Olympic Coast
Directions: From Forks follow US 101 north for 1.5 miles. Then follow State Route 110 west for 7.7 miles to Quillayute Prairie, where SR 110 splits. Bear left (La Push Road) and drive 3.8 miles to the trailhead.
Ownership: Olympic National Park
Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: easy
No Pass
Kid-friendly, Dogs prohibited
Hike to beautiful sandy Third Beach on the wild Olympic Coast and witness a waterfall tumbling more than 100 feet from a towering headland straight into the rocky surf. Strawberry Bay Falls (also known as Third Beach Falls) is one of the larger and more accessible of the cascades that plunge into the ocean along this rugged stretch of Washington. Reach it by hiking the popular Third Beach Trail.
The trail starts off on an old road gently climbing through a forest of Sitka spruce, hemlock, and alder. Eventually the sound of the surf and the taste of salty air prompts you that you’re getting close to the shore. The trail then slowly descends reaching beautiful Third Beach. The one mile long beach sits on Strawberry Bay hemmed in by two impressive headlands, Teahwhit Head and Taylor Point. Now hike south for a half mile on the beach coming to the waterfall plunging from its heights straight into the pounding waves below.
Port Angeles, WA
The hike to these falls is an all-day event but their location far from the popular Olympic Hot Springs and Boulder Lake usually means you’ll have a little solitude while savoring them.
Enchanted Valley, WA
Enchanted Valley is for hardcore backpackers who want to experience the very essence of the Olympic Peninsula rainforest.
Quinault, WA
One of the most easily accessible falls in the Olympics, all you need to do is pullover, grab your phone or camera and walk just a few step to soak (literally during the rainy season) up their grandeur.
Quinault, WA
While the hike to Cascade Falls is short—perfect for an evening stroll—you can easily spend all day here hiking on connecting trails to more groves of primeval giants and crashing cascades.
Hoh Rainforest, WA
These pretty falls are tucked within towering and moss draped trees in Washington’s most famous rainforest on a pleasant hike through primeval forest and along the glacier-fed Hoh River..
Olympic Coast, WA
Strawberry Bay Falls (also known as Third Beach Falls) is one of the larger and more accessible of the cascades that plunge into the ocean along this rugged stretch of Washington.
Lake Crescent, WA
The falls tumble about 40’ into a tight rocky slot, but what really makes them stand out among the many cascades of Northwest is their unique shape.
Lake Cushman, WA
The rapids’ name come from a cedar staircase Lieutenant Joseph O’Neil built over a rocky bluff to get a group of scientists past them in 1890.
Lake Crescent, WA
Marymere Falls, a 90’ horsetail cascade set in deep mossy timber, is one of the most popular waterfalls on the Olympic Peninsula.
Elwha River, WA
This dramatic explosion of force occurs where the Elwha River crashes through a rocky gorge – aptly named by first explorers, Goblins Gate.