Olympic National Park: Half-Day Tour
Follow the Elwha Valley and walk through old-growth forest to Marymere Falls, with time beside Lake Crescent.
- Half day · around 4 hours
- Port Angeles departure
- Elwha Valley & Lake Crescent
River, forest & a short waterfall walk
Elwha River in winter · NPS / J. BurgerElwha Valley & Madison Falls: a shorter Olympic outing
Follow the river valley for a lighter park outing. Madison Falls adds a waterfall stop without making a long hike the center of the day.
Choose it forA shorter river-and-waterfall outing
Time to allowA short stop or a relaxed half day
Your basePort Angeles
Pairs well withLake Crescent
Road access and the short waterfall walk
Turn from US 101 onto Olympic Hot Springs Road and drive to the Madison Falls parking area. Vehicle access ends here: the road farther into the valley is closed beyond the washout. Start your visit at the open lower-valley access.
The paved waterfall trail is about 0.2 miles round trip from the parking area. It is a short destination walk, with the river landscape nearby for a longer pause. See current Elwha access information for closures; continue west to Lake Crescent if you want a fuller day.
Choose the valley for a shorter outing
The Elwha Valley brings river and forest scenery into a shorter trip from Port Angeles. It is an easy first Olympic outing and a lower-elevation choice when the mountains are clouded in.
Use Madison Falls as your driving destination. Flood damage closed the road farther up the valley; the accessible lower valley and waterfall are the focus of this visit.
Make Madison Falls the simple first stop
A short paved path leads from the parking area to Madison Falls, about 0.2 miles round trip. Choose it for a brief forest-and-waterfall stop with less walking than Marymere Falls.
The river views nearby round out the outing. For specific mobility requirements, the current NPS trail description covers the path and access in more detail.
Use the river landscape as part of the visit
Stay a little longer for the Elwha River and the valley’s restoration story. Dam removal reshaped this landscape, giving the visit a wider focus than the waterfall alone.
A guide adds context to the river’s recovery. Independent visitors will find useful interpretation in the park information; stay on open routes and follow posted closures.
Add Lake Crescent or keep the afternoon free
Book the half-day tour for Elwha, Marymere Falls and Lake Crescent with transport and a guide. It gives you a varied park introduction and an evening free in Port Angeles.
Driving yourself? Keep Elwha as a shorter outing, or continue west to the lake. A downtown overnight brings you back to restaurants and harbor walks afterward.
Go with a local guide
Make this part of your park day.
Choose it for the experience
A shorter park day
Follow the Elwha Valley and walk through old-growth forest to Marymere Falls, with time beside Lake Crescent.
Travel from Port Angeles with a guide and return after the outing. See available dates and the full itinerary on GetYourGuide.
Compare all three tours →Choose your next night
Find your stay ↗A short outing. An easy town evening.
Stay in Port Angeles for local tour departures and restaurants after the forest.
Keep planning
More places to explore.
Forest & waterfall
Marymere Falls
Walk to Marymere Falls from Lake Crescent: 1.8 miles round trip through forest, with steps to the viewpoints. Plan your visit or book a guided half day.
Explore the guide →Clear water & old-growth forest
Lake Crescent
Explore Lake Crescent: Marymere Falls, shoreline picnics, Spruce Railroad Trail and paddling. Compare a lakefront overnight with Port Angeles hotels.
Explore the guide →Let someone else drive
Olympic National Park without a car
Visit Olympic without a car: stay in downtown Port Angeles, book local guided park days and connect with ferries, buses and seasonal ridge transport.
Explore the guide →