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Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Sol Duc Falls
An easy loop from the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, perfect for early or late-season hiking. Ramble beneath towering old trees to a misty, mossy ravine that the Sol Duc River careens into. Watch determined dippers hunt for insects in the splash zone. Return along the pristine river until the fetid smell of sulfur signals you've arrived back at the springs.
This is a social hike from the hot springs resort through campgrounds and finally to the falls. Start by walking over the Sol Duc River Bridge, locating the trail on the northeast corner. Closely following the river, the trail first travels through the resort's RV park before emerging in the lower loop of the Sol Duc Campground after 0.4 mile. Follow the campground loop road a short distance, picking up the trail and following it to the upper loop of the campground. Once again, walk a short distance on pavement to pick up the trail. Then through big timber, saunter 1.3 pleasant and peaceful miles to a junction. The trail left leads 0.25 mile to a large parking lot-the reason for the hordes of people you'll now be encountering. On a well-trodden path continue for a nearly level 0.5 mile to a Civilian Conservation Corps-built shelter where the thundering sound of swiftly moving water barreling over a ledge announces that you've reached the falls. The best views are from the mist-sprayed bridge-quite inviting on a warm summer's day. The Sol Duc fans into two, crashing 50 feet into a narrow chasm where the sun rarely shines. After enjoying the spectacle, cross the bridge and climb a small bluff to a junction. Hang a right onto the Lovers Lane Trail, although it's open to all, lovelorn, loveless, and loved alike. In a short distance cross Canyon Creek, which drains Deer Lake high above. Follow the peaceful path through lush bottomlands, crossing a couple more crashing tributaries before arriving back at the resort at 2.8 miles from the falls. Your nose will tell you when you're close.
Driving Directions:
From Port Angeles follow US 101 west for 29 miles, passing Lake Crescent. About 2 miles beyond the Fairholm store, turn left onto the Sol Duc Hot Springs Road. (From Forks head east 28 miles on US 101, and turn right just past milepost 219.) Follow this road for 12 miles (passing the park entrance booth). Just past the Eagle Ranger Station turn right into the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Parking is located to the far right (west) of the main lodge. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mud/Rockslide | Mudholes | Washouts | Water on trail | Snow on trail
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We were pretty excited to hike this trail again. I had been at least 18 years since our last visit....
We were pretty excited to hike this trail again. I had been at least 18 years since our last visit. We stopped at the park office to check trail conditions and everything was good to go. We were a bit surprised to find the road leading to the falls closed. No worries, we just entered the trail behind the resort, just past the pool. The trail was completely full of water but we didn't care, we kept going and enjoyed the hike. About 3/4 of the way we had to turn back due to some pretty fast moving water. By the time we got back to our car the ranger had opened the road leading to the falls. We decided to walk up the road and hiked the short distance to the falls. They were amazing! Although it was pretty wet, we were properly dressed with rain gear, etc. Overall the hike was cool. The kids had a great time!
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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Started from the large parking lot at the end of the road, which was still mostly empty at 9am. From...
Started from the large parking lot at the end of the road, which was still mostly empty at 9am. From there, it was just over a mile to the shelter and the falls, along a wide, well-maintained trail.
Continued across the bridge, and followed the "Lovers Lane" trail to the resort. This trail was also in good condition, but a bit muddy in a few places, and there was one small stream crossing without a bridge. From the resort, followed the trail through the campground back to the (now very busy) parking lot to complete the loop. Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/eric.jain/SolDucFallsJuly2012 Tracklog: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/197317611 Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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Hiked from my campsite at the Sol Duc Campground - loop B. Nice easy hike but what a beautiful fores...
Hiked from my campsite at the Sol Duc Campground - loop B. Nice easy hike but what a beautiful forest! I enjoyed taking pictures of all the spring flowers and plants I didn't recognize to identify later. Snow-free. The CCC cabin near the falls was very cool! And the falls themselves are great. I arrived at 7am and had the place to myself. Nice to be above the falls. So powerful. There is a nice virtual geocache here if anyone is interested (geocaching is what got me hiking last summer): http://coord.info/GC6125 Highly recommend this hike. It's flat and easy, sometimes just what you need. Lots of trails heading into the backcountry start here.
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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This was my first time coming to the Olympic National Park. My friends and I left Port Angeles, I w...
This was my first time coming to the Olympic National Park. My friends and I left Port Angeles, I was staying the weekend there, in late morning. We probably started our hike around noon. It sprinkled a bit when we arrived at the trail head, and I was a little worried that it would soon pour on us, but we went anyway. I'm glad we did. I thoroughly enjoyed the hike. The temperature felt just right for hiking---not too hot, not too cold.
Our first hike was to Sol Duc Falls. The trail was in good condition---there were mud puddles in some areas but not too bad. I found the hike to be relaxing. I loved looking at the scenery---the trees, foliage, old growth, mini falls coming out through the cracks in the rocks. The foliage was such a bright green color, and there is no shortage of moss around here! The falls is beautiful! I liked that you can view the falls from several different angles---from the bridge that the trail leads you to, a look-out point (after you cross the bridge) and an area past the look-out point where you can view the falls with the bridge (that you just crossed) in the background. After we made it to Sol Duc Falls, we continued on to Deer Lake. The trail started to climb, but more of a gradual climb so it was not bad at all. There was more water on the trail heading up to Deer Lake. Still, the trail wasn't too bad. I don't know how far up we got (or how much farther it was to Deer Lake) when we hit snow. You couldn't see the trail anymore but there were footprints from previous hikers who did continue on up. We decided to turn around since we weren't wearing the right kind of gear to walk through snow. By this time, the rain was coming down much harder so I had to put my camera away. It's a shame because the view, of the surrounding mountains, from this point was just amazing. I can't wait to come back and hike the Deer Lake trail again later this summer and, hopefully, make it all the way to Deer Lake!
High Divide, Deer Lake, Deer Lake and Bogachiel Peak, Sol Duc Falls
— Sep 18, 2010
— hiking.on.the.mission
Day hike
Features:
Ripe berries
Issues:
Bridge out
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Left Kitsap county at 6am to meet up with the rest of our church hiking crew. (They made the smarter...
Left Kitsap county at 6am to meet up with the rest of our church hiking crew. (They made the smarter choice to spend the night at the Sol Duc HotSprings Lodge!) Weather forecast was questionable, but very glad we went!
Hit the trail around 8:30 am, right as the clouds were starting to burn off. Slowly climbed out of the valley and up to Heart Lake. (Bridges are out at Cross Creek, but the creek isn't flowing that deep.) Plenty of ripe berries once you hit the high country. Saw our first 3 bears of the hike around this point. Had lunch at Heart Lake, enjoying the GORGEOUS scenery. (My camera battery died, so I don't have any shots!) A little higher up the ridge, the view of Olympus was spectacular. Deep blue sky and clouds moving in and out. The stuff postcards are made of. There are even a few snowfields that have hung on through the summer. After a short trip up to Bogachiel Peak (another beautiful view, of course) we continued on, enjoying the high country. Wish we could have stayed longer, but I had to make it back to Kitsap for an evening meeting. Continued the rest of the hike with one hiking partner. About a mile after the Hoh Lakes turn off, we saw a few more bears down the ridge. Then, after the 7 Lakes trail and some interesting boulder washes we startled a good-sized black bear. It barked a warning, so we waited awhile for it to leave. Some tense moments when it ran a few steps towards us... Never carried pepper spray in the Olympics before, but I might start now. (At least for Autumn hikes in the high country.) One more close run-in with a black bear just before Lunch Lake. Joined up with two more hikers for some added bear security. Ran into quite a few overnighters along the way. Lots of people planning to fish. Deer Lake had quite a few people. At the very end, we were dazzled by Sol Duc Falls. (We'd walked right past them at the beginning of the hike!) All in all, it was a great hike. Trail is in great condition. And I made it home in time for my meeting...only to find out it had been cancelled. Should have lingered in the high country...and finished the day at the Hot Springs! |
 Sol Duc Falls. Photo by David Elderkin.
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