Parking
Whiskey Bend is the named trailhead for the Elwha River Trail. The Happy Hollow spur starts at a backcountry junction many miles farther up the valley; the 3.6-mile figure covers only that spur.
Overview
About Happy Hollow Trail
Why go
- A named shelter destination before the route changes to climbing terrain
Heads up
- The 3.6-mile distance excludes the long Elwha River Trail approach
- The shelter position and condition have not been recently verified
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation2,192–2,559 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
6 active Olympic alerts
- ClosureOlympic Hot Springs and Whiskey Bend roads closed to vehiclesMentions Whiskey Bend, referenced in this guideOlympic Hot Springs Road is closed to vehicles at the Madison Falls parking area because of a washout; Whiskey Bend Road is closed to vehicles because of the Olympic Hot Springs Road washout.Official details
- CautionUS 101 Hoh River Bridge reduced to one laneUS 101 at the Hoh River Bridge is restricted to one lane of alternating traffic; obey the signals and 25 mph speed limit.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Your drive to Happy Hollow Trail, narrated.
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- Wildlife heatmapsfor Olympic Marmot, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 148 trails, 94 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Happy Hollow Trail
The shelter takes a long approachHappy Hollow Trail is a 3.
Happy Hollow Trail is a 3.6-mile out-and-back spur from its junction with the Elwha River Trail, following the 1.8-mile mapped Happy Hollow line each way to the shelter area. That junction is deep in the backcountry; this distance starts there, not at a parking lot. The spur is a small part of a much longer Elwha trip, so don't mistake it for a 3.6-mile day hike.
Follow the mapped spurThe path leaves the Elwha River Trail and runs through forest to a separate route connection in…
The path leaves the Elwha River Trail and runs through forest to a separate route connection in the Elwha Basin, then you return the same way. A shelter is described at Happy Hollow before the route turns into climbing terrain. Its exact position on the mapped line and its present condition aren't confirmed, so don't count on it as overnight shelter; stop at the mapped end unless your plan specifically covers the rough continuation.
Access and permitsThe named Elwha River Trailhead is at Whiskey Bend, many miles before the Happy Hollow junction.
The named Elwha River Trailhead is at Whiskey Bend, many miles before the Happy Hollow junction. Treat the shelter as a backcountry destination that needs a serious approach plan, not as a roadside stop. Overnight camping in undeveloped park areas requires a wilderness permit, and pets aren't allowed on park trails. Check current road access before committing to the long approach.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Olympic
710 sightingsOlympic MarmotMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
30 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
42 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
71 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
306 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Olympic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
