 days
* Annual or other National Park Passes accepted
* At the visitor center, watch a 20-​min video about the park
* Pick up brochures, maps, and tips
* Downstairs is a snack bar and gift shop (open summer only)
* Several trails are nearby for any hiking skill
* Winter is a snow wonderland while Spring brings wildflowers

This attraction is one of the first you will find as you enter the Olympic Peninsula en route to the other attractions from Port Angeles proper (Marymere Falls, Sol Duc, Crescent Lake, Hoh Rainforest, Rialto Beach, Forks, Ruby Beach, etc). This attraction was literally only a few minutes away from our horrid dump of a hotel (Day’s Inn Port Angeles); however, from the entrance of this grand National Park to the top of Hurricane Ridge it will set you back some 30 — 45 minutes, depending on how slow or fast you drive; and my advice is to take your time!
The park fee was $ 20 — we kept our pass/​receipt as we went «backwards» from the Hoh Rainforest the other day and was told the pass was good for a week. Make sure you keep the receipt handy in your car so you will have it on your next Washington National Parks visit; we had to dig it out from our luggage in the parking lot and then present it to the ranger in the booth (they are super nice, by the way).
The crazy twists and turns numbered over 120 after we lost count coming back down from the top. Just take your time — there are some treacherous parts of the road that can spell disaster if you lose control of your car… just sayin’
Once you get to to the top, there is a giant parking lot and a visitor center. There were a bunch of large, buzzing flies in the parking lot but that’s to be expected for being so close to nature… and literally so — there was a female deer in the parking lot and apparently there are a bunch of these creatures running around on the premises.
There are a few trail options and we took the easiest of trails as we were short on time and I was in the presence of a pre-​pubescent child whose idea of a good time was lounging around with an iPad. The trail was paved, easy and well-​maintained. We finished the «hike» in less than 40 minutes, and that’s with yours truly stopping at every nook and cranny to take pictures. There was still snow on the mountains off into the distance even in the middle of July.
Once back in the parking lot, we decided to make a pit stop for the toilets and to patronize the gift shop. Their credit card machine had broken down so I ended up standing in line after a bunch of other tourists and paid cash ($ 27) for a crummy T-​shirt. I saw the same exact shirt in Pike’s Market for $ 15! Oh well.
Hurricane Ridge was far prettier than anything I’ve seen on Youtube or here on Unilocal or on Tripadvisor; its just one of those places you’d have to see in person… no amount of photos or videos can do this place the justice of gracing it with your own presence!

Wow! What an amazing scenic place. Great visitor center on the top of Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. Deffiantly one of the better visitor centers I have been too. The staff was very nice & inviting and the center basically offered everything to the traveling eye. A+

Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is located along the trail heading up to the trail head of the Hurricane Hills. Even if you don’t intend to hike and is just there for a quick stop, the visitor center provides great resources for visitors who are looking for a good view to see the Olympic National Park’s nature, to camp or even to discuss where to hike. There’s a ranger who can help provide any information about the hurricane ridge and the animals within the vicinities at this place.
I also like that the visitor is large and that in the visitor center’s basement, there are clean restrooms as well as a nice gift shop, and a quick-​service restaurants to grab some quick bites before heading to see the nature around there, too.
Stop by this place, grab some information to help plan and make the most out of your time at the Hurricane Ridge!

Possibly the single most scenic point in all of Washington. Stopped here on out way to the coast and it was absolutely stunning. This is a must see if you’re going to the peninsula. It’s about a half hour south of Port Angles, but the drive it totally part of the experience.
There are tons of small hikes along the way, some with small water falls, some with heavily wooded areas. It is definitely worth the $ 15 they charge at the gate. While you’re out here, you should definitely visit the Dungeness spit, Rialto Beach, and the Hoh Rain Forrest. You could easily turn this into a 3 night camping excursion. But it can be done in a day and a half
I would be careful with the ferry times. It was a 3 hour wait on the return ferry to Seattle. We ended up driving south and taking theTacoma narrows bridge back.

Hurricane Ridge was our first stop in Olympic National Park and we were not disappointed. The drive up was a bit long (I think 35 – 45 minutes each way), but the views are well worth it if you have the time. Even if you don’t have time to hike, there is a great view of the Olympic mountains from the visitor’s center. You can’t see the view north of the visitor’s center (Port Angeles and Canada) without a hike, but the helpful ranger told us about a very short hike you could take to get the view. We didn’t go on that trail because we hiked to the top of Hurricane Ridge, but if you’re on a time crunch it’s probably a good option.
We took the most popular route up to Hurricane Ridge. It was a hot day in August, which is great for views but not ideal for hiking and wildlife (the animals usually hide when it’s hot). Fortunately, we went at around 5 when it was just starting to cool down and the animals were starting to come out. On the way up, we saw a few marmots, a rabbit, and a mountain goat, which was one of the highlights of the day. The other highlight was, of course, the views. At the top, you get great views of the snow-​capped Olympics and good views of Port Angeles and Victoria. Beware of the pesky mosquito swarms!
By comparison, I feel that the Paradise visitor’s center in Mt Ranier National Park has an edge over Hurricane Ridge because of the waterfalls, great mountain views, and awesome wildflowers. Hurricane Ridge has great views, but the wildflowers are not as spectacular. That said, you will not go wrong with either of the two.
A visit to Olympic National Park is not complete until a trip here. Make sure you schedule time to come here if you visit Olympic National Park or pass through Port Angeles when the weather is clear.

If you are in the Port Angeles area, you MUST visit Hurricane Ridge. The view is unbelievable and the place is very well maintained.

A beautiful building with a beautiful view, the hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is a great place to stop into as a final destination or the last contact before heading out onto the trail. Equipped with restrooms, a cafeteria, a gift shop, educational exhibits, beautiful views, AND ample parking, this place is perfect for stretching the legs after a long car ride or before a long hike.
There are several light hikes and walks to do from the center, and a number of telescopes aimed across the valley to the mountains on the other side. There are also rangers staffing the center, as well as update boards of the local conditions. One of the cleaner and best-​maintained visitor centers I’ve seen!