How to Drive Obstruction Point Road, Washington's Scariest Road

One of the recommendations that we got while visiting Olympic National Park in Washington is to drive the beautiful scenic Obstruction Point Road in Hurricane Ridge. As an 8-mile narrow, single-lane gravel road with steep drop-offs in places, Obstruction Point Road has been called Washington’s scariest road. This road connects the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center to Obstruction Point where ambitious hikers can tackle some of the most strenuous yet most beautiful hikes in Olympic National Park. Even if you’re not up for hiking, the scenery along Obstruction Point Road is breathtaking. Depending on the time of the day or year, the views on this road can change drastically, yet equally stunning

Stats

Where

The Start of Obstruction Point Road
47.969610, -123.494284

Restroom

There are restrooms at the end of the road near Obstruction Point.

Fee

There is a fee to enter the Olympic National Park. Please check the park’s website for more info. You can also use your America the Beautiful Pass here.

Important Things to Know

Opens mid-July to October
May be closed at any time due to weather-related conditions. Call 360-565-3131 for the current road status.
The road is not suitable for trailers or motorhomes.

Distance

8 miles each way

Time:

Takes about 45 minutes each way without stopping.

Ideal Time

This road only opens during late summer to early fall. We recommend going early on a weekday so you won’t have to deal with traffic on narrow road.

Weather

Video

History of Obstruction Point Road

In the 1940s, Obstruction Point Road was constructed in the hope of connecting Hurricane Ridge to Deer Park Road, another dirt road 7 miles to the east. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out when the area around Obstruction Point was found to be unsuitable to build a road due to loose shale and instability in the area. Hence, this area was named Obstruction Point. Although the road ends at Obstruction Point, it provides access to stunning vistas, gorgeous views of Mount Olympus by car, and several outstanding trails. Obstruction Point Road is also Olympic National Park’s highest-elevation road, topping out at 6,135ft.

When Is Obstruction Point Road Open?

Obstruction Point Road is a seasonal road, that usually opens from mid-July through October. However, this road is subjected to weather and damage closures without prior notice. Before you go, always make sure to check the park’s website for current road conditions, better yet, call 360-565-3131 for the most updated recording.

What Kind of Vehicle Can I Drive on Obstruction Point Road?

Most cars are good to drive on Obstruction Point Road. We took our little rental Nissan Altima up this road without any issues. However, we don’t recommend bringing your trailers or motorhomes. In fact, the sign at the road entrance specifically stated that this road is not suitable for trailers and motorhomes.

Is Obstruction Point Road in Washington Dangerous?

Even though we had driven through more dangerous roads, Obstruction Point Road is no mean any less treacherous. The road is windy and pretty narrow at points. Some of these narrow parts have steep drop-offs. It can get hairy when you’re trying to go past an oncoming car, especially around blind corners. On the weekends, Obstruction Point Road can get busy so it can be more risky to drive along this road due to how narrow it is. So if you don’t feel as comfortable driving, go on a weekday when it is less busy. Although it is mostly well-graded, Obstruction Point Road can get very slippery and dangerous after heavy rain. Therefore, make sure to wait before driving on this road after a big rain.

Please make sure to drive cautiously and obey the speed limit. We also don’t recommend driving this road at night or faster than 15mph.

The Adventure

The Start of Obstruction Point Road

Obstruction Point Road starts right outside the parking lot of Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. It is about 8 miles before reaching the Obstruction Point parking lot. If you’re coming from Hurricane Ridge Road, it is a sharp left turn onto Obstruction Point Road. The road is kind of hidden because of a dip from the parking lot to the road so it’s easy to miss it. We totally did at first. Luckily, there is a sign in front of the road’s entrance so we found it soon after.

The first section of this scenic road runs along the razor’s edge of a low saddleback. There are trees on both sides of the road so it doesn’t look that back. However, the road gets steeper as it climbs toward Steeple Rock. The road’s surface can get a bit rough with lots of gravel. We were able to drive fine with our little Nissan Altima, however, we also took it easy.

The Steep Part

As the road continues its ascend, we found ourselves driving along the side of Hurricane Ridge. At this point, there are steep drop-offs, thousands of feet down. This section of the road also has many sharp bends and turns so make sure to take your time and keep an eye out for oncoming traffic. After this section, the dirt road starts another steep climb with even more sharp bends and turns. Once the road reaches the top of Hurrican Ridge, the terrain flattens and widens out with gorgeous views all around. The road ends at the Obstruction Point trailhead parking lot where you can start on multiple stunning trails. We hiked the Badger Valley to Grand Lake Loop once we got here. We highly recommend doing this trail. It was breathtaking!

The Views

Along the drive, there are multiple turnouts with stunning views of the area. The views got better and better the further we drove. When we went in August, there were tons of wildflowers everywhere. It definitely makes the view so much better. Depending on when you go, the scenery on Obstruction Point Road can change drastically. When we first drove through, we could see a clear, dramatic view of the mountains and valleys far away. However, when we left after our hike, the clouds rolled in, giving the landscape a whole different vibe. It felt like we were at the edge of a sea of clouds. It was so beautiful.

If you’re visiting Olympic National Park, we definitely recommend doing this scenic drive. And if you’re able, do the hike! If you’re looking for easier hikes with great payoffs, we recommend doing Sol Duc Falls, Devil’s Punchbowl via Spruce Railroad, and Marymere Falls.

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.