Water Falling Over Things 2009: Part VII (Washington's Crown Jewel)

[regnaD kciN]

Sol Duc Falls, at the end of the Soleduck Valley (don't ask), has been acclaimed by waterfall experts as "one of the top 5 waterfall destinations in Washington for professional photographers, and probably rank(ing) favorably nationwide in a similar comparison." It's also at the farthest end of the Olympic peninsula from Seattle, and therefore a long drive away, forcing one to go south around Puget Sound, then circumnavigate the east and north edges of the Olympic range before reaching the trail into the mountains. That is undoubtedly why, although it has been at the top of my "must-shoot" list for several years, I had never made the trip until this past weekend.

What, you expect that with that sort of intro, I'm just going to go straight to photos of the falls? Forget it! With Sol Duc, you need the proper "opening acts." ;-)

First, here is Salmon Cascades about seven miles downstream. Although this is a well-known tourist spot, I didn't find it all that photogenic; maybe it's better when the actual salmon are jumping.




Now, a few photos from the trail itself.





(Bunchberry)






(This will look really nice in autumn, when the vine maple is turning; I'll be back!)


And an old tree-trunk with new growth inside.







Finally...Sol Duc Falls itself.







And now, as a nightcap, a couple of scenes of the unnamed mossy stream just upstream of the bridge shown earlier, photographed on my way back to the car.

[CC]

1. Beautiful photos, all of them.

You can just shoot me, the last one is my fav, famous falls or not. Not a lot of mossy streams like that around here. You did a great job of capturing the falls and they are beautiful.

[Celebration]

2. Love these

I love the Olympic peninsula, and these make me want to go back, and spend more time in the interior. You certainly made the falls look photogenic.

Green, green, and more green......

Glad you made that trip! When we went there we went around Puget Sound getting there, but took some ferry across it to get back to Seattle.

Thanks for posting!

[regnaD kciN]

3. I was thinking of taking the ferry back...

...especially now that the Tacoma Narrows bridges have a $4.00 toll eastbound, but the reported waits at the Kingston and Bainbridge ferries were long enough that I decided I'd probably make it home quicker by just driving the whole way.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Really beautiful, regnaD, of course, as always.

I love all the shades of green -- which is my favorite color.

[Elfin Yeti]

5. I love the way you captured the water itself!

I so enjoyed traveling vicariously to the rain forest! Running streams are a rare commodity here in sunny San Diego county! Thanks for the beautiful trip!

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I actually know the place, and you have captured the feeling perfectly.

These belong on one of the Wash state calendars, or the photo books.

(I lived in Forks, and the Olympic Peninsula as a child.)

[uppityperson]

7. One of my 2 favorite places on the peninsula and Beautiful pictures. You captured it well

I've never seen salmon in the river, but do love to go out there. The trees are HUGE, mossy, beautiful. The campgrounds are very nice and the hot springs are great to soak in after a hike, but NOT over the 4th of July as it is too hot and crowded then.

Thank you for the pictures

[hippywife]

8. Really incredible

swoon-worthy photos. They just take you there. Or make you really, really, really wish to be there. Sigh.

[alfredo]

9. Beautiful. It appears a bear has clawed a tree in the 4th image.