Sol Duc River Valley Photos

Sol Duc River Valley Photos: including four main Sol Duc Valley attractions - ancient rain forest hike, leaping salmon, hot springs, trail to Sol Duc Falls.

29 miles (km) west of Port Angeles is the junction of Highway 101 and Sol Duc Hot Springs Road.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Road peels away from Highway 101 just west of Lake Crescent, and then wends its way for 15 miles through the Sol Duc Valley alongside the Sol Duc River. This is an area filled with tall evergreens, rich green moss, and vine maple trees, which flame out in spectacular fashion every autumn.

This stretch of the Sol Duc is within the Olympic National Park. We highly recommend a visit to this valley. Check the photos, and let us know what you think....

Salmon Cascades along the Sol Duc River

The Sol Duc, previously named Soleduck, is a mis-pronounced Quilleute Indian name meaning "sparkling waters."  This beautiful river originates high in the Olympic Mountains, winding and tumbling its way northwest, passing by the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort before turning westward.

Miles later it empties into the very large Quillayute River.  By the time the Quillayute empties into the Pacific through the Quilleute village of La Push, the waters of the Sol Duc will have traveled seventy-eight serpentine miles.

The Sol Duc River itself comprises 2 main tributaries - the North Fork and the South Fork. It is the largest of four tributary rivers, draining 219 square miles of the 629 square mile watershed, the largest of the northern Olympic Peninsula.

Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc RiverSalmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River.

You'll find the Salmon Cascades at roughly 6 miles into the valley along Sol Duc Road. The area is well-marked, and the parking area is right along the road.

This photo captured at least 3 salmon attempting to leap up and over the Salmon Cascades.

On this early October day, the salmon are running strongly. This shot (above) captured at least 3 salmon attempting to leap up and over the Salmon Cascades.

Coho salmon lining up for a run at the Salmon Cascades, on the Sol Duc River in the Olympic National ParkCoho salmon lining up for a run at the Salmon Cascades
Coho salmon taking a run at the Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River WACoho salmon taking a run at the Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River WA.

Our 19-Second Video of Spawning Coho Salmon Leaping the Salmon Cascade

Viewing platform at the Salmon Cascades on the Sol DucViewing platform at the Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc

Above Right: Sol Duc River downstream from the Salmon Cascades

The Sol Duc River is one of the healthiest rivers for winter spawning salmon. It is one of the only rivers to sustain all five species of salmon.

Spawning salmon first run a gauntlet of boulders choking the riverbed (above right) and then arrive at a large clear pool (below).

Here they rest and gather their strength for leaping the Salmon Cascades to their spawning grounds.

Large pool in the Sol Duc RiverLarge pool in the Sol Duc River

Environment Surrounding the Salmon Cascades

Giant trees tend to make dwarfs of the humans at their feetGiant trees tend to make dwarfs of the humans at their feet
Young hemlock sapling clinging to large Doug Fir tree near the Salmon CascadesYoung hemlock sapling clinging to large Doug Fir tree near the Salmon Cascades
Massive old growth Doug Fir tree by the Salmon CascadesMassive old growth Doug Fir tree by the Salmon Cascades
Recently fallen old growth Doug Fir in Sol Duc Valley by Salmon CascadesRecently fallen old growth Doug Fir in Sol Duc Valley by Salmon Cascades

Ancient Grove

Drive a couple more miles east and deeper into the valley, and you'll encounter the "Ancient Grove."

Impossibly green forested glades in Sol Duc Valley's Ancient GroveImpossibly green forested glades in Sol Duc Valley's Ancient Grove
View along the Ancient Grove Trail.
View along the Ancient Grove Trail.View along the Ancient Grove Trail.
View of the Sol Duc River from a bluff in the Ancient Forest.View of the Sol Duc River from a bluff in the Ancient Forest.


Take the approximately 0.6-mile hike/stroll through this verdant green temperate rainforest.

Parking is right beside the road, and the trail through the Ancient Grove is well-marked and well maintained. Enjoy!

The Sol Duc has carved a wide channel behind the Ancient Grove, allowing the sun's rays into the dense rain forest.

The resulting views are beautifully  back-lit.

The hike will lead you briefly to the edge of the steep banks of the river. 

These are the spawning beds for various species of Pacific Salmon.

Wander Through the Ancient Grove

Well maintained Ancient Grove hiking trailWell maintained Ancient Grove hiking trail
Foot path through the mossy ground in the Ancient GroveFoot path through the mossy ground in the Ancient Grove
Massive old growth trunk dwarfs the other trees in Ancient GroveMassive old growth trunk dwarfs the other trees in Ancient Grove
Long-dead fallen tree serves as a "nurse log" to dozens of growing healthy saplingsLong-dead fallen tree serves as a "nurse log" to dozens of growing healthy saplings.

Sol Duc Falls

The Sol Duc Falls are a spectacular and fitting reward at the end of Sol Duc Road and a beautiful 0.8 mile hike through the Sol Duc rain forest.

Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National ParkSol Duc Falls

We'd like to show you many of our photos of the Falls, but this page has already gotten very long!

Please do visit the Sol Duc Falls photo page, where we've posted our favorite captures of the Sol Duc Falls and the surrounding forest, trail, trees, and mossy creeks.

Don't forget that it is so much better in person!

Nearby Lodging:
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort


More info on visiting the Sol Duc Valley from the Olympic Natl Park website

 

Have You Been to This Beautiful Place?
Tell Your Story and Share Your Photos With Us!

Nature can present us with unexpected, memorable, and breathtaking moments! Do you have a great story or an interesting experience that took place in this beautiful part of the Olympic National Park? We'd love to hear about it! Feel free to share it in the form below. Be as wordy and as descriptive as you like. Include photos as well, if you have them; there is plenty of room for it all on our website.

Just click into the title box below and go from there. When published, you'll have "your own" page on MyPortAngeles which you can share with friends or anyone who asks!

We're happy to ensure professional and amateur photographers get credit for their work. Leave us your name in the form below, and means of contact, website, or FB page info so we can link back to you.






More Pages You Might Enjoy

Share This Page: What’s This?

Enjoy This Page? Please Pay It Forward. Here's How... Would You Prefer to Share This Page with Others by Linking to It?Click on The Html Link Code Below.Copy and Paste It, Adding a Note of Your Own, Into Your Blog, a Web Page, Forums, a Blog Comment, Your Facebook Account, or Anywhere that Someone Would Find This Page Valuable. Var L = Window.Location.Href, D = Document; Document.Write('<form Action="#"><div Style="text-Align:Center"><textarea Cols="50" Rows="2" Onclick="this.Select();"><a Href="'+l+'">'+d.Title+'</a></textarea></div></form>');