West Elwha Trail─Quiet hike along a roaring restored river
Quick Facts
Location: Elwha Valley, North Olympic Peninsula
Land Agency: Olympic National Park
Roundtrip: 6.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1125 feet
Green Trails Map: Green Trails, Elwha North Hurricane Ridge-No. 134S
Access: From Port Angeles, follow US Highway 101 west for 9.3 miles. Near milepost 239, just beyond the Elwha River Bridge, turn left onto Herrick Road. Then continue 1.5 miles to trailhead and small parking area on left. Do not park on road or block adjacent driveways. No overnight parking.
Notes: Dogs prohibited. No overnight parking
Contact: Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center; www.nps.gov/oly
Good to know: Kid-friendly, snow free winter hike, old-growth, historic
This delightful trail follows the Elwha River along its west bank, away from roads and away from crowds. It follows what was once part of the old Olympic Hot Springs Trail, now truncated and obliterated by the Olympic Hot Springs Road. The trail starts on an easement through private land—do not trespass on abutting properties. Cross a private road and continue to the Olympic National Park boundary at .3 mile. Enter the Camp Fire Girls Memorial Grove (dedicated in 1938) and traverse scrappy forest before descending to a bridge crossing Freeman Creek. Then begin traversing beautiful old-growth forest passing a massive Douglas-fir.
The trail works its way to a rocky bluff above the river. Enjoy good views here of the rushing river. In early season flowers adorn the bluffs. The trail then drops to cross careening Hughes Creek on a sturdy log bridge. The way next traverses lush bottomlands before climbing steep slopes high above the river. Pass more big trees and cross a few creeks before descending. At 2.5 miles pass a towering Douglas-fir near where the original trail kept going toward the hot springs.
Cross more creeks and enter a big-leaf maple grove returning to the Elwha River. Then continue hiking to the trail’s end in the now closed (such a shame) Altaire Campground at 3.1 miles. Check out the old CCC-built picnic shelter before heading back. If you still want to continue farter however you can follow the campground access road to the now closed Olympic Hot Springs Road and walk 1.5 miles to Glines Canyon where a dam once harnessed the Elwha.
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