Marymere Falls

Marymere Falls. Temperate rain forest waterfall near Lake Crescent west of Port Angeles. Here is our description of the Falls, and photos of this impressive, no-fee Olympic National Park attraction.

Marymere Falls is located just 21.5 miles (km) west of Port Angeles, and 38 miles (km) east of the small town of Forks WA.

The waterfall is part of a cluster of destinations and attractions. all within one-half to one hour west of Port Angeles, WA.

The Marymere waterfall in Olympic National Park is 119 feet highMarymere waterfall is 119 feet high.

Pictured: This is one of the first glimpses of the waterfall. Clicking on this or any of the photos on this page will open a gallery of full-size pictures.

Marymere Falls is spectacular enough to warrant a visit in its own right. You'll be glad you did.

  • It is located within the boundaries of the Olympic National Park, yet is accessible without an entrance fee
  • Because it is located within the unique, Pacific Northwest temperate rain forest, the area surrounding the waterfall may be unlike any terrain one is familiar with. See the photos below.
  • If you're coming from Port Angeles, budget a half-day for the outing, more than that if you are so inclined
  • The 0.8 mile hike (one way) to the waterfall is an easy hike, more like a stroll for most of the distance.
  • The waterfall is fairly impressive, falling a total of 119 feet
  • “Two for the price of one:” The trail passes near a second, shorter falls, the Barnes Creek Waterfall

TripAdvisor Reviews of Marymere Trail and Falls

Marymere Falls near Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park


Cities near Marymere Falls

Port Angeles is just 21 miles (33.8 km) from Marymere Falls. But, if Port Angeles is not your starting point, then:

  • Forks is 36.1 miles (58.1 km) to the west, approximately 40 minutes by car
  • Sequim is 36.9 miles (59.4 km) to the east, approximately 48 minutes by car
  • Port Townsend is 68 miles (109.4 km) to the east, approximately 1.5 hours by car
  • Seattle is 102.5 miles (165 km) away via the Bainbridge Ferry, an approximate 3 hour commute if the ferry lines are not too long

Hike to Marymere Falls

On a Saturday morning in late December, the hub and I hit the road. The lovely morning begged for an outing, and by “lovely,” I mean partly cloudy with threats of occasional showers in the forecast. A dusting of snow added magic to the idea.

Storm King Ranger Station at Lake CrescentStorm King Ranger Station at Lake Crescent.

No problem! So we headed out to Lake Crescent and the Marymere trail. In 35 minutes, the drive brought us from Port Angeles to the trailhead near the shore of Lake Crescent.

We took the turnoff for the Lake Crescent Lodge area near Hwy 101 mile marker 227658, and then followed the signs to Marymere Falls. This took us to a parking lot alongside the Storm King Ranger Station, an old, refurbished log cottage.

The trail to the waterfall passes under Hwy 101.The trail to the waterfall passes under Hwy 101.

The trailhead is clearly marked. It passes to the south under Highway 101 before burying itself in the delightful depths of the rain forest.

The hike to the Falls can be described as a stroll in the rainforest for nearly all of the hike. It was only at the last few hundred feet that the trail began to climb. Even so, by the time we thought we might start getting winded, the Falls were already in sight.

It was inspiring, refreshing, surreal and serene! We could have sat at the foot of the falls and savored the scene and the roar of the falls for hours. It was a place to revel in, rest, contemplate, enjoy, marvel, relax.

Photos of Marymere Falls and Surrounds

Marymere Falls in DecemberMarymere waterfall in December.

Niagara Falls it was not, but it was still way more than I expected.

Barnes Creek thundered over the 119 foot precipice against rock and moss. A dead-fall tree trunk balanced precariously at the top of the falls, as if trying desperately to avoid dropping into the jumbled pile of tree bones below.  This was Nature at its inexorable finest.

The falls were amazing, of course, but getting there and back was at least half the fun and inspired just as much awe.

A hike to the Falls will also not fail to amaze. You'll see typical temperate rain forest characteristics:

  • Giant trees
  • Evidence of long gone nurse trees
  • Mosses and mushrooms and ferns
  • Dense and beautiful rain forest flora
  • Moss-draped branches everywhere
  • Greenest of green ferns everywhere
  • Native wildlife

There's an advantage to visiting the rain forest in winter. Winter opens the view laying bare the mossy branches of maple and alder trees, and the heavy leaf litter adds a rusty counterpoint to the never-ending verdancy.

More mossy trees alongside the Marymere trailMore mossy trees alongside the Marymere trail

Mushrooms grow nearly everywhere near Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, and especially on decaying wood.Mushrooms grow nearly everywhere, and especially on decaying wood.

Temperate Rain Forest Pictures Along the Trail to Marymere Falls

The rain forest can feel extremely dense. At certain points it seems to swallow the trail, and us, whole. Below Left: The Hub is deep in the maw of the forest.

Nevertheless, the trail is well maintained and well marked at the various forks in the trail.

Marymere Falls trail leads through dense temperate rain forest.Marymere Falls trail leads through dense temperate rain forest.
...And some parts of the trail are not so dense....And some parts of the trail are not so dense.

Giant Trees

There's a reason this attraction gets many visitors every year. It's very much worth the short hike!

Some of the trees around Marymere Falls are truly gigantic.

The greatest of the massive trees...

Massive old-growth tree along the trail to the waterfallMassive old-growth tree along the trail to the waterfall
Same giant old-growth treeSame giant old-growth tree
Another shot of this colossal tree.The same colossal tree.

...soar impossibly high over the forest canopy.  

Nurse Trees

Below Left: No one planted this row of trees. They sprouted atop a centuries-old fallen and decaying “nurse tree,” so called because in its rotting wood other trees root and grow.

The nurse tree provided the container, fertilizer, and potting soil for these trees, giving some species, such as Western Hemlock, a needed advantage.

There is no longer any evidence remaining of the nurse tree, except for the unnaturally straight line-up of this new generation of trees. Anomalies at the base of the trees might offer clues as to the original size of the nurse tree.

Below Right: Western Hemlocks like to take seed and sprout on nurse trees. An ancient stump is nourishing a Hemlock that is already many years old.

Colonnade of young hemlock trees on the Marymere trail. The nurse tree is long gone.Colonnade of young hemlock trees on the Marymere trail. The nurse tree is long gone.
Seen along the trail to Marymere Falls: A "floating" root ball is the result of a rotted nurse tree.

Above: The circular yet hollow living root ball bizarrely floats in mid-air at one end. The space circumscribed by the roots is large enough for a person to shelter in.

These are roots that were nourished by a nurse tree, which has long since rotted away, leaving nothing but the hole.

Right: One must walk single file across this Barnes Creek bridge, assisted by guard rails.

Western Hemlock tree thriving atop a nurse stump.Western Hemlock tree thriving atop a nurse stump.
Log bridge over Barnes Creek on the way to Marymere FallsLog bridge over Barnes Creek fashioned from a single log cleaved in half.

On the Way: Barnes Creek

The trail to the falls eventually meets up with, follows, and then crosses over Barnes Creek on a split-log bridge. Even with some of last year's leaves hanging brown on the bushes, the scenery is spectacular.

At this point, the trail switch-backs up the mountain (below). It is only another few hundred feet to the falls.

On your way up the switchback, you'll encounter the first waterfall of the hike - the much shorter Barnes Creek waterfall. This water has already fallen over the Marymere waterfall.

Barnes Creek Bridge. Once you cross the bridge, the falls are not far away.Barnes Creek Bridge. Once you cross the bridge, the falls are not far away.
Barnes Creek Falls, located below the larger Marymere waterfallBarnes Creek Falls, located below the larger Marymere waterfall
Steep switchbacks on the trail just before seeing the fallsSteep switchbacks on the trail just before seeing the falls
First glimpse of Marymere FallsFirst glimpse of Marymere Falls

A few more switchbacks, and then...the first glimpse of Marymere Falls...!

I'm not sure how a waterfall can evoke such wonder, but the sight is tremendously rewarding.



Right: You may wish to sit awhile and soak in the grandeur of the forest and the falls.

If you linger too long however, you may get soaked from the waterfall mist ... or the rain. This is a rain forest, after all.

This bench sits within reach of the waterfall mistThis bench sits within reach of the waterfall mist

What else to do after Visiting Marymere Falls?

There are lots of attractions not too far from Marymere Falls. You'll find many ideas at the following pages:

Explore the options: boating, hiking (easy and strenuous), beautiful views, kayaking, swimming, fishing, eating, gift shop, resting, marveling, salmon spawning, hot springs, and more.

Olympic National Park Website


Have You Been to This Beautiful Place?
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