Hurricane Ridge
There’s a moment on the drive up Hurricane Ridge Road when the forest opens up, the world drops away, and the mountains of Olympic National Park suddenly rise into view—sharp, blue, jagged, layered. It’s the first hint you’re entering one of the most photogenic alpine zones in Washington. Hurricane Ridge doesn’t make you work hard for the payoff; it simply rewards you the higher you climb.
Getting to Hurricane Ridge
The road to Hurricane Ridge climbs steeply for 18 miles from the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, gaining over 5,200 feet in elevation. Along the way you’ll pass multiple scenic pullouts offering glimpses of the mountains on one side and the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the other.
Because conditions change rapidly in the high alpine, checking the NPS webcam and current road status is essential—clear skies in Port Angeles don’t always translate to visibility at the ridge. Snow, fog, or temporary closures can happen any time of year.
Arrive early or late if you can; the visitor center parking lot can fill quickly in midsummer, but sunrise and sunset are quieter and infinitely better for photography.
Top Photography Locations at Hurricane Ridge
1. Pullouts Along Hurricane Ridge Road
Don’t overlook the journey up. Spend time exploring the shoulders for intimate macro shots. Or just point your camera straight up at the mountains!
2. Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center Area
If you’re short on time, start here. The views from the parking lot alone offer high‑impact mountain scenes. Telephoto lenses shine in this area—compressing ridgelines into layered, moody abstracts. As the day changes, shadows move across the slopes, adding dramatic depth
3. Big Meadow Nature Trail
The Big Meadow Nature Trail in Olympic National Park is one of those places that feels easy and rewarding to photograph right from the start. As you stroll along the paved loop, you’re surrounded by wide-open meadows, wildflowers in season, and big views of the Olympic Mountains that seem to stretch forever, especially when the clouds start moving and the light changes. It’s a great spot to slow down, grab a wide-angle for sweeping landscapes, then switch gears and focus on the smaller details—flowers, grasses, and textures—that really bring the scene to life. And keep an eye out for the local wildlife. Deer are everywhere on the ridge—sometimes frustratingly so for drivers but wonderfully cooperative for us photographers!
Final Thoughts: Why This Ridge Belongs in Your Portfolio
Hurricane Ridge is one of those rare locations that manages to be both easy to access and endlessly photographable. You can step out of your car into a full alpine panorama—or wander for hours along ridge-top trails and never run out of compositions. There are few national park locations where the barrier to entry is so low and the photographic returns are so high.
If you love moody mountain light, wide-open ridgelines, wildlife in open meadows, and clouds that paint the sky in dramatic shapes, Hurricane Ridge will deliver every time.