The Sol Duc Falls area remains closed as Olympic National Park Search and Rescue (SAR) teams prepare to recover the body of an 18-year-old man who fell over the 50-foot waterfall on June 8.
Park officials confirmed that a ranger located a completely submerged body late on June 9, pinned between the first and second falls. It is likely the body belongs to the visitor who was witnessed slipping over the falls the previous day.
According to witness reports, the young man had been walking across rocks at the top of the waterfall when he lost his footing. He was seen resurfacing at the base of the falls before disappearing again beneath the water.
Search efforts began immediately following the incident, with Olympic National Park’s swiftwater and rope rescue teams leading the response. Ground teams scoured the riverbanks upstream from the trailhead, while thermal imaging was used to scan the water for signs of the missing visitor. The operation has involved several local partners, including Forks Ambulance, Forks Swiftwater, Olympic Ambulance, Clallam County Fire District 2, the Port Townsend and Sequim Police Departments, and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
SAR teams are now focused on planning a safe recovery operation. Their strategy takes into account a number of complicating factors:
- Recent high temperatures and rapid snowmelt have caused the Sol Duc River to run at significantly elevated flows.
- The body is located in a narrow canyon below the main falls, where water speeds increase due to constricted flow.
- A second waterfall, a whirlpool, and other downstream hazards further complicate the area.
- Both sides of the canyon are lined with 50-foot vertical cliffs, slick with algae and moss.
Recovery will begin as soon as river conditions improve to allow a safe and effective operation.
Practice safety around waterfalls
Park officials are urging all visitors to exercise extreme caution around waterfalls and swiftwater areas, particularly during periods of high flow.
Even seemingly stable rocks can be slick or unstable, and fast-moving water can be far more powerful than it appears. Visitors are reminded to stay on marked trails, avoid climbing on or near waterfalls, and observe all posted safety signs and closures.
This tragic incident underscores the unpredictable and hazardous nature of swiftwater environments, especially during the spring and early summer months when snowmelt increases water volume and speed.
