Hurricane Ridge to Klahhane Ridge

We drove up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park through the clouds. We saw the valleys were filled with clouds, but Hurricane and Klahhane Ridges were above the clouds! We decided to hike to Klahhane Ridge from Hurricane Ridge via the Klahhane Ridge Trail. We also hiked on the Cirque Rim Trail at the start, and a short ways along the Lake Angeles Trail for an 8.5 mile round trip hike with 2,000 ft of overall elevation gain. View from the Hurricane Ridge parking area.

The Big Meadow near the parking area was full of lupine and bistro. Hurricane Hill in the background.

As we neared the Cirque Rim Trail, we saw two bucks and a marmot up on this small hill.

zoom of the marmot

A short ways up the Cirque Rim Trail, this buck stepped off the trail and let us pass.

The Klahhane Ridge Trail has marvelous views, here looking east towards Mount Angeles and Klahhane Ridge.

Looking north from Hurricane Hill towards Mount Angeles.

chipmunk sitting in the middle of the trail

Today was a fabulous day for views and wildflowers. Here the small-flowered penstemon lined the trail, Mt Olympus and the peaks to the west beyond Hurricane Ridge.

This field was full of lupine and arnica.

The trail steeply descends down through a slope covered in avalanche lilies, here is a field of avalanche lilies with Mount Angeles in the background.

This hillside was full of Larkspur and wallflowers.

Larkspur, paintbrush and wallflowers

After a short section in the woods, the Klahhane Ridge trail joins the Switchback Trail, gaining about 750 ft in 0.8 miles. Panoramic view from a portion of the Switchback Trail.

Last section up to the top of Klahhane Ridge.

Pano from Klahhane Ridge to the south:

We continued along the Lake Angeles Trail going east along Klahhane Ridge for about 0.4 mile. Lots of wildflowers up here!

Wide angle view along the Lake Angels Trail looking north from Mount Angeles to Rocky Peak. So many clouds below us.

 

We started back along the top of Klahhane Ridge, finding a nice spot for lunch with views to the south, looking back towards Mt Olympus and Hurricane Ridge, the clouds are climbing higher.

zoom of Mt Olympus

The hike back was a beautiful as the hike up.

Mount Angeles from Klahhane Ridge

From near Sunrise Ridge looking back at Mount Angeles and Klahhane Ridge to the east, 

and Hurricane Ridge to the west.

a hillside full of arnica

As we neared the meadow by the parking area, we saw another dear next to the trail.

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: