The Maple Glade Ranger station is closed for the season. The 4-mile long, 2-mile wide glacier-carved and glacier-fed lake is located in the Quinault Valley, which is a destination in and of itself. This type of rain forest exists only on the northwest coast of North America, in Chile, Southern Australia and New Zealand. Make sure to consult the Getting Around page for mileages to different park destinations. Lake Quinault - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos). The Lodge has its very own restaurant where you can enjoy dinner with a view of the lake, and gift shop. This portion of the drive begins in a lush forest with views of the Colonel Bob Wilderness, part of the Olympic National Forest, across the river. If you plan to do some hikes on the route as well, it can take a full day. The Olympic Peninsula in Washington State lies northwest of Olympia and due west of Seattle. that is beautiful on sunny or rainy days:) Beautiful green area i views and to hike any shorter hikes like the World's Largest Spruce before heading to Lake Quinault. The drive takes you along the north and south shores of the lake and into the heart of the Quinault Valley. There are several enormous trees and a pleasant shady area with several picnic tables nestled among the trees. Can you swim in Lake Quinault? If youre willing and able to splurge on Lake Quinault accommodation, this romantic national park lodge is a no-brainer. Once youve gone a total of 6.6 miles, youll come to Merriman Falls. If youve got more time, we definitely encourage you to check out more of the peninsula and Olympic National Park. From lodges, inns and resorts to a variety of campgrounds, whatever accommodation style you prefer, youll find it here. After youve left the glade, continue along the homestead trail, as it loops through the rainforest. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.). This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Fabulous scenic drive around Lake Quinault. This is a tired old hotel past it's heyday. In addition to the two 0.5-mile loop hikes mentioned above, we also took a stroll on the Cascade Falls Trail and part of the Gatton Creek Trail (both pictured below). I set reasonable goals - get used to the water, swim a little, talk to Dad, take a break, swim again. The centerpiece is a huge stone fireplace thats decorated with a native American totem pole-shaped rain gauge that measures rainfall in feet. If canceled more than 72 hours in advance of tour, full refund. Temperate Rainforest Olympic National Park, Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour, Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour, BEST Olympic National Park Day Tour from Seattle, Visit Snoqualmie Falls and Hike to Twin Falls, 20-Minute Narrated Seattle Seaplane Flight from Lake Washington, Viator Exclusive Tour - Mt. Some camping sites next to the lake would be great for over night stops with car spot, picnic table and fire place. Getting your room at the Lodge is a major hassle..they wont let you in until 4pm, and then there is a line with 40 people, each one taking several minutes to process with only one assistant at the registration office. Just over a mile on the right, youll see the parking area for the Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail. Alternatively, you can also start at the Rain Forest Nature Trailhead, about a mile up the road from the lodge. Occasionally, there are sharp turns, loose gravel, narrow stretches and steep inclines. Pool. We hardly saw a soul, and loved walking through the rain forest (although it wasn't raining). For more remote camping in Olympic National Park, on the other hand, there are two options. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I recommend visiting the Salmon House at the Rain Forest Resort Village, which offers fantastic sunset views over Lake Quinault from its dining room. For shorter visits, the valley has a scenic loop drive and short trails through temperate rain forest in both Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest. The trail is relatively short 2.4 miles each way but its length belies its difficulty. Lots of rain also = waterfalls! Its menu, unsurprisingly, is centered on salmon. Even though we didn't make it into the Olympic National Park or to the Hoh Rainforest, I felt being here was good enough and we still got a good feel for the rainforest and gorgeous hikes. There are also a variety of lodging opportunities in the nearby area. All provide the basic comforts and modern amenities. Fishing for salmon in the lake is NOT permitted but you are allowed to fish for salmon in the lower Quinault River. Lake Quinault is a pristine glacier-fed lake on the southern tip of the Olympic National Park in Washington State. A cheaper alternative, which I opted for, is the Rain Forest Resort Village. Nearby Areas: Queets is a short drive to the west. Sporadic views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains in the distance will make you feel as if youre truly in a wilderness. Limited capacity. With so much incredible scenery, it might be easy to forget the excellent fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, golfing, and picnicking opportunities that abound at Lake Quinault. 93400 & S Shore Rd, Quinault, WA 98575. . Check availability HERE to see if this stunning Quinault lake house is available when you want to visit! The Quinault Valley is a wilderness gateway to alpine meadows, jeweled lakes and ice-carved peaks. We drove the entire loop around the lake. You can combine them as you see fit. Check the. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more). I cant imagine a better way to fuel up for a day of Quinault Rain Forest adventures. I told the Ranger Station that I was going to swim across and asked them what they suspected the distance was. Willaby Campground offers 21 sites (16 max for RVs), potable water, and flush toilets. Since we have weak knees, we didn't attempt the more difficult trails. If you do it clockwise, you can be on the rain forest trails in Olympic National Park earlier in the morning. Miles of trails, swimming, and fishing are also easily accessible from the campgrounds and resorts around the lake and in the forest. The late summer sunset vistas were unrivaled from the homes massive wrap around deck. While driving the scenic loop drive, theres Merriman Falls first, which I found a bit underwhelming. He has visited all of the main national parks in the United States, as well as many national monuments and state parks. While colder than most beaches, Washington has a lot of friendly shores for a dip in the ocean. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Other Pacific Northwest National Park Activities, Olympic National Park Quinault Area Brochure, What to Do in Olympic National Park, Washington, What to Do in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, Top Things to Do in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, 2 hours and 30 minutes from Sol Duc Falls, 3 hours and 30 minutes from Hurricane Ridge, Quinault Loop Trail (1.5 to 8 miles, loop), Kestner Homestead Trail (1.3 miles, loop). Hiking on the Kestner Homestead Trail in the Quinault Rain Forest The Kestner Homestead trail is a 1.3-mile loop through the rainforest and an abandoned 100-year-old homestead. I told Dad to aim for Lochaerie Resort instead, where my friends and I have an annual mushroom hunting cabin trip every year. It is located in the glacial -carved Quinault Valley of the Quinault River, at the southern edge of Olympic National Park in the northwestern United States. Our lake house rental in Amanda Park, Washington sat on 7 private acres and offered absolutely gorgeous lakefront views. This is unquestionably one of the best things to do at Lake Quinault, not only because it links together all other Quinault Rain Forest attractions, but also because its simply a fun driving experience. However, as I said above, check road conditions beforehand, especially if the weathers been in a bad mood lately. Lakes. Choose from our numerous room at a great value! It was still easily passable with a 2WD car, though. This is salmon country and a salmon dinner is basically mandatory after a day filled with Lake Quinault activities, hikes, sightseeing and wildlife watching. It continues along the south bank of the East Fork Quinault River to its terminus at Graves Creek Campground and the Enchanted Valley Trailhead. As so many other place names in the Pacific Northwest, its difficult to know how to pronounce Quinault if youve never heard the word before. My visit was in September to avoid crowds. I plan to do a distance in Lake Chelan and Wenatchee this summer as well. Its a great place to disconnect with the world and reconnect with nature. Rainforest Resort does currently not take reservations for their RV sites and is on a first come basis. For spectacular views and to get a sense of the area, take a scenic drive around Lake Quinault. This particular home sleeps 8, so its great for larger families or travel groups. Anton, a well-known European woodworker, made his familys home and barn using western red cedar and Douglas fir. (This post may contain affiliate links. Additionally, black bears can occasionally also be seen foraging here. (Its not too well marked.) While driving the Quinault Rain Forest Loop Drive, youll pass numerous Lake Quinault highlights. Olympic National Parks rain forest valleys are home to the largest population of unmanaged Roosevelt elk in the U.S. Today, the park protects about 3,000 to 4,000 elk, which incidentally are the parks largest land mammal. The tree is one of the Quinault Valleys six (five) champion trees. (Know that the odometer readings may be a little off if youve pulled off at any stops along the route thus far.) This 5-mile there-and-back hike starts at the Enchanted Valley Trailhead and leads to a gorgeously photogenic bridge across the East Fork Quinault River. As mentioned, they have a day use area complete with boat launch and trailer parking (16 max). You can change your cookie preferences by clicking on "Settings". The North Shore Road and the South Shore Road run along the two main sides of the lake and the river. You will also have the opportunity to see some world record trees in this Valley of the Giants.This is truly an experience that cannot be missed and one that is exclusive to the Quinault Valley. Read more about our experiences on various attractions around the peninsula. Here are the most popular spots to visit along the loop drive: A 0.4-mile loop goes from a parking lot to the shores of Lake Quinault and back. (I drove it twice with my front-wheel-drive VW Jetta.) Specifically, Bunch Fields is well-known for being a favored grazing area of Roosevelt elk and black bears alike. Or, if you'd prefer, stretch your legs on one of the area's many hiking trails, like . Them what they suspected the distance will make you feel as if youre truly in bad. Around page for mileages to different Park destinations bit underwhelming friendly shores for a dip in the nearby area and! Is available when you want to visit loved walking through the rainforest Ranger station that I going. 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