Located near the northern edge of Olympic National Park, Marymere Falls is one of Olympics best easily accessible waterfalls. Located at the far end of a sub 2 mile hike, Marymere Falls is located in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains just south of the stunning Lake Crescent. This is a short, easy, hike that is easily accessible right off the highway, and it makes for a great quick stop on a trip to Olympic!
Miles/Elevation:
1.7 miles
298 feet vertical gain
About Olympic National Park:
Situated along Washington’s Pacific Coast, Olympic National Park contains some of the nation’s most diverse environments all in one epic national park! From rock strewn beaches, to glaciated peaks, to temperate rainforest, Olympic has something for everyone!
Olympic National Park largely owes its diversity to the Pacific Ocean. Despite being located quite far north, the oceans’ moderating influence means temperatures never really get that cold here (at low elevations at least). On the beach it could be 50 degrees and foggy. In the forest and the hills it might be 40 degrees and raining. And in the alpine it may be 20 degrees and snowing!
A land of many diverse landscapes, Olympic has numerous awesome destinations. The Hoh Rainforest is the most famous of the park’s forests and contains the revered Hall of Mosses. Mt Olympus deep in the park’s backcountry is a sought after alpine summit. Hurricane Ridge is a must see spot in the park reached via a winding mountain road. And Rialto Beach is the most famous of all the parks’ beaches!
All these awesome spots are quite spread out though. Despite being located in the same park, it takes hours to drive from one side of the park to the other. This is largely due to the fact that there are no roads that pass straight through the park. Olympic largely consists of wilderness, and Highway 101 wraps its way all the way around the outside. It’s not a quick route, but it’s the only way to get from one side of the park to another.
Getting To The Trailhead:
The Marymere Falls Trail is near the northern edge of Olympic National Park right along Highway 101. The closest notable town is Port Angeles. From Port Angeles, follow 101 for about 18 miles on 101 West. You will eventually reach Lake Crescent, and roughly halfway around Lake Crescent, you will reach the turnoff for the Storm King Ranger Station on Lake Crescent Road. Turn off the highway, and then follow the signs to the large day use parking area near the ranger station.
Tips:
- Consider hiking Mt Storm King after visiting Marymere Falls since they begin and end at the same trailhead.
The Marymere Falls Trail:
From the parking lot, find the trail as it passes by the Storm King Ranger Station. There are meadows here interspersed with trees, and high above the tree covered Olympic Foothills provide great views to start the day!
Following the trail, you will briefly pass a small beach on Lake Crescent. This lake is not the main attraction of the day, but it is undeniably a beautiful lake. This little spot is a nice place to stop for a quick picture though.
After passing the lake, the trail passes under Highway 101. There is a tunnel under the 2 lane highway, and once under, you will find yourself in dense forest. The forest here doesn’t get quite as much rain as the Hoh Rainforest on the other side of the mountains, but whether it officially counts as rainforest or not, it’s really pretty!
There are some gigantic trees here, and hanging from many of the trees is the instantly recognizable Olympic moss! Below the trees and hanging moss, ferns cover large swathes of the ground, and tree roots are visible seemingly everywhere!
After a bit under half a mile, the trail will take a leftward turn as it enters the valley created by Barnes Creek. Once in the valley, continue straight as you pass a turn off on the left which heads up towards Mt Storm King. About a quarter mile after that turnoff, the trail will split. Take a right and head across Barnes Creek.
There is a very nice bridge across Barnes Creek, and you definitely will not need to get your feet wet! Across the creek, turn right again and pass over a much smaller bridge crossing a much smaller creek! Once across this second bridge, you’re just about there!
Be sure to check out the incredible Hall of Mosses when you’re visiting Olympic!
After the second bridge, you will be forced up the steepest climb of the day towards the falls. There is also a fork in the trail. There is a tiny loop here, but both directions reach the overlook for the waterfall. I would go up one way and come down the other, but it really doesn’t matter which way you go up or down.
After a short but steep 150 foot climb, you will arrive at the viewing point for Marymere Falls. This waterfall is beautiful, but it’s not a huge waterfall by any means. I would describe it as gentle or delicate, really nice, but don’t expect Niagara! Anyway, it was a really pretty spot, and the sound of falling water in this rich forest was really really nice!
After enjoying the falls, the return hike back to the trailhead is a quick and easy return hike back the same way. There are a few other options that you could take though. You could continue following the Barnes Creek Trail deep into the Olympic Wilderness. One of the most popular hikes in the park is an option too. The Mt Storm King Trail branches off from here, and is a crazy steep, though very popular, hike up to an exposed summit. If you choose to head right back to the trailhead though, it’s a pretty easy trip!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 9/10
If you are looking for a short and sweet hike to a waterfall, this is a pretty good one. Marymere Falls isn’t the most incredible waterfall I have seen, but it’s very nice and the natural setting is beautiful. It’s reached via a very nice though uneventful trail, and all in all this is a good little hike. Will this one be something you write home about? Probably not, but at under 2 miles it’s very good!
Pros:
- Waterfall
- Good trail quality
Cons:
- No panoramic views
- Busy
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike Marymere Falls:
Olympic National Park gets 4 strong seasons, and while the park can be visited all year, summer definitely has the best weather for being outdoors. The high elevation regions of the park receive huge snowfall totals during winter which makes for great skiing, but not so great hiking! Winter at low elevations means lots and lots of rain.
While you certainly can hike in the rain, the warmest, sunniest, weather of the year occurs during July and August. June and September can also have excellent conditions, but the risk of adverse weather and lingering snow at elevation are much higher.
I would personally recommend late July or August for a trip to Olympic, but if you want to avoid the worst of the crowds and aren’t interested in exploring the higher elevation backcountry, the shoulder months of June and September could be pretty nice. I personally would not visit here October through May because of the weather, but if you’re ok with tons of moisture and just don’t want to run into other people, by all means go for it. Be aware though the backcountry and high elevation reaches of the park will likely be snowed in.
Links For Further Reading:
Marymere Falls Trail: 5238 Reviews, Map – Washington | AllTrails
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