Sol Duc Valley

Lake Crescent Lodge , WA

Highway 101, which circles the national park, crossed the Sol Duc River five times before we reached the turnoff that would lead us up the valley from which the river issues.

The trail started at the parking lot at the end of the Sol Duc Road and continued eastward (rightward on the map above) to the Sol Duc Falls, where we took the "Lovers Lane" trail that doubled back on the other side of the river back to the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.

The road led us up the valley by two road projects that were rebuilding the road after the river apparently washed out one of the lanes. The trailhead was at the parking lot at the end of the road and led immediately into the tall forest. The trail rose gently until we reached the Sol Duc Falls. From there, the trail returned down the valley on the far side of the river among the forest, the “Lovers Lane” trail.

The trail, as with most of the trails we had walked, started off hugging the side of the ridge above the river. As we descended the path, we came closer to the floor of the valley reaching areas where the ground was moist and broad-leafed plants, skunk cabbages and the like, became more prominent. As usual, we were the last ones off the trail, although Maribeth told us that we were only about a minute behind them.

By the time we came off the trail we were rather warm, and the idea of soaking in the hot springs at the spa didn’t appeal to us. After taking a look at the facilities, Jonathan caught the first van to the lodge. I caught the second van back after the bathers had returned from the pools.

Click on the images for a larger view

The path into the woods.

A sample of the understory.

This valley, facing north, gets the least rain vs. the eastward facing Quinault and Hoh river valleys.

Pause for a photograph.

Devils Club in bloom.

Sol Duc Falls - the river drops into a crevasse between boulders.

Downstream from the falls - the characteristicly blue water from glacier melt.

A somewhat fuzzy shot of DeDe.

Another fern variety - probably a wood fern (Dryopteris carthusiana).

If you look closely, you should see some tiny, tiny white flowers - foam flower Tiarella trifoliata.

A creek coming off the ridge to join the Sol Duc River.

On the trail, with camera.

The downed trees speak to the force of the water that flows through these valleys during rainy season.

An impressive moss and fern covered burl.

The ridges rising above the Sol Duc Resort.

Lake Crescent - the water was crystal clear and as the depth increased, very blue.

Another shot of the shallows off our room looking northward across the lake.

A view westward along the shore - the pier is located at the main building of the lodge.

A view eastward.

And from underneath the trees.