Sol Duc Hot Springs and Sol Duc Falls
4 / 8
Our second day in Sol Duc, deep within Olympic National Park, was officially declared a chill day. That said, we had one mission to accomplish: power. Ever since arriving in the Pacific Northwest, we've been camping in deep shade, which happens to be the arch-nemesis of solar panels. With our battery running low, Danny hitched up the camper and went in search of sunlight.
Salmon Exhibit
1 / 9
We found a sunny spot near Lake Crescent Lodge, which conveniently also had cell service, something our campground lacked entirely. We took the opportunity to soak in some solar rays and some YouTube (modern survival at its finest), lounging and enjoying the simple thrill of a signal bar. Eventually, we wandered over to the Lake Crescent Lodge for a couple of adult beverages, because no power seeking mission is complete without a reward. Then we headed back to camp and called it a day.
The next morning, we made plans to hike to Sol Duc Falls, a short drive from our campground. But when we pulled up to the trailhead, it was packed. I figured since it was so close, we’d just come back later when the crowd had thinned out a bit. We then drove over to the Sol Duc River area near the Salmon Cascades exhibit. While late July was a little too early for the famous salmon run, the spot was still picturesque. We found a perch on the sun-warmed rocks, pulled out lunch, and basked by the river like happy lizards.
After lunch, we made our way to Sol Duc Hot Springs, where access runs $18 per person for a 90 minute soak. The facility includes three mineral soaking pools at varying temperatures, along with a large river-fed swimming pool that stays refreshingly brisk. Staff regularly monitor the hot pools and adjust the temperature by mixing in river water as needed, keeping things comfortably warm without venturing into lobster boil territory. We opted for the mid temperature pool and settled in. After a good stretch of soaking, relaxing, and people-watching, we braved a dip in the chilly river-fed pool, before heading back to the hot pool.
Feeling nice and stewed, we tried the Sol Duc Falls trailhead again around 5 PM. It was still busy. So much for our low-key evening hike. The main parking lot was full, so we parked a little further down the road and walked in. The hike to Sol Duc Falls is just under a mile each way, with a trail that winds through lush forest. When we reached the falls, we were greeted with the thundering sound of water cascading into a narrow, mossy gorge. The viewpoint is a charming wooden bridge that gives you a front-row seat to one of the prettiest waterfalls in Olympic National Park. Despite the lingering crowd, it was worth every step.
The next morning, we made plans to hike to Sol Duc Falls, a short drive from our campground. But when we pulled up to the trailhead, it was packed. I figured since it was so close, we’d just come back later when the crowd had thinned out a bit. We then drove over to the Sol Duc River area near the Salmon Cascades exhibit. While late July was a little too early for the famous salmon run, the spot was still picturesque. We found a perch on the sun-warmed rocks, pulled out lunch, and basked by the river like happy lizards.
After lunch, we made our way to Sol Duc Hot Springs, where access runs $18 per person for a 90 minute soak. The facility includes three mineral soaking pools at varying temperatures, along with a large river-fed swimming pool that stays refreshingly brisk. Staff regularly monitor the hot pools and adjust the temperature by mixing in river water as needed, keeping things comfortably warm without venturing into lobster boil territory. We opted for the mid temperature pool and settled in. After a good stretch of soaking, relaxing, and people-watching, we braved a dip in the chilly river-fed pool, before heading back to the hot pool.
Feeling nice and stewed, we tried the Sol Duc Falls trailhead again around 5 PM. It was still busy. So much for our low-key evening hike. The main parking lot was full, so we parked a little further down the road and walked in. The hike to Sol Duc Falls is just under a mile each way, with a trail that winds through lush forest. When we reached the falls, we were greeted with the thundering sound of water cascading into a narrow, mossy gorge. The viewpoint is a charming wooden bridge that gives you a front-row seat to one of the prettiest waterfalls in Olympic National Park. Despite the lingering crowd, it was worth every step.