![]() The shelter was built by FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 to “enhance the safety of visitors” to the newly created national park. Making your way downhill, stop to marvel at the Canyon Creek Shelter, a 25-by-12-foot log cabin with a dirt floor and an open front wall with a covered firepit. The Sol Duc River finally comes into view downhill and to the right, with a rough-hewn timber fence protecting hikers from falling into the river gorge. Cross another wooden footbridge and go right at the trail sign toward Sol Duc Falls and Lover’s Lane. The surrounding landscape is a classic example of a temperate old-growth forest: Age-old nurse logs give birth to lines of smaller trees fungus, moss, and lichens inhabit every possible niche epiphytes (hanging “air” plants that get their nutrients from the sun and wind) hang off the boughs of small Sitka spruce trees and larger big-leaf maples bunchberry, sword fern, salmonberry, and devil’s club crowd the edges of the trail.Īt about a half mile into the hike, after crossing over the third of many small wooden footbridges, you can start to hear the sounds of the rushing river-the waterfall isn’t in sight yet but can’t be far off. Within 150 feet of the trailhead, a series of twenty-eight stair steps heading downhill makes things easy. The trailhead is well marked with kiosks bearing information on backcountry travel in general and maps outlining the trails fanning out from the Sol Duc drainage. The trailhead is at the dead-end of Sol Duc Hot Springs Road, with ample parking right there. Turning around and heading back to the parking lot is one option, but even better is turning the excursion into a 5.5-mile loop hike past some of the largest Sitka spruce and western red cedar trees on the planet on the way past lovely Lover’s Lane Falls upriver from Sol Duc Falls. Hikers willing to make the 0.8-mile trek through otherworldly old-growth forest can view the spectacle from a high wooden footbridge, under which the freshly fallen river quickly passes. Then the accumulated river falls another 11 feet into another larger gorge before shuttling on downstream. ![]() The Sol Duc River puts on quite a show when it braids into four channels that then plunge side-by-side over a sharp ledge and fall 37 feet straight down into a deep, dark chasm below. Sol Duc Falls may be one of the most famous waterfalls in the state of Washington, and for good reason. Lodging: The closest lodging is a few minutes away at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort (closed winter), or drive 40-minutes to the Lake Crescent Lodge, or 60-minutes to Port Angeles.Ĭamping: Camping is available at the Sol Duc Springs Campground, just 5 minutes from the Sol Duc Waterfall trailhead. The attractive Fairholme Campground at Lake Crescent is another 45 minutes away.Sol Duc Falls, Olympic National Park, Washington, US The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is only 5 minutes before you reach the falls, and is a great place to stop for lunch or refreshments, or to bathe in the hot water springs, but is closed during winter. It's then an easy 40 minute drive to the Sol Duc Falls trailhead. ![]() Take the clearly marked exit to Sol Duc off Highway 101. Road conditions: Always check road conditions to see if Sol Duc Road is open, because closures are common after storms.Įntrance Fee: An entrance fee is required to enter the Olympic National Park.ĭirections: Sol Duc Falls is located off Highway 101, the main highway around the Olympic National Park. Sol Duc Falls is amongst the best 3 waterfalls to visit in Washington State including other favorites like Palouse Falls and Snoqualmie Falls. ![]() ![]() Visitors can peer into the deep canyon on the Sol Duc River to get a close glimpse of these falls. The hike to Sol Duc Falls takes about 20 minutes, and passes through lush, temperate rainforest, along a footbridge over a spring fed stream, past a log cabin, then ends at a viewing platform overlooking the dramatic falls. Sol Duc Falls is in the northwest of the Olympic National Park in Washington State, a 1 hour drive from Port Angeles. Visit the most popular waterfall in the Olympic National Park. ![]()
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