Madison Falls

Madison Falls is a graceful 60-foot horsetail waterfall on Madison Creek in Olympic National Park's Elwha Valley, where the water slides down a moss-covered cliff face in a delicate veil. The falls are surrounded by lush old-growth forest and the spray supports a hanging garden of ferns, mosses, and liverworts that blanket every surface in vivid green. It's a small waterfall with outsized beauty — the kind of place that makes visitors stop and simply listen to the sound of water on stone.

The trail is a fully paved, ADA-accessible 0.2-mile walk from the parking area, making Madison Falls one of the most accessible waterfalls in any national park. The path is flat and wide, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, with the falls visible from a paved viewpoint at the trail's end. The entire visit takes less than fifteen minutes, making it an easy stop on the way to other Elwha Valley attractions.

Note that as of 2024, the Elwha area beyond the Madison Falls parking lot is closed to vehicle traffic due to flood damage, though the road is open to cyclists and pedestrians. The falls themselves remain fully accessible. Visit year-round — the falls run consistently thanks to reliable rainfall on the Olympic Peninsula. National park entrance fee required.