By Associated Press staff
THE ELWHA RIVER is racing fast and wide through what used to be Lake Aldwell.
The lake was drained away after Elwha Dam was removed in 2012, part of the park’s $325 million effort to restore the Elwha River and its once-legendary salmon runs. The last hunks of Glines Canyon Dam, the river’s second century-old dam, were blasted out last summer.
The lakebed is no longer a bare moonscape as 14-foot poplar saplings, grasses and other plants sewn by both nature and volunteer crews take hold.
Recent rains have swelled the Elwha, and tons of lake sediment are being washed to the river’s mouth on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sediment is building beaches and a fish-rich estuary.
The river and lakebed are fully accessible on foot to the public.
The land is controlled by Olympic National Park but technically is not part of ONP. It is open year-round and has become a favorite hiking area for many Port Angeles-area residents.
Dogs on leashes are permitted. No park admission pass is needed.
Walks begin from a parking area at a former boat launch, located at the end of Lake Aldwell Road.
To get there, take U.S. Highway 101 and drive about 8 miles west of Port Angeles.
Turn north — a sharp right — off Highway 101 onto Lake Aldwell Road immediately after the Elwha River Bridge.
Wear sturdy walking shoes or boots and be prepared for windy conditions with no shade.
