We are in Arlington Washington for a year and my wife was wondering about these berries if they are good to make jelly from them.
Sambucus racemosa, red elderberry. They are consumed, but with some caution. Certainly better cooked. There are many other fine 'wild' berries to eat in Washington. Salmon berries, blackberries, thimble berries, huckleberries of many types, gooseberries. You might find the blue or black elderberries, which are more often eaten. Sambucus racemosa American Red Elder PFAF Plant Database Elderberries: Red, White and Blue
Thank you so much she already did some salmon berries and looking forward to huckleberries. Originally from Utah and the elderberries are big and in larger clusters there.
In my opinion the best tasting is the trailing blackberry, Rubus ursinus. Fruits on separate female plants, so you don't usually find fruit in abundance. You might also be interested in Mahonia (now Berberis) http://www.eattheweeds.com/mahonia-melange/comment-page-1/ The fruit is sour, but makes good jelly.
