Elwha River

Major, north-central watershed of the Park.

Lake Aldwell, Elwha River, Olympic Peninsula, NW USA

Elwha River Thulefoth Comments
Log boom dam guard Lake Aldwell

Log boom dam guard Lake Aldwell

Lake Aldwell is the impoundment of the Elwha River above the lower of the two dams on it (both slated for removal in 2011).

The main local two-lane road through this region, Highway 101, makes a moderately steep descent from the east, to the bridge crossing the Elwha a short ways above the upper end of the lake. This slope forms the eastern side of the lake, and at the top before the road descends, is a large paved pullout & viewpoint. There are views of Lake Aldwell, and excellent views further up the Elwha River valley and surrounding & interior (National Park) mountains. … cont’d >

Anderson Ranch, Elwha River, Olympic Nat’l Park off-trail, river-bottom day-hike

Elwha River / Olympic Nat'l Park Thulefoth Comments
Anderson Ranch meadow, from south upsteam end

Anderson Ranch meadow, from south upsteam end

Anderson Ranch is a large river-bottom, flood-plain meadow on the left bank of the Elwha River; it lies immediately upstream of Goblins Gate. More fully, or historically, it was the Billy Anderson Ranch, and that name will sometimes be seen. It is quite near the beginning of the main Elwha River Trail, but is on the opposite side of the river.

To get to the Ranch, start from the Whiskey Bend Trailhead, where the main Elwha trail starts and follow it up-river through the Humes Ranch area (a popular day-hiking complex). Use the steel suspension Long Ridge Trail Bridge that (dramatically) crosses the river to give access to Long Ridge Trail. Then hike cross-country back down the other side to the Ranch. Or, much more direct, if the water is unusually low (late summer, fall, maybe), robust types ford the river from the foot of Rica Canyon Trail. … cont’d >

Rica Canyon Trail, Elwha River, Olympic Nat’l Park 1.5 mi to Elwha River's Goblins Gate

Elwha River Thulefoth Comments
Rica Canyon Trail sign

Rica Canyon Trail sign

The Rica Canyon trail begins at the 3rd intersection up the main Elwha River Trail, about 1.1 miles out of the Whiskey Bend Trailhead. The first two junctions are both for a short side-loop trail called Elk Overlook, which is a nice viewpoint for Anderson Ranch, itself an off-trail day-hike. It’s easy to miss the Overlook return junction, heading up-trail, which makes a bit of a stealth reentry. The Rica spur-trail leads several hundred feet down-slope to the river at the downstream end of Geyser Valley (no geysers), where the Elwha makes a dramatic entry into Rica Canyon at a feature known as Goblins Gate, a narrow slot with vertical cliffs on both sides. This is where the river enters Rica Canyon. … cont’d >