High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop
3 days ago
Fall colors are in full swing now
16 this month · 67 reports
West Elwha
Olympic Peninsula
updated 1 week ago
The West Elwha Trail is reported to be in good condition. A significant reroute was completed in May to bypass rotting puncheon, and this structure was decommissioned and removed by the Gray Wolf Trail Crew as of September 12. The trail is snow-free and the road is suitable for all vehicles. No bugs were reported in the most recent trip reports.
Generated from 20 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about West Elwha
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 week ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
The trail was reported to be in great shape with no obstructions as of August 19. A section of rotting puncheon has been removed and the area is returning to its natural state as of September 12.
The rotting puncheon has been fully decommissioned and removed as of September 12. The trail crew scattered the wood and pulled brush over the path, allowing it to return to its natural state and eventually disappear. The reroute is about a half-mile below Altair Campground.
The road to the trailhead is reported to be suitable for all vehicles as of September 12. There were no issues reported with road access in any of the recent trip reports.
No bugs were reported on the trail in the most recent trip reports from September 12. This suggests that insect activity is currently minimal.
More in Olympic Peninsula
Deer Park to Maiden Peak
2 weeks ago
Brave chipmunks await you at the summit
5 this month · 23 reports
Klahhane Ridge
1 week ago
Steep grade, dry dust and scree
3 this month · 31 reports
Striped Peak
4 days ago
Loose gravel on steep descents
3 this month · 23 reports
Little River
1 week ago
River is very low, river is low
3 this month · 18 reports
Mount Storm King
3 weeks ago
Steep scramble aided by ropes, views insane
2 this month · 33 reports
Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Recent1 week ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Back in May, Gray Wolf Trail Crew rerouted a section of this trail to bypass a stretch of rotting puncheon (boardwalk). The reroute is about a half-mile below Altair Campground. Today, the crew retu...
Recent1 week ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Back in May, Gray Wolf Trail Crew rerouted a section of this trail to bypass a stretch of rotting puncheon (boardwalk). The reroute is about a half-mile below Altair Campground. Today, the crew return...
Older1 month ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Hiked the West Elwha Trail to Altair, then the Hot Springs Rd to Glines Canyon Dam. The trail was in great shape with no obstructions. Hardly saw any other hikers on a lovely Wednesday. Once we hit...
Older2 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
I love this trail, it's such a nice alternative way to get into the Elwha Valley vs going from the Madison Falls Trailhead. Beautiful single track trail through the forest with various views of the ri...
Older4 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
On May 16, the Gray Wolf Trail Crew was back on this trail, finishing up the reroute we started a week earlier. The purpose was to bypass a stretch of old, rotten puncheon. Because the work site was n...
Older4 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Had a great hike along the Elwha, making it as far as Wilder Camp. Four nights, ~45 miles on foot, another ~16 miles on an e-bike, capped off with a day of trail work with the Gray Wolf Trail Crew. Go...
Older4 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Near the Altair end of this trail, there's a stretch of rotten puncheon that's failing and has reached a state where it's unsafe to hike and not worth maintaining. So, rather than replace the puncheo...
Older5 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
It had been over 30 years since we've hiked this trail, but it is in excellent shape. There is room for 4-5 vehicles at the trailhead and the first 0.4 miles is thru a 5ft wide easement on private pro...
Older7 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
Gray Wolf Trail Crew was back out on the West Elwha Trail today. There was a mucky spot about 2.5 miles in that needed attention. The fix was building a turnpike, which is what trail workers call a ra...
Older7 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
West Elwha was a wonderful trail - well groomed, no major obstacles, and very peaceful. We didn't see anyone until we made it up to the old campground and connected with Olympic Hot Springs road. (Tho...