On Monday, July 31, 2023, I checked out of the Super 8 by Wyndham Port Angeles and headed west to hike Sol Duc Falls and the Ancient Groves Nature Trail, visit Cape Flattery, and check into the Dew Drop Inn in Forks, Washington, before ending the day with sunset at Rialto Beach.
Leaving Port Angeles and Heading West
Olympic National Park is massive, covering approximately 922,651 acres, so choosing where to stay when visiting the park can make a big difference in how much time you spend driving. The Super 8 by Wyndham Port Angeles was a great home base for the first portion of my trip, when I was exploring Hurricane Ridge and the Lake Crescent area on the northeastern side of the park. However, for the next portion of my trip, I planned to explore the Sol Duc Valley and beaches along the Pacific coast, so I decided to move farther west and stay in Forks to minimize driving time.
I checked out early and drove a little over an hour to Sol Duc Falls, my first stop of the day.
Sol Duc Falls Trail
The Sol Duc Falls Trail is an easy 1.6-mile round-trip hike in Olympic National Park that leads to one of the park's most beautiful waterfalls. Located in the Sol Duc Valley, the trail begins at the end of Sol Duc Hot Springs Road and winds through a lush, moss-covered old-growth forest.
The hike itself is short and gentle, but incredibly scenic. Along the way, the trail crosses small creeks before reaching Sol Duc Falls, where the Sol Duc River plunges into a narrow, moss-covered canyon in multiple streams. A wooden bridge spans the canyon just downstream of the falls, providing a great viewpoint to slow down, take photos, and enjoy the sound of the rushing water.
I arrived around 9:00am and left around 10:30am. The falls were simply beautiful, and I enjoyed spending some time taking photos and appreciating the scenery. It was a peaceful, worthwhile stop before continuing to the Ancient Groves Nature Trail.
Ancient Groves Nature Trail
After hiking Sol Duc Falls, I drove about 10 minutes back down Sol Duc Hot Springs Road to the Ancient Groves Nature Trail trailhead.
Although I had passed the Ancient Groves parking area on my way to Sol Duc Falls, I felt it made more sense to prioritize the longer hike first. That way, I could stop at Ancient Groves on my way back out of the valley before continuing on to Cape Flattery.
The Ancient Groves Nature Trail is an easy 0.5-mile loop off Sol Duc Hot Springs Road with about 55 feet of elevation gain. Though short, the trail winds through a beautiful old-growth lowland forest filled with massive trees, some of which are more than 200 years old. With only a small percentage of the original lowland forest remaining, places like this are especially important to protect within Olympic National Park.
I spent about 40 minutes walking the loop, taking photos, and enjoying the quiet forest scenery before continuing on with my day.
After finishing the hike, I drove to Cape Flattery, my next stop of the day.
Cape Flattery
Cape Flattery is not part of Olympic National Park, but it is located near the park and is absolutely worth the detour. It is the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States and offers dramatic coastal views, sea stacks, sea caves, and a view of the Cape Flattery Lighthouse on Tatoosh Island.
The trail is managed by the Makah Tribe, and a Makah Recreation Permit is required for parking. I purchased mine in person in Neah Bay before continuing to the trailhead, which only took a few minutes. The permit is valid for the calendar year and can also be used for Shi Shi Beach.
From the trailhead, the hike begins on a wide gravel path through a misty forest of Sitka spruce before transitioning to boardwalks, steps, and root-covered sections. The trail is only 1.5 miles round trip, but it's incredibly scenic the entire way as it winds through the forest toward the coast.
As you get closer to the point, the wind picks up and the trail leads to several viewing platforms overlooking the rugged coastline. Each platform offers a slightly different perspective, from sheer cliffs and sea caves to rocky offshore formations. The final viewing platform looks out toward Tatoosh Island, where the Cape Flattery Lighthouse sits surrounded by waves and wind.
I arrived around 2:30pm and left around 4:00pm, spending about an hour and a half exploring the trail and enjoying the coastal views. From there, I drove to Forks to check into the Dew Drop Inn, which would be my home base for the next portion of my Olympic National Park trip.
Checking into Dew Drop Inn
I chose to stay in Forks, Washington, for the second portion of my trip because it was a convenient home base for exploring the western side of Olympic National Park, particularly the Hoh Rain Forest, Rialto Beach, and the Kalaloch beaches.
My stay at the Dew Drop Inn cost $467.28 for two nights, which I found to be relatively affordable compared to some of the other options in the area. I generally prefer to spend less than $200 per night on accommodations, but that was difficult to find near Olympic National Park, even back in 2023.
Rialto Beach for Sunset
After checking into the Dew Drop Inn, I headed back out to catch the sunset at Rialto Beach.
Located near Forks, Rialto Beach is one of Olympic National Park's most dramatic coastal areas, known for its rugged shoreline, towering sea stacks, massive driftwood logs, and rocky beach. Sunset was scheduled for 8:55pm that evening. I arrived around 7:30pm and stayed until about 9:00pm.
I had originally considered hiking to Hole-in-the-Wall, a famous natural sea arch and rock formation located along the beach, but I ultimately decided to keep the evening more relaxed. Instead, I walked along the shoreline, took lots of photos, and watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. It was a beautiful sight and such a wonderful way to end my second day in Olympic National Park.
