Sol Duc Falls Lover’s Lane Loop in Olympic [Running Guide]

Visiting Olympic National Park had been at the top of my list for a while.

Ever since I saw those dense, green forests and damp red trails, I knew I wanted to run there. However, living in Ohio, it’s not the most convenient park to visit. But, that changed on a three month long road trip my fiancee and I started in August 2024. I had already visited and run the Highline Trail in Glacier and Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton. And now I was visiting Mount Rainier with some friends. And I figured why not visit Olympic as well since it wasn’t far away.

So, I booked an Airbnb in Port Angeles and spent a week exploring the area. And the Sol Duc Falls Trail was one of my favorite parts of our visit.

With that said, I’m here to share the trail with you so you can run or hike it yourself. I’ll cover everything from finding the trailhead, navigating, and packing the right gear.

Let’s get started.

Sol Duc Falls Trail overview

Since I wanted to add some distance to the run, I opted not to do the 1.6-mile option that most people choose in the Sol Duc area.

Instead, I started at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and followed the trail to Sol Duc Falls. There’s a Sol Duc trailhead that follows the Lover’s Lane Loop, B-Loop, and Sol Duc Nature Trail Loop. It’s a super easy trail to follow and I had no issues navigating it. Plus, I saw about three people total prior to arriving and after leaving the falls. So it’s a great run or hike to avoid some crowds if you time it right.

I have my trail GPX you can get using the form below. There’s also a version available on AllTrails which is great to follow.

Here are the details:

• Trail start: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
• Distance: 6 miles loop
• Elevation gain: 570 feet
• Terrain info: The trail follows a nice singletrack for most of the way to the falls. It passes across some small bridges and streams. After the falls, it’s an easy way back along the Sol Duc River, past the Sol Duc campground to the parking lot where it started.
• Extra notes: Go early. This is a popular attraction, especially in the Sol Duc Valley in Olympic National Park. The trail starts on the Lover’s Lane trail, which you can find by walking away from the resort/hot springs in the parking lot. Then you’ll get on the Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail after the Falls until taking the B-Loop to finish.

Prefer to watch? Check out the Sol Duc Falls Trail below! ?

How to run or hike Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park

Lover’s Lane Loop to Sol Duc Falls

I started in the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort parking lot.

Walking about 500 feet the opposite way of the resort, I saw the trail start on the left side. It was marked by a sign for Mink Lake and Lover’s Lane so it made it pretty easy to find.

I followed this trail for the three miles to the falls.

I loved this section of trail. It was relatively easy singletrack to run on, with occasional rocks and roots to make sure you don’t fully zone out and enter zen mode. Plus, my legs were feeling tired on this run after Kaitlyn and I ran Klahane Ridge two days before, so I was happy for some minor hills.

There’s also a section where a log stretches across a small creek, forming a bridge (see it in the cover image). It was an awesome part of the trail and a unique way to cross a stream. Maybe that’s just me, but I hadn’t seen a bridge like this so I enjoyed this section of the trail.

There were a few more along the trail as well, but they were smaller versions.

After three miles of weaving through the rainforest I popped out at Sol Duc Falls. And it was a pretty epic entrance

I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in my life, and I’m typically not crazy about them (don’t get me started on Niagara Falls). But this was one of the more beautiful falls I’ve seen. The way the Falls split around the rock to create three smaller waterfalls is really cool, especially with the bright green forest surrounding it.

I spent around 15-20 minutes here taking pictures and enjoying the view. More people started to show up from the shorter, 1.6-mile trail and I continued on to avoid the crowds.

Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail Loop to B-Loop

From the Falls, I headed across the bridge and started along the Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail.

I felt like a salmon swimming upriver at times here because most of the traffic was coming the opposite way since this is the short trail most people use.

If you’re not feeling up to a longer run, the 1.6 mile round trip (0.8 mile out and back) is an excellent alternative for a quick jog or day hike. It’s also more family friendly. You still get the experience of the old growth rainforest and the falls overlook but without the strain.

While this section was crowded for me, it didn’t last long so it wasn’t too bad. I stepped off for uphill hikers and took my time (knowing Leave No Trace is a good idea for this area). Eventually, the trail splits with the B-Loop going slightly downhill to the left (the one I took) and the Nature Trail continues on the right to the trailhead parking and Sol Duc Hot Springs Road.

B-Loop to Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort parking lot

The B-Loop is the final 2.2 mile stretch to the finish.

It was very similar to the first half of the run to the falls. And, one reason for that is that you’re just on the other side of the Sol Duc River.

My favorite part of this trail was the trees and logs spread across the trail that I ran under. For me (and I believe other trail runners), it’s the little things that make a trail fun. Small obstacles to leap over, unique bridges or trail sections, dense forests or vast views — we appreciate the small stuff. And things like the log bridge and ducking under tree trunks checked the fun box for me.

The trail pops out at two different points where I thought I was finished. But it turns out it was two different campgrounds. These seemed like the equivalent of a false summit at the time, as I slowed up both times thinking I was finished.

After passing the Sol Duc campground, there was about a half-mile to the road. I walked the last bit as my cooldown and then turned left onto the road and into the parking lot.

According to my watch, I finished the Sol Duc Falls trail at 6.07 miles with 571 feet of elevation gain. Total time was 1:38:01 with 1:17:14 of moving time, so I spent around 20 minutes at the falls/stopping to get water, etc.

So, whether you run it or hike it, it’s not a bad roundtrip trail to enjoy. It’s one of the more popular hikes within Olympic National Park, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. But, as someone who normally isn’t impressed by waterfalls, the falls were really worth seeing.

What to take with you on your run

As always, every trail runner has their own preferences. But this is what I recommend for your trail running gear checklist for this run:

• Trail running shoes: This is an obvious one. But I recommend trail shoes with good traction, especially ones that have deep lugs. The trails are damp and having something that grips in potential mud is a good call. I wore my Brooks Cascadias and they worked well.
• Water: It’s a 6-mile trail, so having some water is a good idea. There were a couple streams you could fill up using a filtered water bottle. But those are mostly in the first half of the trail.
• Camera: I took my DJI Osmo Action 4 and my iPhone 14 Pro Max, but I didn’t take my Sony a6000. And I regretted it once I got to the falls. I got some good photos, but nothing like what my camera could have taken. So don’t make my same mistake.
• U.S. National Park Pass: Always have this handy and save yourself some money. If you’re visiting more than 3 national parks in a year, this pass is worth it.

Best time to visit Sol Duc Falls and Olympic National Park

The best time to visit Sol Duc Falls is from late spring to early fall (May to September).

During this time, the weather is mild, the trails are clear, and the falls are at their best. In the spring, snowmelt makes the waterfalls extra powerful, and the forest is lush and green. So if you want the best Sol Duc experience, this is the time.

Summer is warm and sunny, perfect for hiking, but it’s also the busiest time, so visiting early in the morning can help you avoid crowds.

If you love colorful leaves and quieter trails, fall (October to November) is a great choice.

Just be ready for cooler weather and maybe some rain. Winter blankets the area in snow, which can be beautiful but harder to access.

Time to run the Sol Duc Falls Trail!

I loved the Sol Duc Falls trail to be honest.

It gave me the exact experience I was looking for when running Olympic National Park’s trails. Plus, I caught sunrise over Lake Crescent on the way to the trail to make it an even better day.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to explore places like Hoh Rain Forest and the Hoh River Trail, but that just means I have more to do on a future trip. So, if you’ve done the Sol Duc Falls Trail and the Hoh River Trail, let me know how they compare in the comments!

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