I was staying on the peninsula for work. However, I had the later shift, so I had time to explore…read moreduring the day. Searching for waterfalls with easy access, I found Rocky Brook Falls! A few minutes drive off of 101 in Brinnon, WA you'll find Rocky Brook Falls. Across the street are a few parking spots, but beware that side is private property and there are a bunch of no trespassing signs. The entrance to the trail was not obvious to me. So I took some photos showing the path. But it's a short walk to the falls, which by the way, was a lot larger than I thought it would be! You will have to climb over some boulders to access the pool at the base of the falls, so just be aware of that. I came on a summer weekday, so there was only another couple with their dog there. You practically had the place to yourself! It has been one of the dryer summers, so I imagine after a good rainfall, the falls would be roaring and serene. Also note, there are no bathroom facilities and no cell service in the immediate area.

What an easy hike to an unpopulated waterfall with wading, swimming, and jumping options. I don't…read morethink it gets better than this for a hidden treasure. I highly recommend. Bring some Keens or other water shoes as you have to scrabble over some larger boulders at the edge of the pool - but to keep it real, I wore flip flops. There is a dirt parking lot on left side . Cross over the road and hike the trail on the right side.

One of my favorite waterfalls in Washington. Great trail and drive up to the trail. You park and…read moreturn around, and the trail is right there. I wish there was a sign because you'll get asked a lot, "Is that the trail?" To access the waterfall, if you want to get great shots of the waterfall, you have to climb down to it. We weren't able to because we have an 8-month-old. But we used to climb down to the waterfall years ago. It's a must! Our first time at this hike was 6 years ago, and we've done it a handful of times since then. I do want to say every time we have come there, there are hardly any people on the trail. Most people will scramble down by the waterfall. It's fun. You do see people turn around at the tree/bench because it's a steep climb down. But you are able to still see the waterfall. Parking: There are about maybe 10 cars that can fit, and then parking a couple of feet ahead. Restroom: None

Such a nice hike. Very lush foliage and trees, and is a short out and back, roughly 1.6 miles. Very…read morelow elevation gain, family and dog friendly. There is some parking available right across from the trailhead. There are a lot of small fallen trees, probably due to that huge windstorm that happened a couple weeks ago. There is one tree you will have to climb over. I'm 5'0 and it was tall enough where I was almost sitting on it when I walked over it. And best of all the waterfall is spectacular! Definitely won't disappoint. I don't know how it is in the summer. There are also smaller water falls you can see on the way there.

What?! 3-stars? For...nature?…read more Yeah, I did it. If this were a hike in Indiana, or Ohio, or Kansas, it would easily be 5-stars. But, for Washington? Home to THREE National Parks, the largest glaciers in the lower 48, temperate rainforests, and hundreds of miles of coastline? Nah. This is an A-OK hike. It goes to a lake surrounded by forested hills. It looks like many lakes in WA and OR that are surrounded by forested hills. There aren't sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, there aren't craggy cliffs overhead. There's lots of forest, and a pretty big lake. If you're super into lakes and trees, you'll dig this. But, you can find prettier lakes (Flapjack Lakes) via Staircase: https://www.yelp.com/biz/staircase-area-olympic-national-park-hoodsport And you can find prettier forests via Hoh River Trail: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hoh-rain-forest-visitor-center-forks If you're more into mountains and scenic vistas, Ellinor is much more rewarding and relatively close-by: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mount-ellinor-hoodsport SIDEBAR: this is the trailhead you climb "The Brothers" from. I can't really recommend climbing this mountain. The trail starts to fizzle out past Lena Lake and eventually becomes a full-on bushwhack. Route finding starts to take more time than actually moving. You'll second guess your every move, mutiny will be in the back of the mind for you and your comrades. The route up the mountain is also kind of winding and confusing. In early season, watch out for avalanches! One of our people got swept away by one while on this mountain, luckily she only had a sprung (It's my mission to make this word the past tense of sprang) ankle.

This hike is perfect for an beginner-intermediate hiker. It's easy to get to & even has a paved…read moreroad up to the trailhead as opposed to the primitive roads often near trailheads. They have vault bathrooms at the beginning of the trailhead near the parking lot. I checked the bulletins and signed the registry and headed up. I instantly noticed a difference from other trails I've been on in that the majority if not all the trail is shaded so even though it was like 85+ degrees when I went, it felt much cooler and there was even a breeze at times so the heat/sun wasn't an annoyance. The trail is a general medium uphill travel. I loved that it was gradual and not just a sharp incline with a huge amount of switchbacks like other trails. It's only about 1200-1300 elevation gain total. This trail allowed me to pace myself and not stop too much to take a breath. I was able to just keep going. I also liked that the trail was wide enough in most places where 2-3 people and pass each other at one time as opposed to having to yield. I also liked that even though I went on a Saturday around 10:45am the trail was practically empty. Such a difference from the trails near Snoqualmie and North Bend. Nobody appears to want to come down toward the Hood Canal to hike. You can hear the water throughout your trek uphill so it's a relaxing hike....is that even possible? I had seen a wooden sign about a mile before the lake that said Lena Lake but what I didn't notice was the word Upper in front of Lena Lake. I actually passed the lake because I didn't see the lookout point to my right and I actually went another 1.5 miles before my intuition told me to stop. Upper Lena lake is about another 7-8 miles past Lower Lena Lake, and I was definitely not ready for that plus the hike down. I will say that the bugs get a lot worse the higher up you go, or at least they did for me. I passed two huge wasp/hornet nests and they just don't leave you alone no matter how much you swat. I also ran into some friendly grouses. No bears or mountain lions this time thankfully. Anyway, on the way back down to the lake I went off the trail a bit toward Lena Creek and there were a lot of campers and people filling up their water. You can also cross a log bridge which I believe takes you to the Brothers trail. FYI: The lake is on your right about 3.5 miles up from the trailhead. Then if you want, you can trek a mile or two down hill to get closer to the ground level of the lake as opposed to peering out over it on the rocks. My hiking app kept telling me the lake is called Olympic National Forest Pond. There were a few rowdy tubers on the lake that were disturbing the peace of the outdoors, but to each his own. Overall though, I will definitely be doing this trail again as it was the perfect length and also has the nice treat of the lake once you get to the end. Definitely take a reasonable amount of water (I took 1.5 Liters) and some food/snacks and even some swimwear. Please take your trash and doggie doo bags out with you. I did notice a few spots where there was dog feces directly on the trail or doo bags throw into the ground cover. Be a responsible dog owner please. Also as of 8/20, there were some downed logs laying across some of the Upper Lena Lake trail so you may need to crawl and climb over wet/muddy areas if you go up further.

Updates: Camping is…read moreclosed for all of 2017 due to trees falling. We checked it around August and the falls were quite reduced. It was still a neat experience!

While driving along the Hood Canal and passing through the Olympic National Forest's eastern…read morepanhandle, give your legs a stretch and take advantage of rejuvenating views. Falls View is a campground, however, it also offers a waterfall that cascades into the Big Quilcene River. Unlike many other places in the park, entrance is free. Since this is also a campsite there is a fee of $10 if you choose to stay the night. This is a second-growth forest canyon among spring blooming rhododendrons, lilies, and honeysuckle. Two short trails for the price of one: -Fallsview Loop Trail: This is a short jaunt for all ages interested in beautiful views. It loops back around to the start of the trail. The distance is only 0.1 miles and elevation is 440 feet. I highly recommend it for a photo opportunity! -Fallsview Canyon Trail: This trail takes you from the Falls View down to the floor of the canyon. Unfortunately, the trail does not bring you to the base of the falls to bathe or get a view from below. Instead, you're greeted with the bustling Big Quilcene River which has carved the canyon over hundreds of years. The trail quickly dips 200 feet of elevation in 0.1 mile. Keep in mind that grades are up to 10-20% in some spots and what you go down, you must come up. After 0.5 miles, there is a deceptive separate trail that splits leftward, but it's the end/beginning of the same trail which loops back around. The entire trail is 1.5 miles and in very good condition and maintained by the Mount Rose Trail Crew. Directions: From Quilcene, WA, travel 3.5 miles south on U.S. Highway 101. Falls View Campground is located on west side of U.S. Highway 101. If it is during the winter, you can park outside the gate and walk in (refer to image). Take a quick left and continue forward past the campground and picnic area. Fallsview Canyon Trail starts left of the parking area and goes downhill to the river. Fallsview Loop Trail's entrance is just to the right of that.

Firstly, several of these reviews are for the wrong hot springs. If a review mentions a restaurant,…read moreor a resort, or a time slot, they are referring to the SOL DUC hot springs, not these ones. Also, the reviews that mention that the hike is easy are all outdated! It's a slog to get there! The Olympic hot springs are a 12 mile hike mostly uphill. It used to be a much shorter hike but about five years ago the road washed out and you now have to hike an extra 8 miles... 12 miles total... one way. It's a slog! The springs themselves, while pretty, are shallow, muddy, slimy, and overall pretty gross. The signs warn of fecal bacteria. If you're hoping to hike 12 miles to soak in pristine pools, think again. Nudity is common. If anyone is actually using the hot springs, they will likely be nude. Get over it!! Let the nudists have their place... and 12 miles deep in the woods is a nice place to be nude. You might also see nudists hiking or biking on the trail to the hot springs. It's not common but does happen occasionally. Just smile and say hi! The hike starts off easy on a paved road for about 3/4 of a mile. Then you have to use a single-track dirt bypass trail that is steep and rooty. If you're using a bike you'll be pushing and carrying it over things. Then you're put back on an old paved road again. It's another 2 miles to the Glines Canyon overlook which is fun to see. Then it's another 5 miles on the same road, but now 100% uphill and sometimes steep, just to reach the trailhead. Once at the trailhead, you're already over 8 miles into it and you have another 2.5 or so to hike... bikes not allowed. You have to park at the Madison Falls parking lot. You're supposed to have a National Park pass.

Enchanted springs in enchanted forest, I have camped here quiet a bit when in college…read more Most special hot springs on earth to me. Hike is fun not too strenuous

This place is a hidden gem! It has a very isolated feeling to it. The falls flow steadily into a…read morebeautiful oasis of crystal clear water that outlets into a peaceful creek. The hike to the falls is less than a mile from the trailhead with a 200ft elevation gain. Bringing your whole family to appreciate its beauty shouldn't be much of an issue. I'm almost hesitant to write this review based on some of the disrespect I've seen for the nature in surrounding areas ie; Trash left behind by visitors and people engraving their Initials and other things on the trees/earth. Im hoping my review brings people to want to visit this great spot that our national parks/Forests have to offer! Map: Green Trails Grisdale No. 198 GPS GRID: N 47 21.227 W 123 33.912 Directions: - travel north on Forrest Road 22 "Wynoochee Road" -Turn right on Forrest Road 23 and take for 17 miles - the trailhead sign "spoon creek falls" will be on your right. PLEASE Practice "LEAVE NO TRACE"

Great place to clear your mind with all the beautiful natural landscape. I would recommend wearing…read morea long sleeve/pants while doing the hike down due to overgrown bushes and maybe water shoes. Today I didn't get my feet wet but previously we went during rainy times and we had to cross path in water to reach the waterfall. Kinda hard to find since not a lot of signs but my phone navigation got me there. Not much or no cell service. So if needed print it out. Just past the entrance to the waterfall is a fire pit area for possible day camp. Today someone had a tent in this location.Beautiful waterfall with such clear water. Very peaceful and quite.

Located in Olympic National Park, Marymere Falls is the most popular day hike in the Lake Crescent…read morearea of the park. It's less than a mile to the falls, and you go through old growth forest to get to there. The tree trunks are seriously huge. It makes you feel tiny in the grand scheme of things, and it's a very humbling experience. I think I liked the hike more than the waterfall at the end (although the waterfall is very cool!). It's just such a unique experience to go through the forest and feel like you're transported to another world. I definitely need to come back to hike Mt Storm King. It had rained so it was too muddy for me to attempt it. Be sure to check out Sol Duc Valley, which is about 20 miles south. It's a great spot to hike to Sol Duc falls if you're planning on chasing waterfalls on your trip.

Anytime we get a chance to hike to a waterfall, we usually find away to make it happen! Marymere…read morefalls was our second hike of the day after we had a good meal in after hiking Mount Storm King. I generally like to embark on hikes early in the morning to get to see the sunrise and see everything wake up for the day as well as to beat the heat and crowds. But, Marymere hike was a much shorter hike and all descriptions stated it was pretty easy. We started from Lake Crescent lodge and headed our way there. The signs were somewhat easy to find and the map the hotel staff gave us helped us to find the trail head. The hike itself, though easy, had a lot to offer on the way to the waterfall. A clearing where there were river stones and sparkling water that birds seemed to wisp by, two wooden bridges to cross, one was a narrow one. Trekking across bridges like those are always a favorite for me, those bridges then lead you to a small loop trail that got you to a lower area to view the water fall and then you can head up further to a higher vantage point that pretty much took your breath away. The waterfall was so worth it to see and after doing such a strenuous hike in the morning this hike was a piece of cake. If you're heading to this area of Washington I highly recommend hopping out and hiking this trail. It's worth it!

WOW! What a hike! I was actually a little nervous about this one because we had read about the…read morerock/rope climbing that was involved, but it was so worth the view. We came around noon during a week in September and it was BUSY. We had to do a few loops in the parking lot before finding a parking space, so just be aware. Mt Storm King and another hike start from the same area but you can see a sign where they quickly diverge. I am not gonna lie to you, Mt Storm King is a straight climb. It could be difficult for some but overall, I still thought it was manageable. Once you get about 2 - 2.5 miles in, that is where the official trail ends. Then you go up a little bit farther where there are ropes to climb all the way to the top. There should be some gloves that people leave for others to use but I would also bring your own if you can. Be very careful if you choose to do the ropes part of the hike. It is definitely worth it though as the view is spectacular.

Dang! For our first hike we decided to be quite a bit ambitious. We were blinded by the fact that…read moreit was a shorter hike despite it stating it was strenuous with switchbacks. I failed to read reviews on my trusty Yelp app and winged it. I wish I had done more research and read some reviews. Since we were visiting from a flattish state our love for hiking usually consists of traveling somewhere with more terrain and mountains, so let it be known that we were not quite ready to get the wind knocked out of us from the elevation and switchbacks. Despite all of this, we truly enjoyed every step of the way. We packed lots of water and took breaks when we needed to. It was easy to embrace the forest around us, breath in the crisp fresh air, and see unfamiliar plants, moss, and flowers. As soon as we got to the top my fear of edges took over, I wasn't mentally prepared and decided to wait for my boyfriend to come back from reaching the summit via a rope off a ledge. It started to get a little more busy with more people coming and the unsaid pressure got the best of me. I still enjoyed the moment I got to rest at the top before the rope, and the view was beautiful. No matter what, hiking will always be something I love. I may be on the slower side of hiking and perhaps more cautious than I was years ago, but this type of movement is always my favorite. Once my boyfriend got back we trekked the way down and were proud of ourselves. This experience just makes me want to travel to more places we can get a great hike in just like this. Lake Crescent from the top was amazing. Just as other hikers have said, take lots of water with you, some snacks, give yourself breaks when you need it and if you can make it to the summit, go for it! If you're not feeling it, give yourself grace, you trekked an arduous and beautiful hike, you made it!

We loved this easy and fun path. It was an easy hike for the whole family. Many paths if you want…read moreto continue after the falls. It was not too busy during the week but can see it could get busy during the weekend. Easy access to parking which is a plus!

SO BEAUTIFUL!!! literally one of the best shorter trails around this area with a couple hidden…read morewaterfalls if you look around enough if you go up the path on the right and then on the way back take the road it feels like you make it back so much quicker (as someone who hates walking back on trails)