Waterfall Tour! — Olympic Peninsula
- Lea Fetterman
- Jan 16, 2023
- 3 min read
January 15, 2023
I decided to plan a new kind of outdoor trip for my family this past weekend, combining multiple short hikes to waterfalls that were all within 20 miles of each other, in this case between Quilcene and the Duckabush River. Hikes ranged between 0.1-1.6 miles roundtrip each, with no more than 300ft of elevation gain.
Winter is the perfect time for viewing waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest, especially with all the rain we've been having. However, be aware that conditions around waterfalls and rivers can be dangerous and change swiftly—always check weather and storm alerts to avoid flash flooding or land slides.
Before heading out on our waterfall tour, we made sure to pack proper clothing because it was supposed to rain all day. I suggest fleece or any other non-cotton under layers, a second warm layer, raincoat, rain pants, waterproof boots, and in our family, wool rain hats, resembling what Indian Jones wears. I have found these hats to be far superior to raincoat hoods because you can still hear well and they keep your head warm. There are other rain hats out there, but these are both stylish and warm, while many others are quite lightweight and flimsy.
Our first stop on the tour was Rainbow Canyon, a little-known gem across the street from the Mt. Walker Viewpoint road. I love this spot because no one really knows about it. While the Mt. Walker trail was packed, we had this trail to ourselves, and it was super nice to have a place that was not filled with tourists, litter, or doggie-poop bags.
Our second stop was Fallsview Canyon. The campground is closed in the winter, so we parked in front of the gate, walked through, and turned left. Once you get to the trailhead, you can either stay on top of the cliff and view the waterfall from the viewpoint loop (very short), or hike down the switchbacks for a longer trundle along the river. We did not hike down since we were seeing multiple waterfalls in one day, so I cannot speak for the longer trail, but the viewpoint was perfect for viewing the entire waterfall from above.
Third on the list was Rocky Brook Falls, an easy drive and only a 0.1 mile walk from the parking lot. This waterfall is powerful and was probably the most dangerous of the four because the base of it is so accessible. It is tempting to go too close, and the sideways "rain" and wind created by the falls can be extreme. There are signs on the way in warning visitors about flash flooding. Be alert and wear proper rain gear, which I recommend even if it is not raining due to the splash from the falls.
Finally, we drove 7.5 miles up the Duckabush River road to the Murhut Falls trailhead. There is a sign that says ".8 miles one-way, 1000ft elevation gain" but this is incorrect. I believe WTA's measurement is much more accurate (250ft elevation gain). As you reach the falls, there is a lower and an upper trail which both come to dead-ends/viewpoints. There is some evident erosion and landslides happening here, but whichever organization did the maintenance has done a great job keeping the trail intact and supported.
Seeing these waterfalls in their prime was extremely humbling and awesome. As we see flooding here in the Pacific Northwest and in other parts of the country from atmospheric rivers, it is important to remember how intense the power of nature is, especially water, and how it must be respected.
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