Over the mountains & though the woods

By Zach Wakefield

Olympic National Park has over 3 million visitors a year, almost a million acres of land, 3,000 miles of river, 73 miles of coast, 650 archaeological sites, 611 miles of trail and is located right behind Peninsula College! 

One of the most famous sites, of course, is the nearby Hurricane Ridge. Named for its intense winds, the site is a year round destination bringing in tourists worldwide. 

Once passing the gate, ascending to the top and enjoying the many scenic vistas along the way, visitors will arrive at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, which acts as a hub of essential amenities such as restrooms and food and many outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking trail heads and winter sports.

 If you haven’t brought along your own, the visitor center gladly rents out skis, snowboards, and snowshoes for all your outdoor needs. 

A portable building outside the Visitor Center offers tickets for the ski lift as well as lessons on skiing for beginners or those looking for more instruction.

Being in such a remote location, its perfectly common to see deer, ravens and various other wildlife as you explore the many trails and gorgeous scenery around the ridge, as Olympic National Park is home to many animals including some only native and found in the boundaries of the park, such as the olympic Marmot.

Open year-round, the road to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is on a winter schedule, and weather permitting, is accessible 9am-4pm, Friday-Sunday through April.

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