Merriman Falls

Merriman Falls at Olympic National Forest near Quinault, WA is a beautiful 40-foot tall free-falling waterfall that can be found as a roadside stop within the Quinault Rainforest.

Explore Merriman Falls

While visitors don't necessarily need to leave their vehicle to appreciate Merriman Falls, this very-short route leads from a parking turnout to the base of the waterfall. To reach the base of the waterfall, you technically need to rock scramble for about 10-feet up, which isn't difficult but could be dangerous for some visitors especially if the rocks are wet. The view from the base of Merriman Falls provides a view of the entire cascade, but arguably the best view of the waterfall is almost right at the road. If you follow the short dirt trail from the parking turnout to downstream, the view of Merriman Falls is pretty much unmatched with the exception that you can't see the pool that it spills into.

Universal Access

Please note that this trail is not universally-accessible, however, Merriman Falls can be appreciated from your vehicle either in the parking turnout or from the road. So if you have issues with mobility you can still add Merriman Falls to your bucket list if traveling through the Quinault area.

Other Hikes in Quinault, WA

If you plan to visit Merriman Falls, you should also consider some short but scenic hikes in the area. The Quinault Rainforest is much quieter than Olympic National Park's Hoh Rainforest (Hall of Mosses Trail, Spruce Nature Trail, Hoh River Trail Hike), so you don't necessarily need to plan to show up at sunrise to explore. Some of my personal favorite hikes in the Quinault area are the Giant Sitka Spruce Trail, Kestner Homestead Trail, and the Maple Glade Rain Forest Loop which are all short, but scenic rainforest hikes.

Parking

Visitors will find a couple of parking turnouts near the coordinates provided, located on either side of S Shore Road in Quinault, Washington. The turnouts are large enough to fit a few vehicles each as of June 2025.

Pets

Dogs are allowed but must be leashed and cleaned up after.

Warning

Scramble: If you wish to reach the base of Merriman Falls, a rock scramble is required. Rock scrambling is not meant for every visitor, especially if you've never scrambled before or if the rocks are slippery and wet. The scramble leads up massive boulders at about 10-feet high. Scramble at your own risk.