Geyser Valley

Convulsion Canyon, Elwha River, Olympic Nat’l Park dramatic scene & events on the Elwha River

Elwha River Thulefoth Comments
Convulsion Canyon, Elwha River

Convulsion Canyon, Elwha River

Convulsion Canyon is now an informal or ‘cultural’ name for a notable stretch or spot along the Elwha River, in the Olympic National Park.  It is immediately upstream of the popular Geyser Valley and Humes Ranch day-use areas, and is the bottom end of the Elwha’s Grand Canyon. The steel suspension cable Long Ridge Trail Bridge is strung between the cliffs at this spot, allowing the hiker to look upstream into the gorge, and downstream into the broad Valley, from perhaps 50 feet above the river. People refer to this site as Convulsion Canyon, although it appears to officially be ‘just’ the bottom end of Grand Canyon. … cont’d >

Rica Canyon, Elwha River, Olympic Nat’l Park the Elwha River between Hurricane Hill and Mt Fitzhenry

Elwha River Thulefoth Comments
Rica Canyon topo quad crop, ca 1950

Rica Canyon topo quad crop, ca 1950

Rica Canyon is cut by the Elwha River through an elevated bedrock formation between the southwest base of Hurricane Hill on the river’s right bank, and east flank of Mount Fitzhenry on the left bank.  It is incised mainly through sandstone and shale.  It is crowded hard up against the steep convex base of Hurricane (which can be examined at Elk Overlook), and set away from Fitzhenry where its mild concave skirt meets its neighbor.  The raw, vertical portions of the canyon walls are 100 to 200 feet high, with very steep approaches extending up to several hundred feet highter (especially on the Hurricane side). … cont’d >

Goblins Gate, Elwha River, Olympic Nat’l Park

Elwha River Thulefoth Comments
Map-fragment closeup of Goblins Gate

Map-fragment closeup of Goblins Gate

[G]oblins Gate is a dramatic entrance to the Rica Canyon of the Elwha River in Olympic National Park.  It’s at the lower end of Geyser Valley and the Humes Ranch area.  The river is suddenly pinched into a narrow canyon between vertical rock walls (like a gate).  It is an easy day-hike to Goblins Gate, via Rica Canyon Trail.

A broad, low ridge of resistant rock, a few hundred feet high, runs athwart the main Elwha River channel, at the bottom end of Geyser Valley, and the river cuts through it. … cont’d >