Hurricane Ridge Winter Activity Schedule for 2011 – 2012
Seven Day Plowing to Begin This Friday, November 25
Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge winter schedule has been announced for the 2011-2012 season.
"For the second year in a row, local contributions have combined with an extra infusion of National Park Service funding, and provided the necessary capital to keep the Hurricane Ridge Road open on weekdays, as well as the weekends this winter," said Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park Superintendent. "Daily access to the Ridge, always weather permitting will begin on Friday, November 25."
Details about the range of winter activities and services provided on Hurricane Ridge are outlined below.
Hurricane Ridge Road Weather permitting, the Hurricane Ridge Road will be open daily 9 a.m. to dusk through the winter season, except for December 25, Christmas Day. Plow crews will work daily, conditions permitting, from November 25, 2011 through April 1, 2012.
All vehicles, including four-wheel drive vehicles, must carry tire chains when traveling above the Heart O’the Hills entrance station between November 15 and April 1.
"Having a set of chains in every vehicle provides an extra measure of safety when sudden storms arrive or road conditions worsen during the day," said Superintendent Gustin. "In fact, this practice gives us more flexibility in keeping the road open when conditions are marginal."
Winter storms can close or delay opening of the Hurricane Ridge Road; high winds and blizzard conditions are not uncommon. "‘Hurricane’ Ridge is well-named and despite our best efforts to keep the road cleared and open, severe weather can force a road closure or delayed opening," explained Gustin. "Our number one priority is safety for our staff and visitors."
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 Hurricane Ridge Road may also close temporarily if the parking lot becomes completely full. To make best use of the available parking spaces, park staff urges Hurricane Ridge visitors to carpool or use the new Hurricane Ridge Shuttle whenever possible and pay extra attention to making the best use of parking spaces.
"Ride-sharing and carpooling will conserve the limited parking spaces at Hurricane Ridge and we ask our visitors to help in this effort," said Superintendent Gustin.
Entrance fees are collected at the Heart O’the Hills entrance station whenever the road is open. Olympic’s seven-day entrance pass, which allows a private vehicle to enter any of the park’s roadways, costs $15. The Olympic National Park Annual Pass, good for one year after the purchase date, costs $30.
Shuttle Service All Points Charters and Tours will provide twice-daily van service from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge Wednesday through Sunday, beginning on Saturday, November 26.
Shuttle vans will depart from the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on Railroad Avenue at 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and will pick up passengers at the Vern Burton Center 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 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling All Points Charters and Tours at 360-460-7131 or tours@goallpoints.com. The round trip fare is $20 per person and does not include the park entrance fees ($5.00/person for anyone 16 years and older.) Park and national public lands entrance passes will be honored.
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is open when the road is open, with restrooms, exhibits, movie and a warming area. The information desk is staffed daily December 1, 2011 through April 1, 2012.
Snack Bar and Ski Shop The Hurricane Ridge snack bar and ski shop, with both ski and snowshoe rentals, will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) beginning Saturday, December 17 through March 25; along with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 17) and Washington’s Birthday (Monday, February 21) and Sunday, December 26 through Monday, January 2.
Ranger-Led Snowshoe Walks Ranger-led snowshoe walks for individuals and families will be offered at 2:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays from December 10 through April 1. The walks last 90 minutes and are less than one mile in length. Space on the walks is limited, so people should sign up at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk beginning 30 minutes before the scheduled walk.
A suggested $5 donation from each snowshoe walk participant helps the park provide snowshoe walks and repair and replace snowshoes.
Organized groups such as youth or school groups must make advance reservations for snowshoe walks. Group snowshoe walks are provided Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays at 10:30 a.m. for groups holding reservations. Space is limited, so group leaders should call Olympic National Park at (360) 565-3136 for reservations and more information.
Downhill Ski and Snowboard Area Weather permitting, the downhill ski and snowboard area will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from December 3 through April 1, except for December 24-25. The ski tows will also be open Monday, December 30, Monday, January 2, Monday, January 16, (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and Monday, February 20 (Washington’s Birthday). More information about the Hurricane Ridge downhill ski and snowboard area is available at www.hurricaneridge.com.
Cross-country Skiing and Snowshoeing Opportunities for cross-country skiers and snowshoe walkers range from open, level meadows near the visitor center to extreme terrain in the park’s wilderness backcountry. Anyone skiing or snowshoeing beyond the immediate Hurricane Ridge area should sign-in at the registration box in the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and be prepared for steep terrain and the possibility of avalanches. "Although it’s close to town, Hurricane Ridge is subject to extreme winter conditions, including sudden storms, white-outs and avalanche – planning and preparation for winter conditions are vitally important," said Gustin.
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 Bugler.
Overnight Wilderness Camping Overnight wilderness camping is permitted in the Hurricane Ridge area with advance registration. Winter camps must be at least one-half mile from the Hurricane Ridge parking area. Overnight parking is not permitted at Hurricane Ridge; parking and shuttle options are explained at the time of registration. More information is available by calling Olympic National Park Visitor Center & Wilderness Information Center at 360-565-3100 or 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.
Hurricane Ridge Webcam and Weather Station 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 provided hourly.
Tubing and Sliding Tubing and sliding are permitted only for children eight years of age and younger, at the Small Children’s Snowplay Area just west of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
If conditions become too dangerous for sliding, the Small Children’s Snowplay Area will be closed. Visitors should check at a park visitor center for current information.
Olympic National Park Visitor Center The Olympic National Park Visitor Center & Wilderness Information Center at the base of Hurricane Ridge Road, is open daily throughout the winter from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving (November 25) and Christmas (December 25.)
More information about visiting Hurricane Ridge and other areas of Olympic National Park is available at www.nps.gov/olym.
Olympic National Park News Release November 23, 2011 Barb Maynes 360-565-3005