Olympic National Park has set its winter schedule for the popular Hurricane Ridge area, with the road being open seven days a week this year.
The area opened for the winter Friday.
Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park Superintendent, provided details of activities and services offered this season at Hurricane Ridge, as well as recommendations for visitors.
The road
Severe weather may close it occasionally, but Hurricane Ridge Road should be open daily 9 a.m. to dusk through the winter season, except for Dec. 25, Christmas Day. (All services and facilities at Hurricane Ridge are closed for Christmas.)
All vehicles, including four-wheel drives, are required to carry tire chains when traveling above the Heart O’ the Hills entrance station in winter.
Road and weather condition updates are posted on the Olympic National Park website (www.nps.gov/olym) or by calling the park’s Road and Weather hotline at 360-565-3131. People can also follow “HRWinterAccess” on Twitter to receive road condition updates.
The road also may be closed temporarily if the parking lot becomes full. Visitors are urged to carpool or use the new Hurricane Ridge shuttle whenever possible.
Park entrance fees are collected at the Heart O’ the Hills station. Olympic’s seven-day entrance pass allows a private vehicle to enter any of the park’s roadways for $15. The Olympic National Park annual pass, good for one year after the purchase date, costs $30.
Shuttle van
All Points Charters and Tours provides twice-daily van service from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge Wednesdays through Sundays.
Vans depart from the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 121 E. Railroad Ave., at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and also will pick up passengers at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., at 9:05 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. before the 45-minute drive to Hurricane Ridge.
Vans will depart Hurricane Ridge at approximately 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Reservations are recommended by calling All Points Charters and Tours at 360-565-1139 or 360-460-7131. Round-trip tickets cost $10 per person, plus entrance fees ($5 per person for anyone 16 years and older) at Heart O’ the Hills station. Park and national public lands entrance passes will be honored.
Visitor center
The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk will be staffed daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except when rangers are outdoors leading snowshoe walks or assisting visitors.
Snacks and skis
The Hurricane Ridge snack bar and ski shop, with both ski and snowshoe rentals, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 27.
Snowshoe walks
Ranger-led snowshoe walks for individuals and families are offered at 2 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays through March 27.
The 90-minute walks are less than one mile. The number of people is limited, so register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes before the scheduled walk.
Organized groups must make reservations for the snowshoe walks, which are at 10:30 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays. Group leaders should call 360-565-3136 for reservations and more information.
Ski and snowboard
Weather permitting, the downhill ski and snowboard area will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through March 27. More information is available at www.hurricaneridge.com.
Cross-country
The terrain for cross-country skiers and snowshoe walkers ranges from open, level meadows near the visitor center to extremes in the park’s wilderness backcountry.
Anyone skiing or snowshoeing beyond the immediate Hurricane Ridge area should sign in at the visitor center and be prepared for steep terrain, sudden storms and the possibility of avalanches.
Information about ski and snowshoe routes and trails is available at park visitor centers, the Olympic National Park website or the park’s visitor newspaper, the Olympic Bugler.
Wilderness camping
Overnight wilderness camping is permitted in the Hurricane Ridge area with registration. Winter camps must be at least a half-mile from the Hurricane Ridge parking area. Overnight parking is not permitted at Hurricane Ridge, but parking and shuttle options are explained at registration. Call the park’s Wilderness Information Center at 360-565-3100 or the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 360-565-3130.
Avalanche information
Up-to-date information about weather and avalanche risk is available from the Northwest Avalanche Center on the web at www.nwac.us or by calling 206-526-6677.
Anyone planning to venture beyond the maintained downhill ski area or the immediate Hurricane Ridge area should always check with the Northwest Avalanche Center or a ranger for current conditions.
Webcam
Hurricane Ridge weather conditions are available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/olym and clicking first on “Photos &Multimedia” and then on “Webcams.” The webcam image is updated every 15 minutes, although severe weather can cause webcam outages. Weather station information is hourly.
Tubing and sliding
Tubing and sliding are permitted only for children 8 and younger, at the Small Children’s Snowplay Area just west of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
If conditions become too dangerous for sliding, this area will be closed. Visitors should check at a park visitor center for current information.
Olympic National Park Visitor Center
The center, at the base of Hurricane Ridge Road, is open daily throughout the winter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Christmas.
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