Upper Elwha River Valley

Drove up to the Upper Elwha River Valley to hike up to the Glines Canyon Overlook and take the Smokey Bottom Trail to Boulder River, and the Boulder River Trail back to the Overlook before returning to the car. About 12 miles and 1,000 ft of overall gain.

The Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed right after the Madison Falls parking area, as there were two sections of the road taken out by floods.
We walked 0.6 mile along the road, before taking the Bypass Trail.

Thimblleberry growing near the Elwha River.

map of the Bypass Trail placed at both ends of the trail. About 0.8 mile.

The Bypass Trail is a nice break from walking on the closed road. Lovely forest trail with some large trees.

There are a couple of short spur trails that lead to views of the Elwha River.

One of the sections of the road partially under the river.

A little less than a mile after rejoining the closed road, a bridge crosses to the other side of the Elwha River.
Looking south from the bridge.

looking north from the bridge.

views of the forest along the road walk.

View of a couple of snow capped peaks in the Bailey Range near the Glines Canyon Overlook.

View from Glines Canyon Overlook to the north

View from Glines Canyon Overlook to the south

Looking back to where the Glines Dam was removed from the Smokey Bottom Trail

Small creek along this trail

Lupine was planted to help with the restoration where Lake Mills once stood.

Boulder Creek and the Elwha River

Boulder Creek

small falls along Boulder Creek

The Boulder Creek Trail was once the west side lake trail along Lake Mills, with lovely trees, ferns, moss and some wildflowers and fungi.

small stream

View between the trees looking north along the Elwha River.

fungi on a downfall

View upstream of the Elwha Valley where the Smokey Bottom trail is.

view of the area where the Glines Dam was removed

rubber boa












after retuning to the parking area, took the short trail to Madison Falls
















some of the wildflowers we saw along the trail today: