Course
The Elwha River begins at the Elwha snowfinger near Mount Barnes and Mount Queets in the Olympic Range within Olympic National Park, in Jefferson County, Washington. The river flows southeast, then curves northward for the rest of its course. Major peaks near the Elwha's source include Mount Christie, Mount Carrie, Mount Meany, and Mount Seattle.
After receiving the tributaries Delabarre Creek and Godkin Creek, the Elwha River flows northward. The Hayes River joins in Press Valley, where the Hayes River Ranger Station is located. Lost River joins near the northern end of Press Valley, after which the Elwha crosses into Clallam County, Washington.
Just after the county line, the Elwha River passes the Elkhorn Ranger Station and enters the Grand Canyon of the Elwha. The river leaves the Grand Canyon as it passes under Dodger Point Bridge and past Humes Ranch Cabin along the Geyser Valley trail. After passing Krause Bottom, the river enters Rica Canyon at Goblins Gate. After Rica Canyon, the river fans out into a delta at the head of Lake Mills, the reservoir behind Glines Canyon Dam. Below the dam the Elwha is paralleled by Olympic Hot Springs Road. After flowing by campgrounds and the Elwha Ranger Station, the river exits Olympic National Park and, until early 2012, entered Lake Aldwell, the reservoir behind Elwha Dam.
Below the site of the former Elwha Dam, the Elwha River flows several miles north, through the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation, to enter the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Angeles Point, just west of the city of Port Angeles, Washington.
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