Table of Contents:
- Where is Hurricane Ridge?
- Hurricane Ridge Elopement FAQ’s
- Why Elope at Hurricane Ridge?
- Best Hurricane Ridge Hikes
- When to Elope at Hurricane Ridge
- Hurricane Ridge Elopement Permits
- Where to Stay Near Hurricane Ridge
- Hurricane Ridge Elopement Photographer
- Full Olympic National Park Elopement Guide
When you think of Olympic National Park, you probably think of places like Lake Crescent, Ruby Beach, the Hoh Rain Forest, etc. . . but have you ever heard of Hurricane Ridge? It’s got to be one of the most underrated spots in the park, I swear so many people have never heard of it or been there before!! This location offers some of the most insane, dramatic views of the Olympics in the entire area and spoiler alert: it’s super easy to get to. Don’t let the word “hurricane” scare you in the title—this is one of the most calm & peaceful places for an elopement 😉 Let’s get into this Hurricane Ridge elopement guide!
Where is Hurricane Ridge?
Hurricane Ridge is a wildly scenic area located in Olympic National Park, about 40 minutes from Port Angeles and 3.5 hours from Seattle. All you need to do to get there from Port Angeles is head onto Mount Angeles Road until you get to Hurricane Ridge Road, then drive up and up and up!
Hurricane Ridge Elopement FAQ’s
Can you get married at Hurricane Ridge?
Yesss you can! Hurricane Ridge is an AMAZING place to get married or even just to visit for your elopement portraits, with some of the most incredible mountain vistas you’ll find anywhere in Washington. You barely even have to hike and you get mountain views for DAYS. Just make sure you get the proper permit (more on that later), entrance pass, and your Washington state marriage license to make it all official!
Do you need a permit to get married at Hurricane Ridge?
Yep! You need a Special Use Permit if you want to have your ceremony anywhere in Olympic National Park. I’ll talk more about this in a bit so that you know exactly how to get one! You can also check out this guide to learn more about how elopement & wedding permits work in Washington as a whole.
How much does it cost to get married at Hurricane Ridge?
Taking into account the cost of your entrance pass and permit application fee, it costs anywhere from $80-$180, depending on the type of pass you buy & what the application fee is for your specific elopement. Of course, you’ll also want to consider all the vendors you’re hiring and what else your budget is going toward!
Are dogs allowed at Hurricane Ridge?
Dogs are only allowed in parking areas at Hurricane Ridge, not the trails unfortunately 🙁 But if you leave them back at your Airbnb then we can get photos with them earlier in the day or at nighttime when you head back for the evening! You could also bring a cute photo of them along for your portraits! I ALWAYS encourage bringing pets to elopements when possible/when it’s allowed, so I wrote a whole guide to 8 Ways to Include Your Cats in Your Elopement, most of which applies to dogs too!
Why Elope at Hurricane Ridge?
1. Low effort, high reward
If you elope at Hurricane Ridge, you have the option to put in almost ZERO effort and still get insane views. Seriously, it’s amazing! Because you can drive all the way up the road, you can literally step out of your car and just walk a short distance to get to a spot with breathtaking panoramic views. But you also have the option to extend your adventure and check out longer trails if that’s more your thing.
There are even a couple of ADA-accessible trails, including the one to the picnic table area that overlooks the scenery!
Click here for more wheelchair-accessible elopement locations in WA!
2. Proximity to tons of other stunning locations
If you’re going to spending a few days in Olympic National Park, then you’ll definitely want to check out some of the other picturesque locations around the park—such as the Hoh Rain Forest, Sol Duc, Lake Crescent, Kalaloch, and Ruby Beach. It’s so hard to pick just a few because they’re all MUST-sees, so if you can, I highly recommend spending as much time as you can checking out all of these breathtaking and iconic locations!
3. It’s close to Port Angeles
Hurricane Ridge also gives you easy access to Port Angeles, which is a great little town to find accommodations in + to spend time exploring! The downtown area is super charming and has plenty of art galleries, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, and boutiques that you can check out during your spare time. Salt Creek Recreation Area is a gorgeous place to adventure around if you have the time, to, and it’s just under half an hour from Port Angeles!
Best Hurricane Ridge Hikes
If you want to explore more of the Hurricane Ridge area and get allll the most amazing, panoramic views of the Olympics,
Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3.4 mi
Elevation Gain: 826 ft
Average Time: 1h 50m
Route Type: Out & back
Wheelchair accessible: Yes!
Hurricane Ridge to Heart of the Hills
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 9.4 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,870 ft
Route Type: Point-to-point
Wheelchair accessible: No
Obstruction Point Road
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 15.3 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,664 ft
Route Type: Out & back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Cirque Rim to Sunrise Viewpoint Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.3 mi
Elevation Gain: 219 ft
Average Time: 36m
Route Type: Out & back
Wheelchair accessible: Yes!
When to Elope at Hurricane Ridge
What is the best time of year to elope at Hurricane Ridge?
Timing is key when it comes to eloping at Hurricane Ridge, since it’s only accessible at certain times of year. Hurricane Ridge Road is only open during the summer, closing down the majority of the time once winter hits (except for weekends, weather-permitting). You never know when snow might hit in this area, so your best bet for a warm-weather elopement with full trail accessibility is late July through August. You can keep an eye on current alerts and closures here to stay up-to-date!
The only thing is that Hurricane Ridge gets superrr crowded in the summer since EVERYONE in the PNW wants to take advantage of the gorgeous weather + amazing views. So if you can elope on a weekday, and/or arrive early in the morning, you’ll have the best shot at privacy!
Hurricane Ridge can also be really beautiful in the spring and fall, but those seasons are way more unpredictable than the summer, since you can’t guarantee that snow will be melted by early summer, or that it won’t show up in September instead of October. Spring in the Olympics also tends to get quite a bit of rain, so keep that in mind if you’re aiming for a spring day—although that is also when the wildflowers start to bloom and the landscapes become really lush and green!
If you’d rather enjoy winter scenery and go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding, then you can def elope at Hurricane Ridge in the winter months.
What is the best time of day to elope at Hurricane Ridge?
The light is honestly beautiful at Hurricane Ridge any time of day, so you really can’t go wrong view-wise. The only thing I’d consider is that if you go up the mountain super early in the spring or fall (even in the summer sometimes), there’s a chance that it could be pretty foggy, which makes it hard to drive up the road and get the views you came for. It’s hard to beat the dreamy glow of the late afternoon + sunset light, and the colors that paint the sky during golden/blue hour over the Olympics!
Want more insight into choosing the right time of day to have your ceremony + take photos? Here’s a guide I made to the Best Time of Day for An Adventure Elopement!
PRO TIP: If you want to see what Hurricane Ridge looks like at any point in time, check out the Hurricane Ridge webcam!! This is super helpful if you wanna see what the views look like throughout your elopement day before you actually head there, or to see what the lighting looks like at certain times of day. They have two webcams: one that looks south from the ridge toward the Lillian and Elwha River valleys, and one that shows the parking lot from the north side of Hurricane Ridge Visitor Contact Station.
Hurricane Ridge Elopement Permits
There are two things you need to get if you want to elope at Hurricane Ridge: an Olympic National Park entrance pass, and a Special Use Permit. It’s important to get both and follow the park rules & regulations to make sure we keep Hurricane Ridge beautiful and accessible for future couples!
Olympic National Park Entrance Pass
First, you’ll need a general entrance pass to get into Olympic National Park (no matter where in the park you’re going). You can get a regular entrance pass for $30/vehicle, an annual ONP pass for $55, or an America the Beautiful pass for $80 that’s valid at parks all over the country. Up to you and how often you’re planning to visit either ONP or national parks in general!
Olympic National Park Special Use Permit
And then you’ll need a Special Use Permit! Most national parks require you to get one if you’re having any type of elopement or wedding in order to protect the land and ensure it’s taken care of + respected by visitors. This permit has a non-refundable application fee of $50-100, and takes a minimum of four weeks to process (though you should def apply as early as you can just to be safe). You can apply for your permit here and send in your completed application to the park via email!
Where to Stay Near Hurricane Ridge
Below are lists of the best Airbnbs, VRBOs, and campsites that would be fab for your Hurricane Ridge elopement, depending on what vibe you’re going for with your accommodations!
Airbnbs & VRBOs
- Part O’ the Hills Glamping
- A-Frame Away w/ Hot Tub
- Olympic Glamping Getaway
- Hiker’s Cabin
- Happy Glamper’s Dome
- Hurricane Ridge Retreat
Here’s a list of 10 more Cozy + Cute Airbnb Wedding Venues in Washington State!
Campsites
Hurricane Ridge Elopement Photographer
That’s me! I’m always always down for a trip up to Hurricane Ridge, whether it’s sunny, rainy, stormy, or a mix of all three. Just call me, beep me when you wanna reach me (and have me be your Hurricane Ridge elopement photographer)—actually, you can just make it easy and fill out my contact form 😉
Full Olympic National Park Elopement Guide
Wanna dive deeper into all the AMAZING places that Olympic National Park has to offer for elopements? I’ve got a full Olympic National Park Elopement Guide where I tell you all about the best locations, tips for exploring the park, accommodations, and more!
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