Olympic National Park: Marymere Falls & Lake Crescent Half Day

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/7

Duration4h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

A 90-foot waterfall and old-growth forest in one afternoon from Port Angeles

You hike 2 miles through old-growth forest to a 90-foot waterfall, stop at Madison Falls on the way, and spend free time at a 1916 lodge overlooking Lake Crescent. The guide and van transportation are included, and the whole afternoon fits into a half day without the logistics of renting a car or planning your own route through Olympic National Park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Olympic National Park highlights

Walk to Madison Falls (0.2 miles)
Hike 2 miles to Marymere Falls
Visit historic Lake Crescent Lodge

The Experience

Marymere Falls drops straight down through Douglas fir and western hemlock, and you reach it on a 2-mile hike that doesn't feel like work. The trail runs alongside Lake Crescent, which sits so still and deep that the water looks almost black, and the whole thing takes about half a day from Port Angeles—short enough that you're not committing your whole trip, long enough that you actually get somewhere. The guide meets you in town, loads the group into a van (twelve to fifteen people, depending on the day), and drives you straight into Olympic National Park.

The itinerary stacks two stops before you reach Marymere. First is the Elwha River Valley, where a 0.2-mile walk takes you to Madison Falls—a quick opener that gets your legs moving and your eyes adjusted to the forest. Then you drive to Lake Crescent and start the real hike. The 2-mile trail to Marymere isn't steep, and the guide points out the old-growth trees and the way the lake appears and disappears through the canopy. When you reach the falls, the water is loud and the mist hits your face, and it's the kind of moment that makes you understand why people come here. After the hike, you have time to sit at the historic Lake Crescent Lodge—built in 1916, still operating—or walk the shoreline trails if you want to keep moving.

Weather in the park changes fast, so bring layers and a rain jacket even if the forecast looks clear. The tour runs rain or shine, and cancellations due to weather aren't permitted, so you're committed once you book. The whole thing is about three hours from Seattle if you're driving up from there, which matters if you're timing a day trip. Groups stay small enough that the guide can actually talk to people, and the van does the driving so you're not navigating or worrying about parking.

What’s included

Commercially authorized tour guide.
roundtrip transportation in a 12–15 passenger van.
access to Olympic National Park with both the Elwha River Valley and Lake Crescent stops.
time to explore the historic Lake Crescent Lodge or shoreline trails after the hike.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Olympic Hiking Co.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see two waterfalls and hike through old-growth forest without renting a car, planning the route, or worrying about where to park—the van and guide handle all of that, and the half-day format leaves your morning or evening free.