OUTDOOR
Feel like you’re atop the world at Hurricane Ridge.
RECREATION
The view from the Spruce Railroad Trail reveals snow-dusted peaks of the Olympic Mountains.
Winter hiking on the North Olympic Peninsula Story and photos by Michael Dashiell
S
o you love hiking on the Olympic Peninsula, but weeks of winter are looming and reasons to not break out those hiking boots — fewer hours of sunlight, the chill in the air, snow and rain and everything in between — are mounting? Yeah, I’ve been there. I got over it. Living in Washington means you’re going to get wet — yes, even living here in the Blue Hole. And it’ll be cold … not that, “Wow, it’s brisk!” kind of cold you get in the Midwest, or the “Gee, it’s chilly” kind you get on the East Coast, but the damp, depleting, “My soul longs for any place other than this” kind of Pacific Northwest cold. But living in the PCNW also means you’re adept at layering and putting on a happy face as you hit the trails. Plus, our area is still a hiker’s paradise, regardless of the temperature. Here are a few of my favorite winter hikes. Don’t forget the Ten Essentials of hiking: map, compass, sunglasses and sunscreen (even in the winter!), extra clothing, headlamp/flashlight, first-aid supplies, firestarter, matches, knife and extra food/water.
SPRUCE RAILROAD TRAIL
With many of the area’s hiking trails unreachable, the Spruce Railroad Trail is simply a gem. The trail starts on Lake Crescent’s north
shore, shortly after the road crosses the Lyre River. Take a short jaunt downhill from the trailhead through a fern-littered forest flanked by deciduous trees and pines to an abandoned rail bed that comprises much of the trail. The trail features a pleasant lagoon spanned by a wood and steel bridge, beneath black basalt cliffs on the right. To the south are snow-dusted peaks and ridges along the south shore, including the imposing Mount Storm King. >> How long: 4.0 miles each way; plus 3-mile roundtrip trek to North Shore Recreation Area. >> How hard: Easy. >> How to get there: Take U.S. Highway 101 to East Beach Road, west of Port Angeles at Lake Crescent. Turn right onto the road. Follow it several miles. Turn left just past the Log Cabin Resort on a road marked by a sign for the Spruce Railroad Trail. The trail starts on the right at the parking area.
ROBIN HILL FARM COUNTY PARK
The best of these for those who prefer a short day hike. With ample tree coverage among its 195 acres of forest, meadow and wetland, the park is usable in any weather. There are about 3.4 miles of developed foot trails and 2.5 miles of equestrian trails. The park also features 20 that
are maintained by WSU Cooperative Extension programs for pasture management, agricultural research plots/gardens and special water conservation and composting programs. >> How hard: Easy. >> How to get there: Take U.S. Highway 101 to Dryke Road west of Sequim. Turn north on Dryke, the parking area is on the right, before the road’s first curve. Or, take Old Olympic Highway to Vautier Road, turn left then drive to Pinnell Road, turn right. Parking area is on the left.
HURRICANE RIDGE/HURRICANE HILL Getting up to the ridge is sometimes a chore — recent efforts have Hurricane Ridge Road open four days per week during the winter instead of three — but once you’re there, it is a hiker’s playground. I suggest a snowshoe hike up Hurricane Hill if you can manage it. Breathtaking views abound. >> How long: 2.9 miles from the Visitor Center to Hurricane Hill; 2.6 miles from the Visitor Center to Switchback Trail via Sunrise Ridge >> How hard: Varies depending on the snow, wind conditions. On average, moderate to difficult. Snow covers many of the standard trail markings. Trails near the center are easy to moderate. >> How to get there: From downtown Sequim,
Winter 2014 LOP 5