Hurricane Hill and Hurricane Ridge

For my second hike up at Hurricane Ridge, I drove along the Hurricane Hill Road to hike up Hurricane Hill. By 9:30 AM the parking lot was already full, so I parked at the additional lot only 1/4 mile down the road. Overall this hike was 4 miles with 725 ft of gain. Afterwards, I drove to the main parking area at Hurricane Ridge to hike the short trail in the meadow. On the drive between the two I saw a black bear right beside the road!!!

From early along the Hurricane Hill trail is a nice view of Mount Angels and Klahhane Ridge where I hiked earlier this morning. Lots of glacier lilies in bloom.

On a hillside there were paintbrush, phlox and parsley growing.

Lupine on the side of the trail, with a great view of the Bailey Range.

More glacier lilies and a view of Hurricane Hill.

Douglasia and phlox in bloom

This young buck walked right along the side of the trail.

And up on hill behind us, were this doe and her very young wobbly legged fawn.

butterfly on phlox 

There were two patches of snow on the trail, both were on a flat section of the trail.

Pano from part way up Hurricane Hill looking south:

Pano from the top of Hurricane Hill looking northwest

Prairie smoke and wallflower on Hurricane Hill

ground squirrel

There was quite a bit of snow on the north slope and east end of Hurricane Hill with cornices.

I walked a short ways along the trail towards the Elwah River. There was soon quite a bit of snow, so I did not go far. Looking out to the Northwest.

As I returned to the Hurricane Hill trail, these two young bucks walked by.

some of the wildflowers by the trail (it will be a few weeks before peak bloom of the wildflowers here)

The Hurricane Hill trail is fabulous for the gorgeous views all the way back down to the trail head.

I was in a short traffic jam on my drive back to the main parking area at Hurricane Ridge as the cars in front of me were watching this black bear by the roadside. I was able to grab my camera and take these zoom shots before being able to drive on.

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From the west end of the parking area by the Visitor Center at Hurricane Ridge I hiked up this snow field to do a short meadow/parking area loop (about 0.7 mile) for the views and more wildlife sightings!

From the north side, I had this fabulous view from Hurricane Hill on the left to Mount Angeles on the right, where I had done my two hikes today.

fuzzy zoom of a marmot in the meadow

a buck and peaks to the south

wide angle view the south from the parking area at Hurricane Ridge, Visitor Center to the far right.