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Heather Park

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
48.0390, -123.4314 Map & Directions
Length
10.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,940 feet
Highest Point
5,740 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Hard
View of Mount Baker from the Trailside. Photo by Brain Zimmer.
  • Mountain views
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None

Climb and climb to a high alpine parkland. Along the way, take in the gorgeous views, massive trees, and fluffy mosses that are signature to the Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic National Park. Continue reading

Rating
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Hiking Heather Park

Climb and climb to a high alpine parkland. Along the way, take in the gorgeous views, massive trees, and fluffy mosses signature to the Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic National Park.

Beginning from the trailhead, set out on the Heather Park trail. To your left is the trailhead for Lake Angeles, a seven-mile round trip trail popular with visitors. You're likely to have fewer people for company on Heather Park, though.

The trail's well-maintained tread climbs almost immediately. You have to cover nearly 4000 feet of elevation gain in the next five miles to make it to Heather Park's 5740-foot high point and the trail wastes no time with flat forest rambling. The way is straightforward. There are no forks and the trail traverses, switchbacks, and traverses again through second growth forests of mountain hemlock, with some Alaska cedar sprinkled in towards the top. Anything standing still long enough is draped with muted green bearded lichen. Closer to foot, there are myriad mosses lining the trail.

Continue climbing, passing a large glacial erratic known as Halfway Rock. This marks, roughly, the halfway point of the climb to Heather Park. It's a little off to the left as you approach it, near a small gulley, so somewhat easy to miss. Take a breather here and enjoy the shade of the second-growth forest. 

As you approach the top of the switchbacks, the forest thins, leading you to believe you might be nearing the top. You're flanking a top -- First Top, the not-quite summit of your hike. This last section can be frustrating, as it constantly feels like you're nearing the top, but you've still got a mile before you make it to Heather Park. At least the views are stunning, and after one last push into a small hanging valley, you're in the low part of the bowl that makes up the park.

A small trickling creek and campsites are here. The first site marks the elevation gain and mileage indicated in this writeup, but it's possible to press on higher and another quarter mile further to a saddle, where the trail drops away and the views to the south are stunning. Call it quits here -- you've done plenty of elevation gain and now you've got to lose it all on the way down. 

WTA Pro Tip: If you're feeling adventurous, you can continue down the saddle. This sometimes-scramble over gravelly rock connects with the Klahhane Ridge trail and eventually the Lake Angeles Trail, completing a loop that ends right back where you started.

But the section leading out of Heather Park is rough, and suitable only for experienced hikers with a map and route-finding skills. A sign at the trailhead warns that hikers have become lost on this section of trail when caught by darkness or fog.

Toilet Information

  • Toilet at trailhead

More information about toilets

Hike Description Written by
Anna Roth, WTA Staff

Heather Park

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 48.0390, -123.4314 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

From Port Angeles, turn south onto Race Street (away from the water) and drive through town, following signs to Olympic National Park. Veer right onto Hurricane Ridge Road (signed for Heart O'the Hills) and just before the entrance station, turn right onto a road signed "Trailheads Heather Park Lake Angeles 500 yards." Parking is available for about 40 cars.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

Heather Park (#79)

Olympic National Park

Guidebooks & Maps

Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula (Romano - Mountaineers Books)

Custom Correct Hurricane Ridge

Buy the Green Trails Hurricane Ridge/Elwha North No. 134S map

Download a map to plan your hike

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Heather Park

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