Trip Report
Day Hike - Hurricane Hill
Exploration of Olympic NP - towns, resupply, tenting, trails.
John Sadro Jr
- Fri, Jun 16, 2017
- Day Hike - Hurricane Hill
- Hurricane Hill
- Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Hurricane Hill trail is 3.2 miles round trip not 6 miles. Trail is asphalt most of the way. In some areas asphalt is broken up but overall, very easy to hike. Snow patches in places and easy to walk on. There are two benches to physically sit on and many balconies. Trail braiding. Trail appears very popular and was hiked by many persons/families not having proper gear or ten essentials.
Views of Mt Olympus and Olympics are incredible.
Small parking lot at TH. Overflow parking is 1/4 miles before TH. TH is 1.5 miles of paved road from Hurricane Ridge NP Visitor Center. Visitor Center has many amenities and excellent views. NP fee is $25 per car and valid for seven days. No one day only fee.
Sol Duc Hot Springs was a disappointment to me. Very commercialized. Water was turbid but arrived mid afternoon after heavy use. Changing rooms had heavy use - bring shower slippers, towels, and personal lock to lock valuables in lockers. Three concrete pools to choose from with varying temps. Each day pools are drained and are not filtered. Tested for bacteria once daily. Heavy sulfur smell. Lodgings at hot springs were overpriced, to me, and the area is remote. Scouted trails near hot springs and along Hurricane Ridge. Drove out to Forks and scouted other hiking trails.
While in Port Angeles, visit the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center at 1203 E Lauridsen Blvd. It's a few blocks east of the main road to the in-town Olympic Park Visitor Center (no fees at that Visitor Center). Tour Webster's Wood Art Park and experience unique art blended with nature. Open all year round. Self guiding tours.
Not certain I would return for a one day trip - too far to travel with ferry routes to manage. Besides, way too much to see in one day. Each valley has its own secrets to discover.