5 Amazing Kid-Friendly Swimming Holes

Tour the Olympic Peninsula or hike in Olympic National Park, then stop by Rocky Brook Falls for a swim. It’s off the beaten path just enough to be away from the crowds and your car, but not so far off that it takes all day to get here.
From the roadside parking spot, it’s a pretty short walk along the brook to this waterfall. It’s a pleasant stretch, almost making you wish it was longer when all of a sudden you are there, having gained only 50 feet or so in elevation. You’ll be among other waterfall aficionados, a handful of whom will be there just to see the gorgeous cascading “horsetail-form” waterfall rather than to swim. That said, the area is not huge, and you will be sharing the gravelly beach and larger rocks. If you bring a dog, be respectful of nearby folks and don’t let your pet shake off on top of their picnic blanket (this means you, Huxley el Jefe).

At the base of the waterfall is a pool, with a shallow natural entrance on river right that gets deeper toward the rock face. A couple rocks jut out far enough to hop off of, though it can’t be called cliff jumping. The pool is deep enough for swimming, but not all that deep, so double-check before taking a leap. A big log might be lazily floating, great for kids to play on as their parents watch from shore. Grownups could play on it, too. The water is crystal clear, so bring a snorkel and mask.

Looking up at the waterfall, to the right is a bushwhacked trail that takes you up to a scree field. You might notice a few rock-climbing bolts beside the waterfall, which don’t look overly used, but obviously someone was motivated enough to install them. If you walk up to the top for excellent photo ops, be really careful to (a) not fall off the waterfall and (b) not kick any of the loose rocks down into the pool by accident.

Getting there

From US Highway 101 at Brinnon, 26 miles north of Hoodsport and 11 miles south of Quilcene, turn west onto Dosewallips Road. After 3 miles, park on either shoulder and walk about 0.1 mile along the trail (elevation gain: 50 feet; high point: 200 feet).

Details

• Type: Lowland creek, waterfall, pool
• Location: Walk-in near Olympic National Forest near Brinnon via U.S. 101 on Hood Canal
• Water: Cold, clear, clean, blue-green
• Season: Summer through early fall
• Who’s here: Kid-friendly, dog-friendly; families, retirees, waterfall lovers
• Amenities: Camping nearby
• Note: Northwest Forest Pass required
• Local’s tip: Stop by Quil Bean Espresso in the town of Quilcene for a cuppa joe
• GPS coordinates: 47.7189 N, –122.9435 W (parking); 47.7210 N, –122.9416 W (swimming hole)

Next up: Exit 38