Madison Falls is a 76-foot horsetail waterfall on Madison Creek in the Elwha Valley of Olympic National Park, Clallam County, Washington. A short paved walk leads from the trailhead, where Olympic Hot Springs Road now closes to vehicles.
The falls
Madison Creek drops in a single steep, narrow horsetail, about 5 feet wide on average and up to 15 feet in high water. In-person field surveys measure the drop at 76 feet. Other figures are in circulation: agency materials call it a 60-foot waterfall, other guides give about 50 feet, and older park literature quoted more than 100 feet. A second cascade sits farther up Madison Creek; there is no established way to reach it.
Getting there
The trailhead is on Olympic Hot Springs Road about 2 miles south of US 101, at the Elwha Valley entrance to the park. From the gravel lot, a paved path runs 0.1 mile one way to the falls on a gentle grade, taking 5 to 15 minutes for the visit. The path is wheelchair accessible, and the trailhead has an accessible vault toilet and picnic tables.
Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to vehicles beyond the Madison Falls parking area because of a washout. The road past the gate is open to pedestrians, bicycles and leashed dogs. Parking at the trailhead is limited, with little room to turn around. There is no activity fee for the falls, but park entrance fees may apply.
When to go
The creek runs all year, with flow averaging about 15 cfs for most of the year, dropping to about 3 cfs in the three driest months.
On site
The path ends at a small viewing porch with a bench. Dogs are allowed on the trail under the park's BARK Rules.
History and name
The field beside the trailhead was the Sweet family homestead in the late 1800s. The park now uses it to pasture the horses and mules that pack supplies for backcountry trail crews; visitors are asked not to feed or touch them. Federal publications use the name Madison Falls, while Greg Plumb's waterfall guidebooks use Madison Creek Falls.
Nearby
Hurricane Creek Falls is about 4.6 miles away, Wolf Creek Falls about 4.7 miles and Hot Springs Falls about 6.5 miles. Wolf Creek Falls lies beyond the road closure, so reaching it starts with a walk or ride up the closed road from the Madison Falls gate.
Distances are straight-line.