Sol Duc Falls: Olympic National Park Trail Guide

Sol Duc Falls is one of the most unique, beautiful, and popular waterfalls in Washington’s Olympic National Park. In this detailed trail guide, we go over everything you need to know about this easy, family-friendly hike.

Olympic National Park Hikes | Sol Duc Falls

With its unique top-down viewpoint and triple (sometimes quadruple!) cascades, it’s easy to see why Sol Duc Falls is widely considered the most beautiful waterfall in Olympic National Park.

The fact that it involves such a short and scenic hike and there are multiple options to extend it are major bonuses!

Although the Sol Duc Falls trail is quick and easy, it’s a full-on sensory experience from start to finish. As you walk through the fern-blanketed old-growth forest, you’ll pass under massive trees and by countless little streams and cascades.

It’s moody, impossibly green, and wet…quintessentially Pacific Northwest!

Sol Duc Falls trail stats

Sol Duc Falls Olympic National Park Washington

Location: Olympic National Park, Washington
Distance: 1.6 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 220 feet
Difficulty rating: easy
Timing: about one hour
Pets: not allowed
Permits: no permits required, but you will need to pay the $30 entry fee or have an America the Beautiful pass
View the trail notes

Sol Duc Falls hike overview

Fun fact: Sol Duc Falls has multiple prongs because the river turns at a sharp 90-degree angle just before dropping into the narrow gorge, flowing through chutes in the rock on the way down. It’s quite a sight, making the 50ish-foot waterfall seem larger than it actually is.

Adding to its allure, it feels like you’re standing right over the edge of the falls from the nearby bridge and viewing platform. It’s close enough to get quite wet from the spray, and you may also see some rainbows in the mist!

Sol Duc Falls’ effort vs. reward payoff is obviously high, but be aware that the trail gets quite crowded. That should come as no surprise, though, being that it’s one of the shorter hikes in ONP (like some of our other faves, including Marymere Falls and Hall of Mosses).

It’s also in a bit of a remote area of the park, tucked into the northwest section about 40 minutes southwest of Lake Crescent. Truthfully, because the vast majority of Olympic is designated wilderness, almost every ‘must-see’ involves a drive.

And since you have the option of continuing on to several other destinations from Sol Duc Falls, it’s well worth the trek!

Sol Duc Falls trail map

Things to know before you go

The hike to Sol Duc Falls is short and sweet, but there are still things you’ll want to be aware of before hitting the trail.

Best time of year to visit Sol Duc Falls

Olympic National Park Hikes | Sol Duc Falls trail

The waterfall is at its most impressive in the springtime, thanks to runoff, and during the fall rainy season. Running coho salmon and cutthroat trout in October, along with colorful changing foliage are icing on the cake!

With that said, you can really only hike the Sol Duc Falls trail from late spring through late fall.

Sol Duc Road, which leads to the trailhead, closes for the season when the first big snow falls—typically some time in November. It usually reopens between mid-March and mid-April.

Keep in mind, however, that weather can vary wildly in any particular year. The last few years, the road has opened at the end of March fairly consistently, but there have been a few off years where it wasn’t until nearly May!

How long does it take to hike to Sol Duc Falls?

Set aside roughly one hour to complete the Sol Duc Falls trail. Many people hike it in 40-45 minutes, and some people like to spend a lot of extra time marveling at the waterfall.

Remember that your individual hiking pace, coupled with how much time you spend stopped, will change your exact pace.

How difficult is the Sol Duc Falls hike?

The Sol Duc Falls trail is the definition of short and sweet. It’s truly easy, even for small children and first-time hikers. The most difficult obstacles are typically mud and tree roots you’ll have to navigate around (or through!).

When it’s especially muddy, shortly after or even during rain, the trail can be extra slippery, but this doesn’t require any special skills or experience. Just go slow and watch your step!

National Park Annual Pass

If you’re planning to visit more than one of the Washington national parks, we’d highly encourage you to look into getting an annual park pass. At $30 per vehicle for the entrance fee, visiting Mount Rainier National Park along with most other national parks in the U.S. can get expensive.

For just $80 per year, you can purchase the America the Beautiful Park Pass. This pass grants you free access to all of the national parks. Plus it also covers your entrance to over 2,000 natural, historical, and recreational sites across the United States.

If you still need convincing, check out our article: America the Beautiful Annual Park Pass: Is it Worthwhile?

The route

Sol Duc Falls trail Olympic National Park Washington

We broke down the route for hiking the Sol Duc Falls trail into parts to give you an idea of what to expect on the route.

Almost immediately after leaving the parking lot, one of the first things you’ll see on the trail is a large sign that seems to be misspelled.

It turns out that ‘Soleduck,’ a Quileute word meaning ‘sparkling water,’ was the more common spelling at one time, and park officials chose to leave the historical sign in place when it was officially changed in the 1990s.

The trail is wide and mostly flat, with occasional steps and small bridges crossing creeks.

At a fork in the trail close to ¾ mile in, go right toward Sol Duc Falls. Right after the trail split, you’ll come to a shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. You can take a quick detour up to it, but there’s honestly not much to see—it’s truly just a shelter to escape bad weather.

From this point on the trail, you’ll hear the roar of Sol Duc Falls, but won’t see them quite yet.

Just after the shelter, you’ll spot the bridge crossing the gorge. There’s another set of steps to navigate here, and the trail gets a bit more rocky and rooty, but there are handrails to help.

At Sol Duc Falls

Unlike many other Pacific Northwest waterfalls where you end up at the base, you’ll be looking down onto Sol Duc Falls from the bridge. Some downed trees lying across the canyon and verdant, moss-covered rocks make the scenery even more dramatic.

Continue a bit further up the trail for some different viewpoints of the waterfall, including the famous one that includes the bridge you just walked across. You’ll know when you find the exact spot, because it feels like you’re standing right on the very edge of the falls!

Return hike

You can head back the way you came toward the parking lot or keep heading down the trail to extend your hike. Just 0.3 miles further on Lovers Lane Trail, or about 10 minutes, you’ll come to another smaller—and much less crowded!—waterfall.

Other Sol Duc Falls route options

There are several other options if you want to explore more trails.

Lovers Lane Loop: This 5.8-mile loop technically starts behind Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and passes through the campground, but you can do a section of it by hopping onto Lovers Lane Trail. 0.3 miles past Sol Duc Falls, you’ll see another, smaller waterfall.
Deer Lake: A 6.3-mile out-and-back hike along Deer Lake Trail to the namesake lake and a lovely backcountry campground.
High Divide/Seven Lakes Basin Loop: Popular backpacking route with several lakes, including Heart Lake and Lunch Lake.

Tips for hiking to Sol Duc Falls

Prepare for a full parking lot. Start very early or go later in the afternoon for your best chances at beating the crowds.
The parking lot has clean pit toilets. There are none on the trail, so ‘go’ before you go.
Sol Duc Falls trail gets MUDDY. Wear sturdy closed-toe, waterproof shoes.
Keep an eye out for deer. They frequent the parking lot and Sol Duc Hot Springs Road, and they’re very accustomed to people, so they often don’t move out of the way.
See the famed leaping salmon at Salmon Cascades. Five miles past the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort (the opposite direction from the falls), you can watch Coho salmon in the fall and steelhead trout in the spring as they ‘jump’ up into the waterfalls.
If you have more time, take a soak at Sol Duc Hot Springs. The resort has three warm mineral pools, plus an unheated, more traditional swimming pool. It’s definitely a developed hot spring, but a lovely treat after a typically cold, wet hike!

Where to camp in Olympic National Park

Campervan Lyre River Campsite in Washington

There are tons of awesome places to camp in Olympic National Park, including a few close to Sol Duc Falls.

Sol Duc Falls Campground: Managed by the hot springs resort, this developed campground has 82 tent and RV sites, a dump station, and hook-ups. Open for reservations only late March through early November.
- Bonus: the campground has direct access to Sol Duc Falls, although it’s a longer 3-mile hike along the Lovers Lane Loop.
Fairholme Campground: On the very tip of Lake Crescent, this campsite is 30 minutes from Sol Duc Falls. 88 tent and RV sites, flush toilets, and a dump station. Reservations required Memorial Day through late September, first-come, first-served in April and May.
Lyre River Campground: One of our personal favorites, outside the park about one hour from Sol Duc Falls. This small first-come, first-served riverside campground is WAY up in northern Washington, and free with a Discover Pass.

What to pack for visiting Sol Duc Falls

Navigation: we recommend using Alltrails+ to download the offline trail map
- Get your first week of using Alltrails+ for FREE when you sign up using our link!
Hiking daypack
Insulated water bottle
Bug repellant
Sun protection: sunscreen, hat, sun glasses
Camera/tripod (this one’s our favorite for hiking)
Dress in layers (here is a great resource if you’re wondering what to wear hiking)
Comfortable hiking boots or shoes
Hiking poles (optional)
Plenty of snacks: check out our favorite hiking snacks here!

Be sure to download our FREE hiking packing list before your next trip and never leave another essential behind again!

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We want to hear from you!

Comment below if you have questions or want to share your experience hiking the Sol Duc Falls trail in Olympic National Park, Washington state and we’ll do our best to get back to you!

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