“stunning year-round falls”
Old-growth forest, subalpine lakes, and snowy peaks populate the Sol Duc landscape, while the Sol Duc River serves as a key highway for coho salmon, running through the valley and ascending to the lakes and headwaters in the surrounding mountains. Sol Duc falls is a stunning signature falls of national prominence in Olympic National Park. This is a great year-round falls. In contrast to most falls on the Olympic Peninsula, this one is viewed from above stream level. In the rainy season and early spring runoff this falls can be spectacular as it thunders beneath your feet. Winter viewing may require a snowshoe hike as Sol Duc Resort and road close during the snowy off season. Drive west from Fairholm on Highway 101 approximately 1.8 miles to the road for Sol Duc Hot Springs. Drive approximately 14 miles up the road to the parking lot at the Sol Duc Trailhead. Hike on an easy trail 0.8 miles, just past the rebuilt CCC era Canyon Creek Shelter (aka Sol Duc Shelter) and you will see (and hear) the falls, viewable up close on a bridge crossing the Sol Duc River.
Submitting an honest review for all of the people who are in less than perfect health and fitness or differently abled. I've got a bad hip and knees, and am a little heavy, but can crush a 6 mile hike on flat ground. This hike is TOUGH. It's a little over a mile and a half round trip, but there are lots of big steep steps and small hills, as well as big tree roots and rocks you have to be careful not to trip on. I wanted to stop and cry like 6 times on this walk. About a third of the way in, I was cursing my friend who described it as easy. After all of that, the waterfall was hard to care about it. It's a cool looking waterfall. Just like every other cool looking waterfall in the world.
There is a stop on Sol Duc Hot Springs Road called Salmon Cascades. It is just as beautiful and just as fun, and is easily accessible from the parking lot. If I could do it all over again, I would skip the hike to the falls, and just have fun at the Salmon Cascades and save myself the pain and trouble!
If you find Sol Duc Falls on the map, then go to "find places" on the left side and select "accommodation", you can find any type of place, from campsite to boutique hotel, as near or far as you like :)
Where are nearby accommodations?
So we didn’t make it to the actual falls. Our road tripper and AllTrails wouldn’t load. We made it to the first mini falls and thought that was it. That alone was gorgeous, so I can only imagine the major falls!
Wonderful place to visit. The waterfall is much larger than it looks in the pictures. The redwoods, hemlock and spruce trees ate amazing. This visit spoiled us for the rainforest, if you can only go to one make it this one!
Lover's Lane to the falls is a 6 mile hike from the hot springs. Parking is nuts- I walked 2 miles up the road before starting. Totally worth it.
Beautiful, stunning! Easy hike among a forest of greenery.
Amazing waterfall, you see this in pictures quite often, and for a good reason. It is beautiful!
Picturesque! Magnificently green!
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Sol Duc Falls
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
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Wheelchair Accessible
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