Elwha River bus stop to trailhead 9 miles round trip, trailhead to Low Divide 57 miles one way, trailhead to N. Fork Quinault trailhead 45 miles Catch Clallam Transit 14 at Port Angeles at the Oak Street terminal, heading toward Forks, but get off at the Olympic Hot Springs Road about twenty minutes later. The road is paved all the way to your turnoff at about 4 miles, the Whiskey Bend Road, which heads steeply uphill. Near the base of Whiskey Bend Road, the Hurricane Hill Trail shoots nearly straight up to Hurricane Ridge. At the other end of the road, the Wolf Creek Trail does the same. The Elwha River trail itself hugs the river for miles, gaining elevation very slowly and gradually.
Views are of lush forest, ferns, and waterfalls.
One possible loop trail would be to cross the Elwha at the bridge about 3 miles in and climb the Long Ridge Trail, with views west over the Bailey Range to Mount Olympus, and east to Hurricane Ridge. Another option would be heading east from the Hayes River Guard Station, crossing Hayden Pass, and exiting via the Dosewallips or the Grey Wolf. 12.5 miles Follow the Hot Springs Road all the way to its paved end, and continue on the trail, along remnants of the old paved road, another two miles to the Boulder Creek Campground. The springs, a series of small, secluded shallow pools, are a short walk from the campground. Continue on up and across Appleton Pass, dropping back down along the Soleduck River, or the Hoh, or the Bogachiel.