Hurricane Ridge

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3 miles +

National Park Entrance Fee: $10.00, 7 day pass, per vehicle

This was an amazing hike! We spent hours up here exploring and every bend we went around was another spectacular view. You can just take the paved trial up to the top for an easy 3 miler, or you can spend all afternoon (like we did) just hiking on all the branch off trails. 

This was one of the first things we saw as we were driving up to the trail head. Fortunately we saw him while driving and not hiking, though we have run into bear while hiking as well. I can tell you that it's much more comforting knowing that your car is close by rather than wondering if you could outrun a bear if he so chose to chase you. This guy was more concerned about his morning brunch than us.

There were so many animals up here it was amazing. They do not allow dogs on any of the trails in the Olympic National Forest because of the wildlife, so if you like hiking with Fido, you will have to leave him home on this trip.

There are a lot of side trails up here, but some of them can get kind of difficult. It just depends on how avid a hiker you are and how much of an adventure you would like.

Directions: From the greater Seattle area and I-5 corridor, you can reach U.S. 101 by several different routes.

• Cross Puget Sound on one of the Washington State Ferry System car and passenger ferries.
  
• Drive south to Tacoma, take State Route 16, and cross Puget Sound at the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
• Drive south to Olympia and access U.S. 101 there.