• Olympic: Three Parks in One

    Olympic

    National Park Washington

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  • Olympic Hot Springs Road Closed

    The Elwha Valley's Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to public entry beyond the Altair Campground during removal of the Glines Canyon Dam. Olympic Hot Springs is not accessible from the Elwha.

  • Elwha River Closures

    Boating is prohibited on the Elwha River from Upper Lake Mills Trail downstream to the Highway 112 bridge, except for the stretch between Altair Campground and the Highway 101 bridge.

  • Changes to Visitor Services Due to Sequestration

    Due to mandatory, across the board budget cuts, some visitor services at Olympic National Park have changed. See the Plan Your Visit section for more information.

Visiting the Elwha

The Elwha River after a fresh snowfall

The Elwha River after a fresh snowfall in December of 2008.

Ken and Mary Campbell

Overview:

The Elwha is the Olympic Peninsula's largest watershed and prior to the construction of two dams in the early 1900s, was known for its impressive salmon returns.

The Elwha Valley is located in the central northern area of Olympic National Park. Located 11 miles west of Port Angeles, the Elwha Valley is reached by the Olympic Hot Springs Road, off of Highway 101 (directions).

Today, the Elwha River is the site of one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects in National Park Service history. With its sparkling river surrounded by mountains, the Elwha Valley is a popular destination for all.

General information about the Elwha Valley, facilities, trails, camping, and regulations can be found on the Elwha brochure (pdf).

Map and description of locations where you can learn more and Experience Elwha River Restoration.

 

Places to Stay:

The Elwha Valley has two campgrounds, Elwha campground with 30 sites (open all year) and Altair campground with 40 sites (open during summer.) Nearby lodging can be found in Port Angeles or within the park at Lake Crescent.

Recreation:

The Olympic Hot Springs Road and Whiskey Bend Road offer sightseeing opportunities through the valley's lowland and montane forests, as well as access to two picnic areas and a number of hiking trails.

Popular dayhikes in the area include the Boulder Creek trail and the Humes Ranch Loop.

Fishing in the Elwha is catch and release only. Make sure to check out fishing regulations for Olympic National Park before you come.

Official park concessioner Olympic Raft & Kayak, located at 123 Lake Aldwell Road off of Highway 101, offers guided whitewater rafting trips on the Elwha River, as well as areas outside of Olympic National Park including the Hoh and Sol Duc rivers.

Nearby Areas:

The Olympic National Park Visitor Center, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and the Sol Duc Valley are all within a one-hour drive of the Elwha Valley.

 
Two friends in the Elwha
A number of trails in the Elwha are great for day hikes.
Henry Meyer
 

  • Elwha Restoration Elwha Restoration

    Learn about restoring the Elwha River's native fish and ecosystem. Read More

  • Wilderness Trail & Campsite Map Wilderness Trail & Campsite Map

    Read More

Did You Know?

View of the Elwha Valley

Did you know that in 1988, Congress designated 95% of Olympic National Park as Wilderness. The Olympic Wilderness is a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. More...