Olympic Loop - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 53

9. Hurricane Ridge Road
Just beyond the park's visitor center, a 17-mile drive on Hurricane Ridge Road leads south
toHurricaneRidge,sonamedbecausewinterstormscanwhipup100-mile-per-hourwinds.
As it climbs to an elevation of one mile, the road slices through a dense forest of Douglas
firs where deer, marmots, and black bears may be spotted. Turnouts along the way offer
dramatic vistas of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Dungeness Spit, Vancouver Island, and on
clear days, the northern Cascades on the far side of Puget Sound. The views from the ridge
itselfareevenmoredramatic:TheSanJuanIslandsandtheCanadiancoastlietothenorth,
whiletothesouthsoarjaggedpeaksoftheOlympicRange,with7,965-foot-tallMt.Olym-
pus rising above them all.
From Hurricane Ridge, hike along the Big Meadow Nature Trail or take Obstruction
PointRoad,aneight-mile stretchofunpavedroad,toObstructionPoint,whereseveralhik-
ing trails originate. In winter, when the snow gets as deep as 20 feet, (it often lasts through
June), Hurricane Ridge becomes a mecca for skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing.
10. Elwha River Valley
Once you are back on Hwy. 101, the drive continues west toward Elwha, where a paved
roadheadssouthalongtheElwhaRiver,aprimefly-fishingstream.Theforestofhemlocks,
firs, and big-leaf maples obscures all but the occasional glimpse of the Elwha River, but
scenic turnouts provide plenty of opportunities for picture taking. An ongoing dam remov-
al project on the Elwha River hopes to restore the river to its natural state and allow all
five species of Pacific salmon to once again reach their spawning grounds within Olympic
National Park.