The Sol Duc Falls Trail is a remarkable hike through the Sol Duc in Northern Olympic National Park. The hike is fairly simple and is doable for almost all skill levels of hikers. It will take you through the beautiful old-growth forest and come down to the 50-foot cascading falls. These falls are utterly amazing.
The falls include an awesome wooden bridge and a walkway along the side of the falls with a railing to get different views of the falls. There is also a very cool log cabin shelter along the trail right before making the descent to the falls. This hike is one you do not want to miss!!
Sol Duc Falls Trail - Olympic National Park
Distance: 1.6 miles round trip, in and out
Elevation Gain/Loss: 200 feet
Time: About 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on the hiker's speed and the number of photographs taken.
Difficulty: Easy to medium difficulty for most hikers. There are a few inclines and the trail can be rocky and covered in roots at some points. This hike may be more difficult for people with knee, back, or other health problems.
Restrooms: There is an outhouse by the trailhead.
Accessibility: Not ADA Accessible
Pets: No pets are allowed on the Sol Duc Falls Trail
Parking: It has a small parking lot but if you get there early you don’t have to worry about not getting a spot.
Where is the Sol Duc Trail?
Coming from Port Angeles, take US 101 West. In about 25 miles you will take a left onto Sol Duc Hot Springs Road. Travel for 9 miles then continue on Sol Duc Road for another 4.7 miles and you will arrive at the trailhead.
From Forks, head North on US Highway 101 towards Shuwah. Continue on US 101 for 27.6 miles. Then turn right onto Sol Duc-Hot Springs Road and travel for 9 miles. Then continue straight on Sol Duc Road for another 4.7 miles and you will arrive at the trailhead.
Hiking the Sol Duc Trail
The Sol Duc Falls Hiking Trail is a fun trail that is great for most skill levels of hikers. It has 2 major declines on the way to the falls that turn into inclines on the way back. There also can be some spots of the trail that can be rocky or have some exposed roots.
Once you get to the falls the bridge and trail can be wet and muddy so be careful. I suggest to take your time and soak in the hike as much as you can because it is amazing!
Trail Safety
Always be aware of bears and other wildlife and always know your bear safety. All wildlife can also be dangerous so keep an eye out for moose, elk, deer, and more.
Follow leave no trace principles while exploring this day hike trail and longer hiking trails.
What to Bring
Water: It is not a very long hike but still bring water to help prevent dehydration and other heat illnesses
Closed-toed shoes/boots: Closed toes shoes and boots are recommended due to the water and mud that can be on the bridge and trail. Also, make sure your shoes or boots are comfortable for hiking to prevent foot sores.
Camera Gear we use
We are big fans of using great camera gear to get amazing photos while traveling.
Canon R5 - We recently upgraded to the R5 after using a Mark 5 for years. We are loving the camera shutter speed and quality of images.
Canon 100 - 500mm - We use the Canon 100-500 for wildlife photography.
Camera Rain Cover - A rain cover will help protect your camera during rain showers but also when photographing waterfalls.
Camera Cleaning Kit - Cameras can get dirty, beat up, and dusty while in the parks. We like having a cleaning kit with us so we can do on the spot touch ups.
Extra Camera Batteries - We suggest always having one or two extra camera batteries with you. There is nothing worse than going to take a shot and the battery dies.
Extra Memory Cards - We use Extreme PRO SanDisk cards
Closest Attractions: Sol Duc Hot Springs, Lake Crescent, Spruce Railroad Trail, Hall of Mosses, Hurricane Ridge
Closest Campground: Sol Duc Campground
Closest Lodging: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Distance to other Olympic National Park Destinations
One thing to know about traveling within Olympic National Park is many destinations are a fair distance away from each other. This is not a park you are going to see everything in one or two days.
It can take a lot longer than you expect to reach many destinations within the park. Plan extra time for driving!
Sol Duc to -
Hoh Rainforest - 72 miles, 2 hours 30 minutes
Kalaloch - 72 miles, 2 hours
Mora - 50 miles, 1 hour 30 minute
Lake Ozette - 69 miles, 2 hours 30 minutes
Hurricane Ridge - 39 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes
Lake Quinault Rain Forest - 104 miles, 2 hours 45 minutes
Staircase Ranger Station - 140 miles, 3 hours 30 minutes
Olympic National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$75.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$100.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Where to stay when visiting Olympic National Park
There are multiple National Park Lodges within the park. Deciding on which lodge to stay in will largely depend on what part of the park you plan to explore because it certainly is one of those National Parks that you'll visit multiple times and still have something new to see (like we do!)
Kalaloch Lodge
Season: Year-round
Location: Along Highway 101 on the Pacific Ocean
The Kalaloch Lodge is a perfect place to stay while exploring the Olympic Peninsula and was indeed one of our favorite National Park Lodges we've ever stayed at. With well-equipped rooms and unbeatable views of Kalaloch Beach, you're sure to fall in love with this lodge.
Lake Crescent Lodge
Season: May to January
Location: Beside Lake Crescent, approximately 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington
The Lake Crescent Lodge boasts phenomenal views of Lake Crescent and offers a variety of accommodating options like cottages, lodge rooms, single tavern cottages, and more for you to choose from. If you end up deciding on a cottage (like we did), you'll get a chance to catch the gorgeous sunsets over the lake from your front porch. You can also rent kayaks from the property to go kayaking on the lake.
Log Cabin Resort
Season: May to September
Location: On the shore of Lake Crescent, 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington
The Log Cabin Resort includes chalets, camper cabins, RV/tent-camping sites, and more with stellar views of Lake Crescent. We stayed in a 2 Bedroom Kitchenette Cabin and had a great time at the place, which was spacious, had all the essentials, and a picnic table with a view, right outside the room.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Season: Mid-April to the end of October
Location: Right by the Sol Duc Hot Springs
The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is a rustic, serene property located by the hot springs. With a reservation at this resort, you'll also get access to swim in the hot springs, which was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay there. The property's prime location in the forested region also gives you easy access to the nearby trails, the Sol Duc Falls, River, and Valley.
Lodging near Olympic NP
Olympic NP borders multiple gateway communities including Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, La Push, Olympia, Forks, and Shelton.
Lake Quinault Lodge - At Lake Quinault Lodge, you can look forward to golfing on site, a terrace, and shopping on site. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. The onsite family restaurant, Roosevelt Room, features American cuisine. In addition to a firepit and mini golf, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi. Available to book on Expedia
Tree house at Twilight Beach - Stunning Tree house looking over the Strait of Juan De Fuca is a total North-West Washington experience. It is made of cedar with rustic touches. Once you are inside you will never want to leave as the floor to ceiling window looks onto the straight and with constant moving landscape of cruise ships, wildlife, and bald eagles soaring across your window.
Olympic Inn & Suites - located in Port Angeles. Olympic Inn & Suites provides everything you need. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor - Take advantage of dry cleaning/laundry services, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar at Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location. Be sure to enjoy a meal at 48° North, the onsite restaurant. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.
Quality Inn & Suites - Located in Sequim. Take advantage of a free breakfast buffet, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a gym at Quality Inn & Suites at Olympic NP. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a business center, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Olympic Railway Inn - located in Sequim. Stay in converted Caboose Train cars!!! Each caboose has a different theme!
Click on the map below to see additional hotel and vacation rental rates in the area.
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
Additional Olympic NP Resources
Check out all of the Olympic National Park Camping options. There are 14 campgrounds within the park
Olympic National Park Lodging - Check out our complete guide of all the places to stay within the park
Things to do in Olympic NP - Find out all of the top things to do in this great park.
Free National Park Days - Check out the 5 days a year the National Park Service waives entrance fees.
Most visited National Parks - Check out all of the top-visited parks in the United States
Moon Olympic Peninsula Guide Book
Olympic National Park trails map
Check out all of the Washington National Parks along with neighboring Oregon National Parks, Idaho National Parks, National Parks in Hawaii, and National Parks in Alaska
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
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