This is your page to get detailed information about the route, distances, climbing grades, aid station locations, and which services will be available along the way. For a full capture of the ride experience check out the video at the bottom of the page.
Strava Challenge
For those who wish to participate in the Strava segment challenge for the ascent, here’s the link to the official route. NOTE: Review the beginning and end of the segment carefully before starting. The start is slightly AFTER the starting line to be sure cyclists are fully under way, and the end is at the apex of the climb as you enter the parking lot. Also be aware that the tunnels may very rarely affect the signal. This is for the ASCENT ONLY as the Olympic National Park requires descending cyclists to follow posted speed limits.
Please note that Ride the Hurricane cannot offer SAG support due to the road closure, and only emergency vehicles are permitted on the road during that time. If you cannot finish the ride you must wait in a safe location until the road re-opens to motor vehicles so you can hitch a ride down the mountain.
For a breakdown of distances, climbing grades, and other technical route information, please visit the route map on RidewithGPS.
Another look at elevation gains, distances, and an overhead view of the route on this Garmin map, courtesy of Ron Eccles
Food & aid stations
Aid Station Locations
Ride Start – mile zero, coffee, bananas, and protein bars.
Aid Station #1 – Mile Marker 2 of Hurricane Ridge Road, sponsored by Olympic Springs. Water Station Only. No tools, food, or support services. This aid station will be located in the middle of the climb up to the park entrance, which many say is one of the hardest parts of the ride.
Aid Station #2– 7.2 miles from ride start, at the ONP entrance. Sponsored by The Bike Garage. Bike Mechanic. Snacks, Water, Portable toilet. 3.8 miles to the next aid station, 12.9 miles to the top (closes at noon)
Aid Station #3– 11.1 miles from the ride start, Sponsored by The Clallam County YMCA, Snack, Water, Portable toilet, EMT unit on standby at this location (closes at 11:45 am)
Aid Station #4 – 13.7 miles from the start, Sponsored by Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Snacks, Water, Portable toilet (closes at 11:30 am)
Aid Station #5 – 17 Miles from ride start at the Switchbacks Trailhead, Sponsored by Brown’s Outdoor. Snacks, Water, Portable toilet (closes at 11:30 am)
Aid Station #6 – 18.3 miles from ride start, Sponsored by Dancing Hands Drumming Group, Water Station Only (closes at 11:30 am)
Mile High Summit Support Station – 19.8 miles from the ride start (closes at 11:30 am), sponsored by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Bike Mechanic, Chocolate Milk, water, heartier snacks, sinks and toilets. Please note that the Day Lodge is no longer there due to a tragic loss from a fire.
After Ride Party at the Pier – Turn around and go back down to the ride finish at Port Angeles City Pier. If you respond to our RSVP (going out shortly before the ride) , we’ll treat you to a reward of a Taco Bar and Local, Craft Beer, along with other refreshments.
Detailed Route Description
Here’s an explanation of the ride, broken down into five unique segments
Start: Port Angeles City Pier at the edge of the Port Angeles Harbor
Segment 1: Mile 0-.6 Olympic Discovery Trail – This is a short ride about half a mile along the scenic Waterfront Trail section of the ODT
Segment 2: Mile 0.6-2.1 Residential streets – After riding through the 9/11 Memorial park, head up Francis St., turn left on 8th St, right on Race St. and ride to the beginning of lower Hurricane Ridge Road
Segment 3: Mile 2.1 – 7.2 Lower Hurricane Ridge Road – This is the longest stretch between aid stations, and many say that it’s one of the toughest parts of the ride. This section of the road will be open to local traffic only. Absolutely NO cyclist drop-offs at the park after 7am.
Segment 4: Mile 7.2 – 19.5 Enter National Park -Hurricane Ridge Road is completely closed to motor vehicles from here to the summit. The rest of the ride is a gorgeous ascent into Olympic National Park, winding past old growth forest as you climb deeper into the park. The views will get increasingly more stunning, with aid stations every two to three miles to help you fuel up. Scroll down for info about the tunnels in segment #4.
Segment 5: Mile 19.5-20.1 This is the final stretch before the top, where every curve seems to be the final one until another curve appears. Just when it seems you’ll never get there, Dancing Hands drums will be there to drum you up and around that last corner to the top.
Photo below courtesy of Louis Carriere
Available services
- Gear check at the ride start so you don’t have to haul it up the hill if you want it after the ride
- Coffee, fruit, and water bottle refills at the start
- Water Station (no services) halfway between the start and the park entrance
- Five Aid Stations – Water, Gatorade, Snacks (with a special treat at each), small tools, and a bike pump will be available at all aid stations except where NO SERVICES are noted
- Bike Mechanic at Heart of the Hills aid station
- Portable Toilets at each aid station
- Hearty Snacks and Chocolate Milk at the Summit, toilets, handwashing sinks
- Bike Mechanic at the Summit
- Secured, attended bike corral after the ride (This may be canceled if we don’t get enough interest)
How long will the climb take?
Here is an estimated time for an ordinary cyclist from Bikemaps.com. Scroll down to find the top finishing times for all age groups from last year, from the Visitors Center on Race Street to the Summit.
Bikemaps.com time estimate for the climb from city pier to the top
Top finishing time for 2023, overall and by age group
Best Side Cycling’s 2024 Episode of Ride the Hurricane
Click on the logo below to view the latest episode, and you can catch the 2023 episode below that. A great way to see what the ride is like if you’ve never done it, or to revisit if you’d like to do it again.
First-hand look at the ride experience
Vlogger Hanoch Yeung’s episode of Best Side Cycling features Ride the Hurricane 2023, which Hanoch did on a Brompton Folding bike. Watch the video here
Cycling up Hurricane Ridge on Brompton Folding Bike
