Marymere Falls

Marymere Falls is a 90-foot horsetail waterfall that cascades down a mossy cliff face in a lush, fern-draped canyon near the shores of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. The water slides rather than plunges, hugging the rock as it descends through layers of moss and maidenhair fern before pooling at the base among massive boulders. The setting is pure Pacific Northwest fairy tale — ancient forest, perpetual mist, and an emerald palette that seems almost too vivid to be real.

The 1.8-mile round-trip trail begins near Lake Crescent Lodge, crossing Falls Creek on a footbridge before climbing a series of well-built log stairs through old-growth forest of Douglas fir and western red cedar. The final approach follows the creek upstream to the falls viewpoint. The trail gains just 200 feet and is well-maintained, making it one of the most popular family hikes in the park.

Lake Crescent's impossibly clear, cobalt-blue water makes the short drive to the trailhead scenic in its own right. Visit in spring for peak flow, though the falls run year-round. The combination of Marymere Falls, a stroll along Lake Crescent, and the short drive to Sol Duc Falls makes for an ideal Olympic Peninsula day trip. National park entrance fee required.