Sol Duc Falls - 1.5 Miles Round-Trip

Sol Duc Falls is located .75 miles from the Sol Duc Trailhead in Olympic National Park. A mild trail leads through old growth forests to a bridge spanning the 4 prong fall, which drops precipitously into a scenic gorge. It continues onto Deer Lake and the 18.7 mile 7 Lakes Basin Loop.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Sol Duc Falls is among the most photographed waterfalls in Olympic, drawing large crowds year round. Those with time should consider accessing Sol Duc Falls via the Lovers Lane Trail, which begins at the Mink Lake Trailhead within Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.

This longer but lightly used approach is highlighted by river access, old growth forests, a challenging ford across Hidden Creek, and a scenic bridge over Canyon Creek (6.1 miles roundtrip).

The Lovers Lane Trail can be hiked as an out-and-back, or made into an equidistant loop by using the campground access trail back to Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.

Old Growth Forests and the Sol Duc River Valley

The term old growth forest typically refers to Douglas fir, red cedar, and western hemlock forests with trees that exceed 200 years old, have a multi-layer canopy, abundant downed wood and standing dead trees. Huckleberry, elderberry, and Oregon grape form a verdant, ethereal understory in these forests.

The biggest distinction between old growth lowland forests and temperate rainforests is lower rainfall, which can be attributed to valley positioning away from the coast.

The Sol Duc River originates on the north side of High Divide, which separates the Sol Duc and Hoh drainages. The Bogachiel River flows south of the Sol Duc River, joining it near the coast to form the Quillayute River.

Chinook and coho salmon return to the Sol Duc River in late summer and spawn in late fall, while cutthroat trout and steelhead run in the fall and winter and spawn into the spring. The Sol Duc River is one of only a few places in Olympic where salmon run in every season.