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Sol Duc Falls is one of the top 5 waterfall destinations in Washington for professional photographers, and probably ranks favorably nationwide in a similar comparison. Set amidst heavy temperate rain forest, the Sol Duc River creates one of the more uniquely shaped waterfalls in the northwest where it splits into between two and four segments – depending on the volume of the river – and hurtles 25 feet off the side of a cliff into a narrow canyon, then follows with another 10 foot flume into a deep blue pool. The National Park Service has done an excellent job at constructing rustic viewpoints that provide many varied angles of perspective. The canyon does appear to be a bit of a wood trap which, as you can see, detracts somewhat from the natural “flow” of the scene.
- Sol Duc Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Solduck Falls, Soleduck Falls
There are several variances for the spelling of the features with the name Sol Duc. Solduck and Soleduck are both common misspellings stemming from English translations of the native term Sol Duc, meaning “magic waters”. A legend tells of two dragons, Sol Duc and Elwha, who fought to a draw and were sealed in deep caverns. They wept hot tears at their confinement which furnishes the water for Olympic and Sol Duc Hot Springs.
The falls are accessed from the Sol Duc Valley Road in Olympic National Park, 31 ½ miles west from Port Angeles. The trailhead is located at the end of the Sol Duc Road, 13 ½ miles from Highway 101. The falls are reached in 8/10 of a mile from the trailhead. In the winter, the road is closed at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, which adds 1 ½ miles to the hike.
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