We got to the parking lot of Soleduck Falls a lil before 12 pm and there were still some parking spaces left, by 1 pm the lot was a bit crazy with people waiting for parking spots. The hike is pretty straight forward. Sign at the beginning of trail says 0.8 miles one way. We were camping at Sol Duc Campground Loop B and you can hike to the falls from the campground, but looks like the hike would be 5.6 miles RT if you hiked from the campground. Popular, busy trail. Lots of family with kids. Always a fun hike to take to people on who have never been!

This is a short, reasonably flat, fairly accessible hike with a lot of parking. A great hike to enjoy with your family, but also a great one for everyone else to also enjoy with their families too. The trail is plenty wide to fit two-way traffic, but expect company (at least up to the bridge)

The only bugs I encountered were some swarms of gnats which were reason enough to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.

Also, please exercise extreme caution around waterfalls. That includes not hanging out on slippery rocks around the tops of them. People die every year.

The Sol Duc trail is a 0.8 mile long hiking path that leads through a very dense and mossy forest in the Olympic wilderness, with many plants and wildlife alike that can be seen along the walk. The parking lot at the trailhead area is long and wide, although most spots are full throughout the day because of the waterfall's popularity as a hiking destination. The trail itself is mostly gravel and natural dirt terrain, which stays dry during the hot summer daytime while also being easy to hike. Along the walk through the forested path, there are numerous streams of water and wood bridges built on the hiking trail leading over the water, which eventually leads up to the waterfall itself near the final sections of the path. One of the issues encountered with the hike was the abundance of bug swarms and small flies scattered throughout areas of the trail, which was an annoyance during the afternoon.

Generally, the trail at Sol Duc does not have any wildlife at all such as deer, except for the occasional birds that sit in the tall Evergreen trees. Pets aren't allowed at the trail either, presumably because the park owners don't want dogs barking at anything living in the forest. Similar to the other trails at the Olympic National Park, the hiking path at the falls is moderately crowded, with groups of people passing by on both sides of the path fairly often. The plants and trees alongside the trail is quite ordinary and mediocre, with mostly moss and ferns covering the landscape - as well as the lack of flowers and berries. Despite the hot summer weather, the trees surrounding the path provide nice shade from the sun's heat, even during the mornings. Nearing the end of the hiking trail, the sound of the waterfalls become noticeably louder, with fast rushing water flowing along the Sol Duc River and over the falls. The waterfall itself is very misty and visually pleasing, with some nice opportunities for good photos. The end section features a bridge passing over the falls as well as fenced trails that lead very close to the waterfall, allowing hikers to get a closer view of the waterfall's depth by standing on the river rocks. 

A very nice day hike to Deer Lake! The Sol Duc Falls trail head was surprisingly quiet when we set out at 10:30am, though there was still a number of people admiring the falls. The hike to Sol Duc Falls is very easy, with a very well maintained trail. We continued on up the trail to Deer Lake- the approx. 1700 feet of elevation gain over 3 miles was moderate at worst with excellently designed switch backs. This trail is one of the best maintained trails I have hiked in recent memory! Deer lake is relatively small but surrounded by pleasant meadows and views of the high ridge above- we did not continue above the lake but it appeared that snow started not much higher than the lake itself. Saw a doe and her fawn grazing along the edge of the lake which was a nice addition to the day! Lots of people at the falls in the early afternoon. 

Easy hike through the forest, great for kids. The trail crosses a few little streams and a mini waterfall before getting to the main show. 

The falls were fairly active with a gentle  spray coming off. The viewing platforms are a little slick for littles due to the spray, but nothing unmanageable. Worth the views.

Pit bathrooms and a small picnic area between rows of parking. The parking lot was nearly full when we left around 10:45.