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Hurricane Hill from Elwha
Hurricane Hill from Elwha – 12.6mi / 20.3km
This long slog up through the trees takes you to the grand vantages in the meadows on Hurricane Hill. The trail wastes no time in steeply switchbacking up Hurricane Hill. You work your way up from the valley bottom to the shoulder of the ridge.
Along the way, you go from lush forests with ferns to drier forests as you gain elevation. Views are sparse until you reach the meadows just below the ridge. As you emerge from the trees, views explode to the southwest crowned by the rocky summits of the Bailey Range. The Elwha River flows through the valley floor thousands of feet below you.
A short side trail to a rock outcropping is a perfect perch to enjoy the vantage before continuing on up the meadows. The trail works its way along the ridgeline with another surprisingly steep section. You then enter the flat meadow and join up with the busy Hurricane Hill Trail to the summit (see Hurricane Hill for description) before turning around and heading back down.
This trail can also be done as a one-way from the Hurricane Hill Trail trailhead for a total of 8mi/12.8km but you’ll have to coordinate a private shuttle.
Trailhead: Turn onto the Olympic Hot Springs Road from Hwy 101, 9 miles west of Port Angeles. After 4.1 miles take a left onto Whiskey Bend Road. Trailhead parking is 0.1 miles up the road on the left.
Elevation Gain: 5,300ft / 1,590m – Elevation Loss: 5,300ft / 1,590m
