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Elwha Valley

The Olympic Peninsula's largest watershed. Prior to the construction of two dams in the early 1900s, it was known for its impressive salmon returns. Today, the dams are gone, and the Elwha River is now one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects in National Park Service history. 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. Stop to see Madison Creek Falls, a quick walk with superb views of the gushing Elwha River to the falls, with poems in between.

Getting there: west on US-101, to Olympic Hot Springs Rd
Website: nps.gov (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Port Angeles, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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