Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge | |
---|---|
![]() A drive to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center up Hurricane Ridge Road in May 2022. | |
Highest point | |
Peak | Elk Mountain |
Elevation | 6,772 ft (2,064 m)[1] |
Coordinates | 47°55′28″N 123°21′07″W / 47.9244560°N 123.3519333°WCoordinates: 47°55′28″N 123°21′07″W / 47.9244560°N 123.3519333°W[1] |
Dimensions | |
Length | 13 mi (21 km) East-West |
Width | 5 mi (8.0 km) North-South |
Geography | |
Location | Olympic National Park Clallam County, Washington |
Country | United States |
State | Washington |
Parent range | Olympic Mountains |
Topo map | USGS Maiden Peak, Hurricane Hill, Mount Angeles |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Eocene |
Hurricane Ridge is a mountainous area in Washington's Olympic National Park. Approximately 18 miles (29 km) by road from Port Angeles, the ridge is open to hiking, skiing, and snowboarding and is one of the two most visited sites in the national park (along with the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center).[2]
At an elevation of 5,242 feet (1,598 m), Hurricane Ridge visitor center is a year-round destination.[3] In summer, visitors come for views of the Olympic Mountains, as well as for hiking. During the winter months the small, family oriented Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area offers lift-serviced downhill skiing and snowboarding.
The road leading west from the Hurricane Ridge visitor center has a number of picnic areas and trail heads. A paved trail called the Hurricane Hill trail is about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long (one-way) with an elevation gain of about 700 feet (200 m). It is not uncommon to find snow on the trails even as late as July. Several other dirt trails of varying distances and difficulty levels branch off of the Hurricane hill trail. The picnic areas are open only in the summer, and have restrooms, water and paved access to picnic tables.
The Hurricane Ridge visitors center offers several conveniences, including an information desk, gift-shop, restrooms, and a snack bar. The exhibits in the visitor center are open year-round, but limited to Friday through Sunday during the winter months.
Hurricane Ridge is named for its intense gales and winds. The weather in the Olympic Mountains is unpredictable, and visitors should be prepared for snow at any time of year.[tone] The area receives 400 inches (10,000 mm) of snowfall annually.[4]
History
The Hurricane Ridge Lodge and Hurricane Ridge Road were built in the 1950s as part of a plan by Fred Overly, Olympic National Park's second superintendent, to increase park visitation.[5] The lodge was dedicated by Congressman Henry M. Jackson in September 1952.[6] The lodge's role as a concession facility was replaced in the 1980s with more interpretative uses, focusing on Olympic National Park topics including as geology and wildlife.[7]
Skiing facilities established at Hurricane Ridge were intended to replace those at Deer Park in the 1950s, however in the following decades skiing in national parks was criticized.[8]
The Olympic National Park began restricting winter access to Hurricane Ridge in the late 1990s, which was followed by a decline in visitor numbers. Park officials restricted winter access to Friday through Sunday in 2005. In 2011 and 2012, the park agreed to return to its original winter schedule for a trial period after the local community raised $75,000 to bridge the estimated budget gap. Despite a 35% visitor increase, Olympic National Park officials declared the trial unsuccessful and returned to three-day-a-week access during the winter months.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Hurricane Ridge is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[9] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Olympic Peninsula. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks, causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snowfall (Orographic lift). As a result, the range experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months. Hurricane Ridge averages 30 to 35 feet (9.1 to 10.7 m) of snow annually.[10] During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but due to high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer.
Gallery
Summits
Principal summits of Hurricane Ridge from west to east:
Name | Elevation | Prominence | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
Hurricane Hill | 5,757 ft | 707 ft | [11] |
Steeple Rock | 5,567 ft | 567 ft | [12] |
Eagle Point | 6,247 ft | 527 ft | [13] |
Obstruction Peak | 6,450 ft | 250 ft | [14] |
Elk Mountain | 6,773 ft | 813 ft | [15] |
Maiden Peak | 6,434 ft | 474 ft | [16] |
References
- ^ a b "Hurricane Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ^ Rothman 2006, p. 356.
- ^ Hurricane Ridge in Winter, nps.gov
- ^ Rothman 2006, p. 323.
- ^ Dunagan, Christopher (2015-04-13). "At 75, Olympic National Park has grown amid push-pull of forces". Kitsap Sun.
- ^ "Congressman Henry M. Jackson speaking at the dedication ceremony for the Hurricane Ridge Lodge, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Washington, September 22, 1952".
- ^ Rothman 2006, p. 276, 279.
- ^ Rothman 2006, p. 322–324.
- ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
- ^ Olympic National Park Weather, nps.gov
- ^ "Hurricane Hill, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Steeple Rock, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Eagle Point, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Obstruction Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Elk Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Maiden Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- Rothman, Hal K. (July 2006). American Eden: An Administrative History of Olympic National Park (PDF).
External links
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area
- National Park Service: Visiting Hurricane Ridge
- Hurricane Ridge info – outdoorplaces.com
- Hurricane Ridge: weather forecast
- Coordinates not on Wikidata
- Justapedia articles with style issues from November 2017
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- Olympic Mountains
- Landforms of Olympic National Park
- Ridges of Washington (state)
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- Washington (state) geography stubs