Trip Report
Elwha River
We ran the lower Elwha from Madison Falls to the mouth. It was 1,100 CFS. Out of a large group of 9, we had only 2 swimmers. We paddled/floated the 10.7 river miles in 4 hours 5 minutes.
Logan DeGrand
- Fri, Apr 10, 2026
- Elwha River
- Packrafting
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The gauge at McDonald Bridge near Port Angeles was reading 1,100 CFS. It was plenty, but you had to pay attention approaching cobble bars and pick the side with the deeper channel or you would get hung up.
About 1/2 mile or so below the Hwy 101 bridge in a braided section with masses of engineered log jams, that DNR made for salmon habitat restoration, there was a choice of left channel, center, or right. All three were blind corners. The left looked like you would get stuck on a cobble bar. The middle looked like a narrow opening between protruding wood. We went right where the flow was moving faster. There was a channel-wide sweeper right around the corner. We did a hasty eddy out in moving water.
Other than that one portage we didn't encounter any mandatory portages. The clothesline by the hatchery was gone. The weir by the hatchery was easy to go down anywhere along the entire left half. One boater took the far right line, which was the fastest and cleanest. You just have to hug the wall on the right and end up in a fun wave train at the bottom.
The fish entrapment was moved all the way down near the mouth.
A fun day. Big group of 9 boaters. We portaged the class IV rapid at the old dam site. 
We inspected the various metal debris along river left. Scary stuff. Inflatable boats and metal rods don't mix well. Definitely not recommended to paddle down this ledge drop unless much higher water - maybe at 1500 CFS I would try it. It is impossible to know where the rebar and metal bars are in the middle or river right of the drop. Photos of metal debris at the old dam site rapid on river left mid ledge drop: 
Just below the bid ledge drop you can put in and get some fun class II+ action before the river returns to it's predominant calmer class II- personality.
You know you are near the mouth when you get to a sand cliff wall on river left that is about 200 feet high. The fastest way back to the cars is to exit left as soon as you get to the end of this dirt cliff. There is a clean trail that leads to a wide dirt road that leads directly to the car park. We missed this and couldn't find any real eddies to eddy out until much further down and then we had to bush bask on a minimal use trail back upriver to find the main trail. If you paddle all the way to the sea, the views are nice, but then you have to do a long walk in deep sand, and saltwater on your gear is not the best.
We saw many of our typical waterfowl friends and raptor friends, massive Bald Eagles, Wood Ducks, Mergansers, and Kingfisher. And a good time was had by all. RIP Steve Morga