OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, WA (June 9, 2025) — A deeply unsettling and ongoing rescue operation is underway at Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park after a visitor, believed to be in their late teens or early twenties, slipped and fell over the iconic 50-foot cascade on Sunday at approximately 12:48 p.m. Park officials confirmed that the person was swept over during an attempt to cross moss-covered rocks mid-fall and, while briefly resurfacing, ultimately disappeared beneath the powerful waters, leaving rescue teams racing against time and nature’s unforgiving force nps.gov+11sfgate.com+11myclallamcounty.com+11.
In the immediate aftermath, Clallam County Fire District No. 2, Olympic National Park rangers, and the Clallam swift-water rescue team were deployed to invigorate the search. Responders swiftly secured the immediate vicinity and determined that the visitor might have been carried into a downstream cove. Intensive efforts—ranging from high-angle rope rescues to drone surveillance and ground searches—have been in progress ever since, but as Monday afternoon wore on, the person remained unaccounted for
Sol Duc Falls, a 50-foot double-drop waterfall splitting into four channels, is renowned for its breathtaking beauty—and for its treacherous footing. With wet, moss-covered rocks and unpredictable water flow, the area has seen several close calls in recent years, including rescues of both a teenager and an adult who slipped in similar dangerous conditions .
Eyewitnesses on the scene reported seeing the individual balancing precariously on slippery stones before plunging into the powerful current. As one hiker shared, “He just hopped from the dry rock to a wet rock in the middle of the falls. It was wet and mossy and the falls are so fast right now so he just went over”. The person resurfaced momentarily, then vanished into the torrent—prompting the launch of a comprehensive, multi-agency rescue protocol.
Clallam County’s swift-water rescue resources were fully engaged. Fire District No. 2 Fire Chief Jake Patterson noted that the team assembled a high-angle rope system to lower a rescuer roughly 60 feet into the canyon in hopes of locating someone who may have taken shelter in a downstream cove—but without success
Responders also deployed drones, including support from Port Townsend and Sequim police departments to capture detailed aerial imagery, while thermal imaging was used in conjunction with ground teams that combed riverbanks upstream of the trailhead.
Olympic National Park spokesperson Molly Pittman confirmed the scope of the operation: “I can confirm that Olympic National Park is searching for a visitor that fell into the Sol Duc River yesterday, June 8, 2025, at 12:48 p.m. Witnesses saw the individual slip into the falls, resurface, then submerge again”
Adding to the emotional weight of the incident, Sol Duc Falls was briefly closed—sharp signage now warns visitors to stay behind protective barriers and on designated trails, especially during periods of high water or snowmelt-induced flooding.
This rescue marks the latest in at least four comparable emergencies at Sol Duc Falls over the past seven years sfgate.com. In 2019, a teenager miraculously survived after slipping down toward the falls, while in 2016 an adult hiker was rescued after going over during slippery conditions—and reflected, “It was a miracle I did live. I should have died right then”
The terrain surrounding the falls adds layers of complexity. As KOMO News reported, current search conditions are complicated by narrow canyon walls flanking the site, slick vertical cliffs, rapid water flow from snowmelt in the upper Sol Duc drainage, and subsequent whirlpools downstream komonews.com. The National Park Service confirmed a submerged body had been located and recovery operations were planned for when conditions allowed
Currently, the falls area remains closed, and crews are preparing strategic recovery operations at the first canyon constriction point below the falls. In the meantime, strong warnings remain: no off-trail crossing, respect park boundaries, and recognize that wet moss can make every rock a hazard.
Search and rescue teams—comprising park hydrology and swift-water experts—are methodically preparing for reentry. Rope rescue, drone-based observation, and dive teams will be deployed once flows decrease enough to ensure safety
The public is asked to be vigilant—if you witnessed the fall, noticed anything upstream or downstream, or captured images or video, you may hold information vital to locating the person. Please contact Olympic National Park or Clallam authorities immediately.
This ongoing crisis is charging hearts across the Olympic Peninsula with a familiar ache, one shared by every person who cherishes Sol Duc Falls. Beautiful, yes—but also powerful, unpredictable, and unforgiving.
Let this serve as a stark reminder: even seemingly harmless rocks can become death traps in the presence of rushing water. Social media-driven stunts and clicks must never outweigh the unspoken risk.
Now, we close with a plea of hope—for the courageous first responders, buoyed by community prayers; for the missing visitor, caught in these capricious currents; and for safety-minded travelers in the future.
