Swim in the Elwha River

Port Angeles, Washington

Description

Cool off in the beautiful blue-green water of the Elwha River at this easily accessible swimming hole in Olympic National Park.

Tucked away in the trees along Olympic Hot Springs Road, the Elwha River slows to a crawl and forms a perfect natural swimming hole. It is a great place to cool off, picnic, and enjoy the beautiful forest surrounding the Elwha River.

The river's water is crystal clear and a vivid blue-green color. It runs down from the Olympic Mountains, so make no mistake, the water is very cold.

If you swim across the river you can climb up the rocks and jump back into the water. Look before you jump, as fluctuating river levels can greatly affect the depth of the water and the safety of jumping in.

The swimming hole is about five miles down the road from the Olympic Hot Springs trailhead, so it's an awesome place to cool off after the hike.

Getting There

After entering Olympic National Park, continue South on Olympic Hot Springs Road. About 1.3 miles beyond the Elwha Ranger Station you will see a narrow dirt road branching off to the left. Follow this dirt road down a short hill to the parking area.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Photography

Chillin

Easy Parking

Forest

River

Scenic

Swimming Holes

Swim in the Elwha River Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

West Elwha River Trail

Olympic Hot Springs

A local favorite, this moderate day hike winds its way uphill from the Appleton Pass trailhead through old growth stands of fir, hemlock and cedar for 2.2 miles to a cluster of hot springs interspersed among the trees. Note: This route is now closed due to a washed out road. The current route is via the Madison Falls Trailhead. Located in the Olympic National Park, the trailhead lies at the en...

Madison Falls

Wolf Creek Trail

To tackle the Wolf Creek Trail, you start by winding up Whiskey Bend Road just outside of Port Angeles, falling the curves and hills of Elwha River. The peaks of the Olympic Mountains stand in the distance.Once you approach a clearing and small parking area, you grab the gear and hit the trail. The trailhead starts at around 1,200 feet and, if the season allows for it, finishes at 5,100ft. For ...

Humes Ranch and Goblin Gates

The Elwha River Trail cuts south into the heart of Olympic National Park along a densely forested valley, following the same route taken by some of the earliest explorers of the Olympic Peninsula at the end of the 19th century. Past Port Angeles, at a hard curve in US-101, take Olympic Hot Springs Road, bearing left past the drained basin of Lake Mills to the end of the road at Whiskey Bend Tr...

Hurricane Hill

To get to this hike you drive up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. The drive up to Hurricane Ridge is on a winding road with amazing views of the mountains. Once you reach the visitors center at Hurricane Ridge you can fill up water bottles or use the restroom. The trailhead for Hurricane Hill is just a few minutes drive further down the road. The hike up Hurricane Hill is a 3 mile ...