Sol Duc Falls in the Olympic National Park

Sol Duc Falls are considered the most beautiful falls in Washington's Olympic National Park and are reached by a trail just under a mile (1.6 km) in length.  Viewed from above, the water falls 50 feet (15 meters) into the slot canyon below.  The road up to the trailhead winds through the scenic forest and leads us to the Sol Duc river, which we then follow on foot.

Road to the trail

Along the river

The Sol Duc River starts about 5,000 feet (1,525 km) above us, near the High Divide, where trickles of mountain rivlets merge into streams, then falling steeply as the water plunges down paths carved by Ice Age glaciers.  The pools in the river provide habitat for beaver, mink, river otter, salmon, and salamanders (none of which we see).  We cross many small streams along the way, all feeding into the river.

Trailhead

Along the trail

Glimpses of the river as we climb

Resting cabin near the falls

The restful sound of the falls grows louder and louder as we approach the top.  Unlike other falls in the Olympic Peninsula, the Sol Duc Falls are viewed from a bridge above at the brink as the water falls.

Views of the falls

We cross the bridge and explore the river upstream of the falls.

River heading to the falls

We then head back down through the forest and follow the river, this time appreciating the views of the rapids below the falls.

Returning through the forest

As the river continues to descend

As we reach the bottom, the river widens and slows, becoming a large channel, with man-made logjams to protect the shores.

River slows, with logjams

This is a relatively short and easy hike to a beautiful spot in the park. 

Marymere Falls in the Olympic National Pak

One of the trails starting at the western end of Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park leads to Marymere Falls, following a relatively easy 1.7 mile (2.7 km) nature trail from the lake up to the falls at the edge of the mountains.

Trail to the falls

Soon we reach a stream which we follow to the falls, crossing several smaller streams along the way.

Along the stream to the falls

As we get closer, we hear the falls and, rounding the corner, are treated to spectacular views.

Marymere Falls

The trail travels in a circle at the top of the falls, with several fabulous view spots, then returns back to Lake Crescent.

Descending from the falls

Halfway back to Lake Crescent, we take take a trail branching off to the right to follow the stream deeper into the forest for a while, then turn around and return to the lake.

Along the stream, then returning to the lake

We have to come back here another day and explore some of the other trails originating at Lake Crescent!  Now, it's time to proceed deeper into the mountains and the national park