Only 4 of these rare waterfalls can be found in the US — including one in WA
The sound of a rushing waterfall can be soothing, and the sight of water cascading into a pool below is nothing short of majestic.
While waterfalls usually empty out into rivers or pools, there is a rare kind of waterfall that plunges straight into the ocean.
Geologists have identified less than 50 tidefalls in the world, compared to tens of thousands of waterfalls in general.
There are only four in the United States — and one is right here in Washington state.
Here’s where to find it:
What is a tidefall?
Tidefalls, also called coastal waterfalls, channel freshwater from streams or other natural sources into the ocean.
“Most waterfalls end in a pool, a river or a rocky gorge,” Yahoo Travel creator Jacqueline Kehoe wrote in a July 1 article. “Tidefalls do something far more dramatic: they plunge straight off a coastal cliff into the open ocean, sending freshwater crashing into saltwater in a collision that shouldn’t look as surreal as it does.”
“They’re the rarest kind of waterfall there is,” Kehoe explained, describing tidefalls as “the stuff fantasy films are made of.”
Tidefalls require a specific set of geological circumstances, which is the primary reason for their rarity.
However, this means they are subject to seasonal changes. Always check the expected conditions before heading to a tidefall, since access can change.
Where can I find a coastal waterfall in Washington state?
The only tidefall in Washington state is in Olympic National Park near La Push.
Strawberry Bay Falls, also called Third Beach Falls, drops more than 100 feet on the south end of the beach, falling straight into the Pacific Ocean.
The tidefall is fed by a small stream, and only flows reliably during periods of heavy rain, usually October through early spring, according to Kehoe.
“Visit in the dry season, and you may find the bluff entirely dry,” Kehoe said. “If you catch it in full flow, the sight of a waterfall thundering off a headland into crashing Pacific waves — in a park that already has giant rainforest(s), wild elk and tide pools — is, in two words, a lot.”
You can take a 1.3-mile hike on Third Beach Trail to reach the beach.
The trek is easy and kid-friendly, according to WaterfallTrail.org. Dogs are not allowed, though.
From there, there is an additional half-mile trek to find Strawberry Bay Falls.
Where are rare waterfalls in the US?
There are only four tidefalls in the United States, according to Yahoo Travel.
Here’s where to find them:
- McWay Falls in Big Sur, California
- Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore, California
- Strawberry Bay Falls in Olympic National Park
- Kaluahine Falls in Hawai’i