Grand Ridge Trail

Grand Ridge Trail traverses one of the most exposed subalpine ridges in Olympic National Park, running along a 6,450-foot spine with unobstructed views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, and the Bailey Range glaciers. The trail begins at Obstruction Point, itself accessible only by a winding dirt road from Hurricane Ridge, and follows the ridge crest west through wind-sculpted subalpine fir and open meadows thick with Olympic violet, phlox, and the endemic Olympic mountain daisy found nowhere else on Earth. Roosevelt elk herds are a near-certainty on this route, particularly on the wide meadow benches below the ridge crest where they graze in groups of 20 to 50 animals through late summer. The trail's eastern terminus drops steeply into the Badger Valley, offering a loop option for parties with two vehicles. Weather on the ridge changes rapidly — afternoon thunderstorms are common in August, and the exposed crest offers no shelter. Morning departures are strongly recommended to avoid the lightning window that typically develops between noon and 3 p.m. in midsummer. The isolation and wildlife density make this one of the premier day hikes in the entire Olympic Peninsula.