Hiking Olympic National Park
By Erik Molvar

Rainbow Canyon Nature Trail 

This trail is located at the Rainbow Day Use Area, a picnic ground near Walker 
Pass, 5 miles south of Quilcene on U.S. 101.  The trail descends down forested 
slopes to reach an overlook of the Big Quilcene River. Here, the river flows 
through Rainbow Canyon, a steep-walled and heavily timbered defile through the 
foothills of the Olympic Mountains. The path soon seeks a side canyon, where 
Elbow Creek plummets over a small waterfall and into a quiet pool. The trail 
then continues its descent to reach the river, and emerges amid the alders along 
its course. Cliffs overgrown with vegetation guard the river as it arcs through 
a long curve.