Olympic National Park Waterfalls: The Best Falls to Visit

Olympic National Park waterfalls are fed by some of the wettest country in the lower 48, so you never have to walk far to find falling water. Some of the best are short, family-friendly walks from the road, from a paved path in the Elwha Valley to an old-growth trail near Lake Crescent. Here are the falls our volunteers send friends to first, with honest notes on trail length, access and the best time to go.

Marymere Falls: the classic Lake Crescent walk

The park calls Marymere Falls the most popular day hike at Lake Crescent. According to the NPS Marymere Falls trailhead page, the trail runs 0.9 mile one way through old-growth forest to a 90-foot waterfall. It starts at the Storm King Ranger Station, and you can also reach it from Lake Crescent Lodge.

The walk begins with a fun surprise: a stone tunnel that carries the trail under Highway 101. Beyond it, the path follows the forest toward Barnes Creek, which the park describes as the route to the falls. Near the end, the trail crosses Barnes Creek and then Falls Creek before climbing into a ravine.

Washington Trails Association lists the hike at 1.8 miles round trip with about 500 feet of gain. The last stretch is a short loop with stairs and two viewpoints, one on the hillside looking down on the falls and a lower platform facing its base. WTA notes that dogs are not allowed, so leave pets at home for this one.

Make a day of it with our guide to visiting Lake Crescent for more to see and do around the lake.

Madison Falls: the most accessible waterfall

Madison Falls is the gentlest waterfall visit in the park. The trail is 0.1 mile one way, paved and gently sloping, and it ends at a waterfall about 60 feet tall with a bench for resting. There is an accessible vault toilet at the trailhead, and the park says a visit takes about 5 to 15 minutes.

Pets are allowed on this short trail as long as you follow the park’s BARK Rules. The falls sit near the Elwha River in the Elwha Valley, 11 miles west of Port Angeles. Stop at the gravel parking lot for a view of the river at the heart of the Elwha River dam removal and restoration story.

Elwha road status

Madison Falls is also where driving ends in the Elwha. The park closed Olympic Hot Springs Road to vehicles beyond the Madison Falls parking lot because of flood damage and a road washout. The road beyond stays open to bikes and walkers, but there are no visitor facilities past the gate, so check the NPS Elwha Valley page before you go.

Sol Duc Falls in the Sol Duc Valley

Sol Duc Falls is one of the best-known falls in the park. The park says the walk from the parking lot at the end of the road is 0.8 mile and relatively level. For more on the trail and the valley around it, read our Sol Duc Falls and Sol Duc Valley guide.

After a wet spell, small unnamed cascades spill off mossy banks all through the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park.

A waterfall on the beach at Third Beach

On the coast near La Push, the Third Beach Trail drops through forest to a wide, wild beach. The park rates it easy, at 1.4 miles one way with about 240 feet of elevation loss. Toward Taylor Point at the south end of the beach, a waterfall pours off the headland onto the sand, a sight that surprises many visitors.

This falls is fed by rain, so it runs best in the wet months and can fade to a trickle in late summer. Parking is very limited, and pets are not allowed on coastal beaches or trails. Taylor Point cannot be rounded at shore level, and the park warns never to try rounding headlands at high tide, so carry a tide chart and see our guide to tide pools in Olympic National Park for low tide tips.

Merriman Falls near Lake Quinault

In the Quinault Valley, Merriman Falls sits right beside the South Shore Road on Lake Quinault. It is on Olympic National Forest land rather than inside the park, but it makes an easy stop on a Quinault rain forest drive. Its creek is small, so like the Third Beach falls it looks best after winter and spring rain.

Olympic National Park waterfalls compared

Waterfall	Area	Walk	Good to know
Marymere Falls	Lake Crescent	0.9 mile one way	90 feet; stairs at the end; no dogs
Madison Falls	Elwha Valley	0.1 mile, paved	About 60 feet; accessible; pets allowed
Sol Duc Falls	Sol Duc Valley	0.8 mile one way	Relatively level forest walk
Third Beach falls	Coast near La Push	1.4 miles to the beach	Best in wet months; no pets
Merriman Falls	Lake Quinault	Roadside	Olympic National Forest land

Tips for waterfall hikes on the Olympic Peninsula

• Go after rain. Rain-fed falls are fullest in the wet months, and our season by season guide to visiting the park can help you pick a date.
• Stay behind the railings. Rocks near falling water are slick with spray and moss.
• Check pet rules first. Madison Falls allows pets on leash; Marymere and coastal trails do not.
• Plan for fees. Entrance fees may apply; our entrance fees and passes guide explains the options.
• Leave it as you found it. Pack out every wrapper, and follow our Leave No Trace tips for the coast at Third Beach.

How Friends of Olympic National Park helps

We are Friends of Olympic National Park (FONP), a volunteer-led friends group based in Port Angeles. Busy trails stay welcoming when people care for them, and our adopt-a-trail crew on the Heart O’ the Forest Trail and our beach cleanups are two ways neighbours pitch in. To join a crew, see our volunteer opportunities at Olympic National Park.

Frequently asked questions

Love these trails as much as we do? Become a member of Friends of Olympic National Park and help us look after them.