PORT ANGELES — Cyclists from around the United States and Canada will ride to Hurricane Ridge on Sunday in the eighth annual Ride the Hurricane.
The recreational ride is organized by thePort Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce along with Olympic National Park, with sponsorship from area businesses.
Cyclists aren’t racing each other, instead climbing up to mile-high Hurricane Ridge through the foothills of the Olympic Mountains on the winding Hurricane Ridge Road from 7 a.m. to noon.
Registration is $50.
The ride is open to all.
Three routes
Riders can pick one of three routes for their ride.
They can start at the entrance gate by Heart o’ the Hills campground for a 24-mile round trip, from the base of the lower ridge road for a 36-mile round trip or from sea level in Port Angeles for a 41-mile ride.
The 24-mile round trip starts at roughly 1,100 feet while the 36-mile round trip starts at 700 feet. The summit is at about 5,200 feet.
The round trip from sea level will start at the west parking lot at Peninsula College, then head down Ennis Street to the former Rayonier Mill site, where riders can access the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Riders then will follow the trail to Francis Street Park, then head up Francis Street two blocks to Georgiana Street, where they will head left and travel one block before turning right on Race Street and continuing on to Hurricane Ridge.
Road closure
The ride allows cyclists to have the park’s Hurricane Ridge Road all to themselves and free of vehicles from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday.
The road is closed to all motor vehicle traffic — except event support vehicles — between the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station and Hurricane Ridge as a safety precaution.
This applies to both uphill and downhill travel.
The road will reopen to traffic at noon, when the event is finished.
At that time, the park will waive entrance fees at the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station for the rest of the day.
Access to the Lake Angeles-Heather Park trailhead and Heart o’ the Hills Campground will remain open throughout the day.
Registration
Registration will be held today and Saturday at the Port Angeles Visitors Center, 121 E. Railroad Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ride-day registration for all ride options opens at 6 a.m. at the Peninsula College parking lot, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
The lower ridge road is not closed to traffic. As such, riders are asked to ride single file and be mindful of vehicles.
The ridge road from the entrance station will be closed to vehicles except for a few event support vehicles. Organizers note that riders will be coming down at speed, so it is important to ride in the right lane, both going up and coming down.
To register for Ride the Hurricane,visit www.portangeles.org.
For more information, call 360-452-2363.
Tour de Lavender
Ride the Hurricane isn’t the only pedal-powered cycling event set this weekend.
The fifth Tour de Lavender offers two rides through the Dungeness Valley on Saturday: the Metric Century [100 kilometers or about 62 miles] and a Fun Ride [a lavender farm tour of about 35 miles].
Participating lavender farms include: Washington Lavender Farm, Victor’s Lavender Farm, B&B Lavender Farm, Lost Mountain Lavender Farm, Olympic Lavender Heritage Farm, Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm and Purple Haze Lavender Farm.Late registration fees are $65, $55 and $15.
Registration for both are set for 7 a.m.-noon at the Sequim Boys &Girls Club (event headquarters), 400 W. Fir St. The event fee includes “swag bag” of gifts. Custom T-shirts are available for purchase.
The ride raises funds for the Olympic Discovery Trail and other community groups.
