Elwha Campground - CLOSED — Olympic National Park

Check the pics I've added, the road is not accessible as of 9/18/22. About 20miles round trip to hot springs. Parking lot in front of the roadblock has restroom and a few spots.

Poised on the precipice of the worlds biggest dam removal project, this incredible campground is a front row seat to nature’s pushback. Nestled in the Olympic National Park and surrounded by towering forest this has to be one our favorite parks to date. Dog Friendly, people friendly, and neat as a pin. Very professional and accommodating staff. All manner of sites from tent camping to pull throughs for 45 ft juggernauts.

Elwha Campground was destroyed by flooding in the winter of 2017. The National Park Service is in the process if dismantling the campground and letting it return to natural forest land. If you are heading into the Elwha either for the day, a quick overnight or as part of the Pacific Northwest Trail the two closest campgrounds are in the backcountry; either Humes Ranch up Whiskey Bend Road or Boulder Creek up Hot Springs Road. Access to these areas is fairly difficult as no future plans for permanent bridges are in place where washouts have occurred. While the Elwha River valley is absolutely gorgeous, it is a mission to get to the upper reaches such as Glines Canyon and further upriver.

It’s a sad day when you find a beautiful campground destroyed and closed for good, but if you’re up for an adventure you can still visit these grounds that were washed out by the Elwah River in the Spring of 2017.

The Hot Springs Road is closed until a bridge can be constructed, but with Summer coming you can easily hop over most of the overflow from the River. Elwah River decided it was time to make a change and when it shifted it wiped out both Elwah and Altair campgrounds.

So no modern campsites exist any longer, but it is still a great spot to pitch a tent if you’re up for it. Just make sure to check the fire hazards and regulations prior to setting up a campfire here.

Among the ruins is also a road that leads to the falls, just a short 2 mile hike in and out. You are free to explore the falls right down to the bottom. Also, Mountain Biking is a great way to explore these now Barron campsites and falls. Grab your bike and pack and hit the woods! Guaranteed to be a quiet weekend.

These campsites were closed indefinitely due to flood damage, but man were they beautiful when open. The entire Washington area is beautiful. Even though the campsites are currently closed there is lodging available in the Port Angeles area. You can also stay inside the park at Lake Crescent. The area is still open for hiking. I definitely recommend making a stop here during your Olympic National Park visit.