PORT ANGELES — Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge Road winter operations will begin Friday and — weather permitting— the road to the ridge is set to be open Friday through Sunday through March 30 (closed Dec. 25). Hurricane Ridge also will open Dec. 20 through Jan. 5, Jan. 17-20 and Feb. 14-17.
Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club, the area group that operates the Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area, is aiming for a Dec. 8 opening. Snow totals at Hurricane Ridge were nearing the 36 inches typically required for operations.
The restroom trailers and visitor contact station that were installed in 2023 will continue to serve winter visitors. Throughout the fall, park crews have worked to fortify the temporary structures against harsh weather. This winter’s La Niña pattern is expected to bring tougher conditions than the mild winter of 2023-2024.
The visitor contact station will be staffed intermittently Fridays through Sundays. Visitors should be prepared to use their vehicles as a warming area and pack extra food, water, dry clothing and blankets or sleeping bags. There will be no indoor warming area, food service, potable water or gear rentals available.
Hurricane Ridge Road will open at 9 a.m. The road will close to uphill traffic at 4 p.m. and all vehicles must exit the Heart O’ the Hills entrance station by 5 p.m.
Winter storms can close or delay opening of the Hurricane Ridge Road; strong winds and sudden blizzard conditions are not uncommon. Road and weather updates will be available on the Road & Weather line at 360-565-3131 and the park’s website — Alerts & Conditions – Olympic National Park at nps.gov.
All vehicles, including those with four-wheel drive, are required to carry tire chains when traveling above the Heart O’ the Hills entrance station during the winter season.
Find more information at nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/hurricane-ridge-in-winter.htm.
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Opportunities for cross-country skiers and snowshoers range from open, level meadows near the visitor center to extreme terrain in the wilderness backcountry. Anyone skiing or snowshoeing beyond the immediate Hurricane Ridge area should be prepared for steep terrain and the possibility of avalanches.
Up-to-date information about weather and avalanche risk is available from the Northwest Avalanche Center at nwac.us.
Snowshoe with a ranger
Beginning Dec. 21, rangers will offer snowshoe walks at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. These walks last 1 1/2 hours and cover less than a mile, with 130 feet of elevation gain.
Beginners are welcome and snowshoes and instructions are provided. The group will be limited to the first 20 participants.
Interested visitors should meet at the visitor contact station in the Hurricane Ridge parking area at 1 p.m. on the day of the walk.
Tree permits on sale
QUILCENE — The Olympic National Forest’s Quilcene office, 295142 U.S. Highway 101, will be open for Christmas tree permit sales Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Christmas tree permits allow citizens to help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees — the perfect size for a Christmas tree.
Christmas tree permits for Olympic National Forest also can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/PDN-XmasTree24.
Peninsula Daily News
