Tygart Media

Category: Olympic National Park

Trail guides, visitor info, seasonal closures, wildlife

  • ONP Insider: Sol Duc Valley Is Open — Hot Springs, Old-Growth Falls & April Quiet Season — Exploring Olympic Peninsula

    Sol Duc Valley is open — and April is one of the best-kept secrets for visiting Olympic National Park.

    Sol Duc Road reopened on March 24, and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is running its spring season through May 20. That means you can hike to Sol Duc Falls — an easy 1.6-mile round trip through cathedral old-growth forest where the water is absolutely thundering this time of year — then soak your trail-tired muscles in the mineral hot springs pools, all before summer crowds arrive. Weekday visits in April are genuinely quiet. This is ONP without the chaos.

    Sol Duc Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls on the entire Olympic Peninsula. The trail winds through ancient old-growth Sitka spruce and western red cedar, and the falls split dramatically around a central rock island before plunging into a narrow gorge. In April, with snowmelt feeding the flow, it’s at full power.

    Insider tip: the Lover’s Lane Loop connects Sol Duc Falls back to the campground area for a longer old-growth ramble — a great way to stretch a half-day into a full one. Reservations for the hot springs pools are smart even on April weekends. Always verify road and facility status at NPS.gov/olym or call (360) 565-3131 before heading out, as mountain conditions can change quickly.

    Sol Duc Valley Current Conditions

    • Sol Duc Road: Open as of March 24, 2026 ✅
    • Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort: Open spring season March 20 – May 20 ✅
    • Sol Duc Falls Trail: Open — 1.6 miles RT, easy, old-growth forest. Waterfalls at peak spring flow.
    • Lover’s Lane Loop: Open — connects falls to campground for extended hike
    • Campground: Available via Recreation.gov

    Quick status notes on other ONP areas: Hurricane Ridge Road remains weather-dependent through April 30. Staircase is closed due to Bear Gulch Fire impacts. Mora Road/Rialto Beach has single-lane construction. Always check NPS.gov/olym for current conditions.

    Sources: NPS.gov/olym conditions page (updated April 4, 2026), Washington Trails Association trip reports, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort

  • West End & Forks: Visit Rialto Beach Now Before Summer Road Closure — Gray Whale Migration & Hoh Rainforest Spring — Exploring Olympic Peninsula

    If Rialto Beach is on your spring bucket list, now is the time to go. Starting this month, construction on Mora Road will reduce traffic to a single lane near milepost 1.25 — and from July 8 through October 5, the road will close entirely beyond Mora Campground. That means no vehicle access to Rialto Beach for most of the summer. A full closure caused by 2019 Quillayute River flood damage is finally being addressed, but the timing means summer visitors will be rerouted. Visit now while you can still drive right up to those iconic sea stacks and massive driftwood logs.

    Meanwhile, the Hoh Rainforest is absolutely magical this time of year. Spring rains have the waterfalls roaring, the mosses are glowing an electric green, and Roosevelt elk are easy to spot grazing in the lowland meadows. Keep your eyes on the trail for banana slugs and Pacific tree frogs — they love this weather. The Hoh is one of the few temperate rainforests in the world, and April is genuinely one of its finest months.

    And if you’re heading to La Push or the coast this weekend: April is peak gray whale migration season along the Washington coast. Mothers and calves travel close to shore on their northbound journey, making them visible right from the beach. Grab your binoculars and scan the horizon — you might just spot a spout.

    West End Spring Highlights

    • Rialto Beach / Mora Road: Single-lane construction starts April near milepost 1.25. Full road closure July 8–Oct 5. Visit before July for vehicle access. Caused by 2019 Quillayute River flood damage repair.
    • Hoh Rainforest: Peak spring conditions — roaring waterfalls, electric green moss, Roosevelt elk in meadows, banana slugs and Pacific tree frogs active. Hall of Mosses Trail and Hoh River Trail both open.
    • Gray Whale Migration: First two weeks of April are peak northbound migration off the Washington coast. Mothers and calves travel close to shore. Best viewing spots: La Push, Rialto Beach, Cape Flattery area.

    Sources: Peninsula Daily News (April 3, 2026), Forks Forum (March 19, 2026), The Daily World (March 25, 2026), NPS.gov, The Whale Trail, Puget Sound Express