The best part of this run is the opportunity to paddle through old-growth forest. It is generally best during the winter months after rain when rivers are moderately high but not flooding. This is one of the most accessible wilderness runs on the Olympic Peninsula providing you with a glimpse of what these forests were a century ago. The downside, however, is the whitewater really is lower quality with less defined rapids. Most of the run is fairly continuous class III to III+ and you can expect several large channel-spanning logs that create hazards requiring class IV moves to safely negotiate them. The hazard to enjoyment ratio is thus a bit higher than some of the other nearby runs and there are no real distinct drops or technical boulder gardens on the run. The best whitewater comes near the end as the gradient picks up a bit, but the bridge comes into view all too quickly as the North Fork joins the main Sol Duc.
You can end your run at the confluence but most will want to continue on the final section of the
Upper Sol Duc run. Despite the lack of whitewater features on the North Fork, it's still a neat experience to boat through the ancient forest, and if you've done all the other nearby runs and are looking for a bit of adventure you may find this one worth checking out.
Access Logistics:
At mile 219.2 on Highway 101 take Sol Duc Hot Springs Road south into Olympic National Park. If you want to add on a mile of fun whitewater on the main Sol Duc you use the take-out for the main at the Forest Road 2918 Bridge at mile 4.2 on Sol Duc Hot Springs Road. You need to walk across the vegetated strip between Sol Duc Hot Springs Road and FS 2918 to get to the bridge, but it's a short hike with boats (the two roads are connected at mile 3.6, but it's gated). Continue to mile 5.3 to the bridge across the North Fork where it joins the main Sol Duc.
To reach the put-in continue up the road past Salmon Cascade to mile 8.3 where you'll find the North Fork trail head. It's a 1.2 mile hike to the put-in on a good hiking trail. It starts out as a climb up the ridge, but then it's downhill into the North Fork drainage. Note that Sol Duc Hot Springs road is typically closed with the first big snow and left closed until plowing at Hurricane Ridge stops. Check with Olympic National Park for the latest conditions. They usually know the situation at the Resource Information Center in Forks 360-374-7566.
For additional information see
- Korb, G. 1997. A paddlers guide to the Olympic Peninsula. third edition.
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Olympic National Park web site