The Elwha River Trail leads deep into the lowland forests and lush bottomlands of Olympic National Park. It runs 28.4 miles south from Whiskey Bend Road to Low Divide (3,602'), and continues another 16.4 miles as the North Fork Quinault River Trail to form one of the longest thru-hikes in the Park.

While few tackle the entire route, there are many compelling destinations of varying length along the way. Mary's Falls is located 8.9 miles from Whiskey Bend at Mary's Falls Camp, the first of nine backcountry sites on the Elwha River leading to Low Divide.

Those who value the journey and destination equally will enjoy this long day hike or moderate overnight into the Elwha Valley. Highlights include diverse lowland forests, the bridge over Lillian River and lux bottomlands of the Elwha River:

The trail rises to the Rica Canyon Trail (1.2 miles : 1,247'), and drops nominally past the Krause Bottom Trail (1.6 miles : 1,127') to Michaels' Cabin at the Humes Meadow Trail split (1.9 miles : 1,118').

Fir and hemlock form the canopy, while Oregon grape, elderberry, huckleberry, and a variety of ferns, mosses and liverworts comprise the variously thick and open understory.

The trail climbs steadily past the cabin in a younger forest that burned near the turn of the century. A few creek corridors lined with old growth cedar and hemlock were spared, highlighting this otherwise mundane stretch.

The trail crests near the Lillian River Trail split (4.15 miles : 1,665') and drops steeply in a rapidly changing forest to the Lillian River at Lillian Camp (4.75 miles : 1,353').

Here the comparatively dry lowland forest yields to lush rainforest vignettes on the damp river bottom. Large cedar, fir, big leaf maple, hemlock and vine maple emerge as you pass through the river corridor.

A scenic bridge over the Lillian River (4.8 miles : 1,353') is an ideal turnaround point for day hikers. Backpackers will find some of the Elwha Valley's nicest campsites just over the bridge along the river.

The trail climbs steeply above Lillian Camp, where you'll notice a sharp ecological contrast between rain and lowland forest on the rapid elevation change.

It climbs over 700' in 1.4 miles to a crest high along the east valley wall (6.2 miles : 2,065'). Look for the smooth red bark of madrone trees on this segment. The trail tilts down at 6.2 miles on a long, gradual descent that reintroduces large fir, cedar and maple as you near the river.

It crosses a stream at 8.3 miles (1,342'), this time turning down beside it before leveling beside the Elwha River (8.4 miles : 1,300'). Scale a small hill and drop to Mary's Falls Group Site (8.7 miles : 1,307').

A few steps ahead is the spur to Mary's Falls Camp (8.8 miles : 1,296'), which you'll follow through a small meadow to the river's edge. Mary's Falls is located across the river, about 25' downstream past the last campsite. A small tributary reveals the falls' location high up the west valley wall.