Press Expedition

Geyser Valley, Elwha River, Olympic Nat’l Park day-hiking the Elwha River wilds

Elwha River / Olympic Nat'l Park Thulefoth Comments
Geyser Valley from Long Ridge Trail

Geyser Valley from Long Ridge Trail

Geyser Valley along with Humes Ranch, its best-known locale, form an area at the beginning of the Elwha River Trail that is popular for day-hiking and easy, laid-back weekend camp-outs. Most people who come here just call the whole area Humes Ranch. It’s a real valley, which much of the Elwha River ‘valley’ is decidely not. There was once a complex of homesteads here with small fields, orchards, barns, and at least one rustic lodge. Only a couple cabins remains standing, but the landscape is as inviting as ever. … 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 >