Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park: Everything you Need to Know!

Sol Duc Falls definitely needs to be on your Olympic National Park itinerary! This stunning waterfall that splits into 3-4 separate waterfalls before plunging almost 50 ft where it rejoin Sol Duc River. Be sure to keep reading for everything you need to about this trail!

Planning a trip to Olympic National Park? Be sure to checkout The Best Hikes Near Lake Crescent You Don’t Want to Miss and Hiking Trails at Hurricane Ridge!

How to Get to Sol Duc Fall’s Trailhead

Sol Duc Falls is located off of Hwy 101, about 1 hour from Port Angeles. From Hwy 101, you’ll follow Sol-Duc Hot Spring road for around 25 minutes before arriving at the trailhead. There is a National Park booth as you go down the Sol-Duc Hot Spring Road and you will be required to show your park pass to enter.

About the Trail

The trail to the falls is slightly downhill most of the way and a decent width to allow two way traffic to easily pass. The trail to the waterfall is almost as beautiful as the waterfall itself. With ferns lining the trail, and moss hanging from the trees, it definitely gives off rain forest vibes.

Just before you reach Sol Duc Falls, you’ll pass an old shelter on the left. It’s not currently being used for anything however you can walk through it if you would like.

Sol Duc Falls

How full the waterfall is depends on when you visit and how much rainfall the area has received. We visited in September (the dry season) and the waterfall was still very full! Most people like to stop along the bridge for pictures, just try to stick to one side so others can pass since the bridge is pretty narrow.

Own you cross the bridge there is another viewing platform that gives you a different view of the falls. When we visited people climbed over the guards and onto the rocks above the falls- don’t do this! The rocks are going to be slippery for the water and mist from the waterfall, the last thing you want is to slip into the river below!

Salmon Cascades

If you have extra time I recommend stopping by Salmon Cascades, which is also on the Sol-Duc Hot Spring Road. Parking is just off the side of the road, however there isn’t much space.

This is a popular spot to see salmon swim upstream in the late summer/early fall. The exact time of the salmon run is going to vary every year and usually doesn’t happened until after a big rain. If you don’t visit during this season it is still a pretty spot to visit and just a short walk from the parking lot. There are a few viewing platforms that overlook the small waterfall and river. If you’d like to get closer to the river, head down hill to the right and walk along the rocks. Just be careful because the rocks can be very slippery when wet.

Sol Duc Falls Trail

Sol Duc Falls is a must visit when your in Olympic National Park! It’s a relatively easy trail that is almost as special as the waterfall itself! Also be sure to stop by Salmon Cascades, especially if you are visiting during the late summer or early fall!