HAYDEN PASS TRAIL
Length 8.4 mi/13.5 km
Access Elwha Trail; Dosewalhps Trail
USGS Maps McCartney Peak; Wellestey Peak
Agency Olympic National Park

This route, which connects the Elwha Trail with the Dosewallips Trail at Hayden Pass, is 
used chiefly on trans-Olympic hikes by backpackers crossing from one valley to the other. 
Usually one elects to go down this trail rather than up; but, in any event, the ascent 
from the Elwha should be avoided after July because water is often not available on this 
route in late summer.

The path begins on the Elwha Trail near Hayes River Ranger Station (1650 ft/ 503 m) and ascends 
the ridge between Hayes River and Lost River. The climb is arduous, and made more so by the 
monotony of traversing several miles through somber evergreen forest having but little undergrowth. 
Apparently, the soil is of poor quality on this mountainside because the old-growth trees arc not 
large; in fact, many are stunted. Although water is scarce, it can sometimes be obtained at 
Frog Lake Creek (5.0 mi/8.0 km; 4700 ft/1433 m), the intermittent stream that has its source in 
Frog Lake (5100 ft/1554 m).

Kventually, the trail breaks out of the forest into more or less open country and goes by Bone 
Camp at a little stream (6.5 mi/10.5 km; 5300 ft/1615 m). Beyond this point the hiker is treated 
to views of distant peaks and ridges. Mount Olympus and the Bailey Range are visible from several 
points along the trail; so also are the summits surrounding the head of the Elwha. Near Haydcn 
Pass, where the trail contours along the southwestern side of Mount Frommc. following a shallow 
swale, the midsummer scene southward is exceptionally picturesque—a vista across receding snowdrifts 
and fields of nodding avalanche lilies. On the horizon, Mount Anderson—the highest peak in this 
part of the Olympics — rises above the snow-covered Eel Glacier, the largest icefield in the 
eastern Olympics.

Hayden Pass (8.4 mi/13.5 km; 5847 ft/1782 m) is the low point in the knife-edge ridge that connects 
Mount Claywood and Mount Fromme with Sentinel Peak and Sentinels Sister. This ridge is the 
watershed between the Dosewallips and the streams draining to the Elwha. All four peaks arc simple 
climbs and well worth the effort. Between Claywood and Fromme, scenic Claywood Lake — usually 
half-full of snow—lies cupped in a glacial hollow.

Beyond the pass the route becomes the Doscwallips Trail.