Waterfalls Write & Hikes (Jan 17th, 20th & 27th)
It's the season for majestic waterfalls! 1/17: we'll hike to 2 falls close to Lake Crescent; on 1/20, a hike to Murhut Falls on the Duckabush; 1/27: we'll visit 2 stunning falls in Quilcene & Brinnon.
Nothing embodies late fall in the Pacific Northwest like a majestic waterfall!
In the Pacific Northwest, the best time to see waterfalls is the rainy season, which can start as early as September and go as late as early July. As freezing temperatures turn rain into snow from late November to February or March, most of the Olympics’ waterfalls aren’t accessible during these winter months. But this year, mild temperatures have made them very accessible, and wow, are they full of water!
When I went to visit these waterfalls last week, it was in the height of a rainy, stormy day on the Olympic Peninsula. As it was my day to go hiking for myself (it is my personal therapy), I decided to embrace the deluge of water falling from the heavens by seeking out the places that not only showcased these torrents, they thrived in it! Even in times of low water, these particular waterfalls are still majestic! But with the coming of the rain, they are in their most powerful embodiment.
So when I paid them a visit in the pouring rain, they seemed to swell with pride and elation to be able to show off their winter glory.
“Look at me! Look at me!” the elementals seemed to be saying at each waterfall. “Look at how I can jump and dance!”
Then they demonstrated their shapeshifting skills, becoming winged horses leaping through the mist down the falls, fairies dancing around the edges of steep cliffs, elemental faces rising up through the rocks. I saw one rock spirit gazing upwards, a look of loving awe on his rock-hewn face as the beloved water cascaded majestically over the cliff towards him.
Suffice to say, I’m very excited to bring you to meet these beautiful waterfalls of the Olympics!
Majestic Waterfalls Write & Hike Retreats
These write-and-hike retreats have different difficulty levels, please choose according to your mobility and fitness level.
1/17: Marymere & Sol Duc Falls [ REGISTER ]
DATE: Wednesday, January 17th from 9am to 5pm (includes the drive to and from Port Townsend, so start / end time will be different if you’re joining from Sequim or Port Angeles)
COST: $75 (includes brown-bag lunch, carpooling & entrance to Olympic National Park)
HIKING DISTANCE & TERRAIN: Marymere is 1.6 miles of flat terrain, 0.2 miles of slightly rocky terrain and a bridge, and 0.2 miles of an optional staircase to view falls from close-up that climbs / descends a steep 500 feet. Sol Duc is 1.6 miles of gradual-but-rocky up/downs that also include staircases and a slippery bridge over the falls.
1/20: Murhut Falls [ REGISTER ]
DATE: Saturday, January 20th from 10am to 2:30pm (includes driving time to the falls from Quilcene, then returning)
COST: $45 (includes group carpooling from Catkin Coffee in Quilcene)
HIKING DISTANCE & TERRAIN: 1.6 mile roundtrip that starts with a steep ascent and then mellows out to a more gradual up/down grade. Involves a fair amount of rocky terrain, especially if you want to explore the falls area.
1/27: Falls View Canyon & Rocky Brook Falls [ REGISTER ]
DATE: Saturday, January 27th from 10am to 2:30pm
COST: $45 (includes carpooling from Catkin Coffee in Quilcene)
HIKING DISTANCE & TERRAIN: Falls View Canyon is a 0.6-mile roundtrip of easy, flat wide gravel road to and from the falls. Rocky Brook Falls is a 0.2-mile roundtrip of easy, flat wide gravel path to and from the falls, with optional slippery rock-climbing once at the falls.