Olympic National Park · Washington

ELWHA RIVER TRAIL

27 mi of trail, end to end · about 5,700 ft of climbing · 1,096 ft–3,638 ft · native surface · trail class Minimally Developed · hiking, horse

Ranger stations

1,136 ft 1,575 ft · 1.7 mi high 1,640 ft

Along the way Elkhorn Hayes River

Trailhead Whiskey Bend 1,156 ft Drive there

See Madison Falls the Park Service's write-up

5-15 Minutes · dogs allowed

A waterfall rushes over mossy rocks to a pond below.
Madison Falls is at the end of one of the park's most accessible trails. Photo: NPS Photo / J. Burger

Madison Falls is a stunning 60-foot waterfall near the Elwha River. It's also one of the most accessible destinations at the park, making it a great stop for families and visitors of all abilities.

Stop at the parking area for a great view of the Elwha River. The Elwha is the Olympic Peninsula's largest watershed, and home to salmon and trout. For millenia, the Klallam people relied on fish nurtured by the Elwha River watershed. But two dams on the river constructed in 1913 and 1927 were built without fish passage, meaning that thousands of salmon could no longer reach the Elwha Valley. After careful planning, both dams were removed in 2014. Within months of the dams' removal, salmon were spawning in the park for the first time in 100 years! See this impressive river and hear its rushing waters to experience the success of this restoration project.

Then, continue beyond the parking lot on a 0.1-mile, paved, gently sloping trail leading to Madison Falls. A bench at the end of this short trail provides a perfect spot to rest in the shade and take it all in.

Accessibility A gravel parking lot is located near the trailhead. An accessible vault toilet is located at the trailhead. The trail distance is 0.1 miles, one way. The trail has a gentle slope. Elevation gain is minimal.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Other trails from the Whiskey Bend

All 201 trails in Olympic National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.