Olympic National Park ~ National Forest

Lake Quinault ~ ~ Amanda Park ~ Kalaloch

Copyright 2009 by Mario D. Vaden ~ Image: Kalaloch cedar, western redcedar

Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest, is a favorite destination included on my Oregon Hiking page index. The park and forest is in northwest Washington, United States. It includes mountains, waterfalls and rainforest averaging at least 12 feet of rain per year, with some rain shadows near 25 inches per year east of some mountains.

Outside Oregon, I decided to make Olympic National Park, especially Quinault, my second exploring area aside from the coast redwoods. You may enjoy that page.

The Olympic National Park is very large. There are 922,561 acres, almost one million. Near 15% the size of the state of Hawaii. With something to enjoy every season. My first visit for example, was during unusually cold weather in winter with temps from 19 ° F. to 29 ° F. . But I still had a great time, exploring from Kalaloch to Lake Quinault:

Camped the first night at a near vacant Kalaloch Campground, overlooking the ocean, listening to the waves. Next morning, I found the Kalaloch redcedar and explored some forest around it.

Afterward, I explored near Lake Quinault, watching deer and elk. Visited the historic Kestner Homstead, and photographed moss and Selaginella nearby, sort of a Hall of Mosses south.

Since this park is so enormous, I'm simply going to give a thumbs up, and share local resources for the area as I find them. It's going to take me years to see the highlights for this national park.

One suggestion worth keeping in mind, is to ask online about this park at backpacker and hiking forums. Travel websites will definitely tell you about lodging and landmarks. But if you want to look at trees, waterfalls and trails, take time to ask the outdoors people who hike in that region.

My starting point was not a roll of the dice. Most people who offered suggestions, told me to begin with Quinault. The park service will have plenty of information on their site, but for now, I will give the GPS coordinates for the Lake Quinault: the south shore:

47.466899, -123.848834

47.466899, -123.848834 ~ Google Maps

47.466899, -123.848834 ~ Google Earth

My first meal in Quinault was Buffalo Wings, from the Rain Forest Resort Village. The food and service was great, including information from their small store across the street

www.rainforestresort.com ~ Salmon House Restaurant and Lounge

www.visitkalaloch.com ~ Kalaloch Lodge along Highway 101

www.olympicpeninsulawaterfalltrail.com ~ Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail: inludes Quinault area falls, Willaby Creek Falls, Gatton Creek Falls, Bunch Creek Falls, Merriman Falls, and Enchanted Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls

www.lakequinault.com Lake Quinault Resort

There is a restaurant, lounge, cabins, RV park, store and suites. A number of record size conifers are not too far away, and a 9 hole golf course is like a stone throw away

Wikipedia article for Olympic National Park ............ Wikipedia article for Lake Quinault