OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Ranger-led interpretive walks along the Elwha River where Lake Aldwell once existed will continue to be offered until the end of the month.
The free one-hour Elwha Exploration Walks are offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 30.
The walks originally were planned to be halted Sept. 2 but have been continued because of their popularity, said Rainey McKenna, Olympic National Park spokeswoman.
Begin at boat launch
Walks begin at the former boat launch at the end of Lake Aldwell Road, which turns north off U.S. Highway 101 just west of the Elwha River bridge.
Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes or boots and be prepared for windy conditions with no shade.
Rangers guide visitors through the landscape being created by the river following the removal of Elwha Dam, which was demolished in March as part of the National Park Service’s $325 million Elwha Restoration Project.
The tearing-down of the two dams on the Elwha River — including Glines Canyon Dam, which is expected to be completely removed by next summer — frees the river for passage of salmon, steelhead and other fish.
The walks provide a close look at shifting sediments, both old and new vegetation, giant stumps logged a century ago and the river re-establishing itself.
For more information, phone Olympic National Park’s Elwha River ranger station, 360-452-9191.
For more information about the river restoration, visit the Peninsula Daily News website, www.peninsuladailynews.com, and enter the search word “Elwha.”
