A tall, narrow waterfall drops in a thin white ribbon down a dark, moss-covered rock face into a small pool, with bright green ferns and forest growth clinging to the cliff around it. A wooden trail railing and scattered rocks frame the bottom of the scene, emphasizing the close-up view in the shaded forest.

Marymere Falls

Port Angeles, WA

Marymere Falls is a 90-foot waterfall accessed via a 1.8-mile round-trip trail from the Storm King Ranger Station near Lake Crescent. The falls drop over a moss-covered cliff into a narrow gorge surrounded by old-growth Douglas fir and western hemlock. Water flow is highest in spring and after heavy rains.

Photography Guide

Best Time: morning
Crowds: Moderate
Shot Types: long-exposuredetailportraitlandscape
Best Seasons: springwinterfall

Practical Tips

The trail is well-maintained but the final section to the falls viewpoint involves steep stairs. A tripod and ND filter are useful for long-exposure waterfall shots.

Is it a good day to go?

7-day outlook

Mild, dry days with light winds are the most comfortable for a visit.

Forecast by Open-Meteo. Verdicts weigh the forecast against the conditions that suit this spot.

Author's Comments

The walk in is part of the photograph, even if you do not raise the camera once before you reach the falls. The trail leaves Lake Crescent and climbs gently through old growth that does most of its work in green - moss on every horizontal surface, ferns at knee height, the trunks of hemlock and Douglas fir going up further than seems reasonable. By the time you reach the steep final stairs, you have already been somewhere worth being. The falls themselves drop ninety feet into a narrow gorge, and the cliff behind them is so completely covered in moss that the rock barely registers as rock. April is when I prefer to come. The water is loud then, fed by snowmelt and the long Olympic winter, and the mist coming off the base keeps the lower viewpoint perpetually damp. Morning light is the only light worth chasing here. The gorge faces in such a way that direct sun never really finds the falls, but a soft overcast morning will give you even light across the entire scene and let a long exposure do its actual job. Bring the tripod. Bring the ND filter. The lower viewing platform is the obvious composition and it works, but the upper platform offers a tighter, more intimate frame where you can isolate the moss and the water and let the scale disappear. I have made photographs from both and I am not sure I prefer one over the other. They are different falls from different angles, which is part of what keeps the place interesting after the second or third visit.

Gallery

A tall, narrow waterfall pours down a dark, mossy cliff into a small pool, framed by dense evergreen forest and overhanging branches. Soft morning light and a long exposure give the water a silky blur against the wet rock and vivid green foliage. Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Marymere Falls drops in a thin white ribbon over a dark, moss-covered cliff into a narrow pool, framed by dense evergreen forest. Branches and ferns in the foreground partially veil the falls, giving the scene a cool, shaded morning feel. Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

A narrow ribbon of water drops down a dark, moss-covered cliff into a shadowy gorge, with wet rock surfaces and bright green vegetation framing the falls. The vertical composition emphasizes the height of the waterfall and the damp old-growth forest around it. Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Marymere Falls drops in a narrow white ribbon over a mossy rock face, framed by dense old-growth forest and evergreen branches. Fallen logs and dark stones fill the foreground, emphasizing the shaded gorge and lush, damp setting. Photo: runt35 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

A tall, narrow waterfall drops over a moss-covered cliff into a shadowed gorge, framed by dense old-growth forest. Driftwood and fallen logs lie in the rocky stream below, while soft morning light filters through the trees above. Photo: Sea Cow / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

A slender white waterfall drops straight down a dark, mossy rock face into a small pool, framed by dense green forest. Sunlight filters through overhanging branches near the top, brightening the upper falls against the shaded gorge. Photo: Chris Light / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Marymere Falls drops in a narrow white ribbon over a dark, moss-covered cliff into a small pool, framed by dense evergreen forest. A fallen branch angles across the upper falls, and bright green ferns and moss add vivid color to the shaded gorge. Photo: Zandcee / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

A tall, silky waterfall drops over a moss-covered cliff into a small dark pool, framed by steep rock walls and dense evergreen forest. Fallen logs and branches lie across the rocky foreground, adding a rugged feel to the narrow gorge. Photo: Yukinobu Zengame / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

A small waterfall spills over dark rock into a shallow pool, framed by lush moss and ferns in a narrow forest gorge. Fallen logs cross the scene, and the water surface in the foreground is smooth and reflective. Photo: Robert Schrader / Pexels

Nearby Places

A woman in a light jacket sits on a rocky viewpoint above Lake Crescent, looking out over the blue water and forested mountains. Evergreen branches frame the scene under a cloudy morning sky, emphasizing the sweeping alpine panorama.

Hidden Gems

Port Angeles, WA

Mount Storm King Trail

The Mount Storm King Trail climbs approximately 2,000 feet in 2 miles through old-growth forest to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Crescent and the surrounding Olympic peaks. The upper portion of the trail is steep and involves using rope assists on exposed sections. Views from the top reveal the full expanse of the turquoise lake below.

morningsummer · fall

Calm blue water fills the foreground, with fine ripples reflecting the morning light. Across the lake, a steep wall of evergreen forest lines the shore, with a small green-roofed dock and a few boats tucked at the water’s edge.

Photogenic

Port Angeles, WA

Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is a deep glacially carved lake known for its striking blue-green clarity, which results from a lack of nitrogen that limits algae growth. The lake is surrounded by steep forested mountains and stretches over 8 miles in length. Historic Lake Crescent Lodge on the south shore has operated since 1916.

morningspring · summer

A rushing blue-green river surges through a narrow, moss-covered canyon, framed by tall old-growth evergreens and leafy spring trees. Sunlight brightens the forest canopy while the water breaks around dark rocks and a fallen log along the rocky bank.

Waterfalls

Port Angeles, WA

Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall where the Sol Duc River splits into three or four channels dropping roughly 25 feet into a narrow basalt canyon. The falls are reached via a 0.8-mile trail through old-growth forest from the Sol Duc trailhead. A photogenic footbridge crosses directly above the falls, providing an elevated vantage point.

morningspring · summer