Obstruction Point Road

Getting There

Drive US 101 to Port Angeles and then ~17 miles up Hurricane Ridge Road (aka Heart o' the Hills Parkway) to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. Start at the last switchback on the Hurricane Ridge road, which will hopefully have a small plowed parking area. 

snowshoe route

Descend 100 yards on the steep slope from the  switchback on Hurricane Ridge Road to where the grade flattens.  Depending on how strenuous you want your outing to be, you can follow the ridgeline 2 miles to the area just below Steeple Rock, or 5 miles to Eagle Point. It's 8 miles to the road end at Obstruction Point. The road passes near quite a few avalanche slopes so extra caution is required. If traveling to Eagle Point, most of the elevation gain is in the last mile.

Ski Tour

Follow the snowshoe route and look for good skiing options along the way. Consider making it a multi-night tour with a basecamp to explore backcountry skiing options.

notes

• The road to Hurricane Ridge can be closed in the mornings for snow removal in winter. Check current snow and road conditions before leaving town. The Twitter Feed “Hurricane Ridge NPS” provides road opening status. Keep your cell phone on to receive Olympic National Park provided Emergency Weather Alerts via the Amber Alert feature of smart phones.
• All vehicles are required to carry tire chains when traveling above the Heart O' the Hills entrance station during the winter season. This requirement applies to all vehicles (including four-wheel-drive), regardless of tire type or weather conditions.
• Conditions can go to blinding white out in minutes via fast moving cloud cover or driving wind.
• Access to the Obstruction Point road can be complicated by the high snow wall created by the road crew plows. 
• The slope leading from the Hurricane Ridge Road down to the Obstruction Point road is steep for about 100 yards but once you reach the road the slope angle decreases.

• Suitable Activities: Backcountry Skiing, Snowshoeing
• Seasons: January, February, March, April, December
• Weather: View weather forecast
• View avalanche forecast.

• Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous, M2 Advanced Ski
• Length: 10.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 1,000 ft
• High Point: 6,200 ft

• Land Manager: Olympic National Park
• Parking Permit Required: National Park Entrance Fee
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12