
Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic National Park, Washington state, was built in 1925. You can see Jim walking in front of the historic old building.

The lodge lies on the shores of Lake Quinault and is nearly empty this time of year, which makes it an ideal time to visit the park.

Olympic National Park encompasses one of three temperate rain forests in the United States. Quinault receives an average of 12 feet of rain per year, making it the wettest place in the lower 48.

This rain creates a luscious forest full of ferns, hanging epiphytic mosses, wild roses and violets, and old growth trees, some over 1000 years old.

The lake itself provides safe harbor to over 100 bald eagles and a myriad of bird and mammal species, including the unique Roosevelt Elk. Quinault is home to four types of salmon, including giant chinooks weighing up to 126 pounds.

There are over fourteen different hiking trails in the Quinault area alone, making exploration of the stunning rain forest easily accessible.

You can hike to the olderst Sitka Spruce tree in the world, and explore The Valley of the Giants, home to six of the of the world’s largest trees of their species.

Cheers to you from stunning Quinault in Olympic National Park~
(Sorry, if I am off line and slow to respond. We are traveling in the Pacific Northwest and often out of wifi range. I will check in with you when I can. Until then, be well and take good care!)
You are certainly getting around, first Chile now Washington! Have fun!
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Laughing….There actually are rest stops in between. I often keep posting about places after I have returned home. Cheers to you Terri ❤
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I always look forward to your adventures, Cindy, and your wonderful images…keep ’em coming !
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Hugs to you Terri ❤
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Aha, Cindy, at last you are sending images of a place I’ve actually visited – many years ago when I lived in Seattle from 1969 – 71. I visited the Olympic Peninsula several times during those years and your pictures brought back great memories! Enjoy.
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I am happy to report that the park has not changed much. I was here with the kids 25 years ago and it is much the same Thank God! Glad you have been to this beautiful part of the world ❤
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I loved the Pacific Northwest! I was very young when I lived there and made up my mind to drive somewhere new every weekend! I am so glad to hear it hasn’t changed!!
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What wonderful memories you must have ❤
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Such beautiful photos, Cindy! That forest looks so vibrant and alive, it’s remarkable!
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The rain makes such incredible cool air rain forests, so different than the tropics, and so much more pleasant to hike in!
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I’ve been to both types of rainforests, and I honestly can’t say which I like better. Tropical rainforests are hot to hike in, but I love them dearly.
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We can just love them both with no apologies! ❤
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Sounds good to me!
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I stopped there once, many years ago on the way back from a dive trip in Neah Bay. It’s such a picturesque spot I was curious from all the dive trips I didn’t stop. That Sitka Spruce is fat, isn’t it?
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Some of these Sitkas are wide and tall, up to 300 feet tall! We are just talking now about going Neah Bay tomorrow. Small world!
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Make sure to hit Cape Flattery if you do, and maybe Hobuck Beach and/or Shi Shi beach. There’s a Makah museum in Neah Bay that’s pretty good, but it closes early – 5ish if I recall.
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I am excited to go and have read about the museum. Thanks for the tips!
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Now that’s a classic lodge from that era … and that walk – beautiful! Safe travels and enjoy!!!
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These old National Park Lodges are treasures. Thank you Frank.
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I wrote this place down. My husband and I were just talking about a new place to visit
Looks lovely and peaceful 🙂 Jen
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Oh I do hope you go. Quinault is quieter and less bustling than other more visited areas of the park and oh so beautiful.
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing Cindy.
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Thank you more for appreciating & cheers to you Wally!
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Thanks for this gorgeous slice of heaven. ❤
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Very pleased you enjoyed & hugs to you my friend!
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❤
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good for jim
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Jim is good ❤
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You captured the greens so beautifully, it practically brings out the fairy in me
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This is THE place for fairies ❤
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It is inspiring to see such great environmental conservation efforts.
Makes me really feel for our remnant Equatorial Forest in Western Kenya, that is being parcelled off by politicians for their palatial houses.
I wish they could learn from such successful conservation stories
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We also have so many environmental catastrophes in the United States. It is heartbreaking to think of all the lasting damage we humans are doing to our beautiful planet.
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That wonderful green… An what overbrimming nature!
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It lowers your heart rate just to be here ❤
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Garden of Eve.. quite relaxing even watching this pictures
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Oh good! This is what nature does for us.
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It’s all so beautiful!! A lodge built in 1925 and trees more than 1000 years old!! Amazing!!!
Enjoy your trip and keep sharing!! 😀
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So kind, and so appreciated! Thank you.
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that’s a beautiful nw holiday environment!
how nice not experiencing
rainy photographs 🙂
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Love your poem. It perfectly captures this beautiful environment. Thank you.
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Beautiful photos of this national park. Happy travels, Cindy! 🙂
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Thanks much Amy & cheers to my my friend ❤
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Home
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You are so lucky ❤
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I was is hoh, not in Quinault
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HOH is gorgeous and very similar to Quinault, but Quinault is less visited and you have the place more to yourself.
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Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog.
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Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for sharing your beautiful piece of paradise with a tourist like me ❤
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The forest photographs are so beautiful. It did my heart good just to see them and know there is such a lovely place on the other side of the country.
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I love ❤ 's that ❤ nature. Thank you & cheers too.
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Wow- this looks amazing! Great photos!
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Thank you and very happy you enjoyed!
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Your photos do a good job of showing the feel of the place. It makes me want to see it 🙂
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I hope your drive on over. I would love to see your photos.
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So gorgeous. Love your picture of the forest pathways…makes me feel so at home.
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Your thoughtful comment touched my ❤ Thank you!
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Meanwhile, Sequim just the other side of the Olympic Mountains, and also on the Olympic Peninsula, is the driest place in Western Washington with an average of 11-16 inches per year. Although as the climate gets warmer all of the Pacific Northwest is supposed to get wetter so those numbers could go up.
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Wow! The effects of mountain ranges are dramatic aren’t they, but that is really a remarkable difference!
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It’s a smaller version of the wet western WA and dry eastern WA caused by the Cascades.
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Beautiful country ❤
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What a beautiful place! Your photos capture the magnificence.
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Thank you Jennie. Very kind of you. Olympic National Park is such a beautiful place, and Quinault is in my opinion the crown jewel. It is quiet, less visited, and feels like one is stepping back in time.
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You are welcome, Cindy. It does sound like the perfect place.
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❤
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Awesome pictures of this beautiful place!!
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I am so happy you enjoyed Isabel & thank you!
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What a lush and beautiful part of the world, Cindy. I’m sure you packed your rain jackets. 🙂 🙂
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We definitely did and were glad we had them! Since we are from SoCal we enjoyed the rain.
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Yes, I imagine so. Your part of the world is always “hungry” for rain!
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True, but this year we have gotten a lot and are continuing to do so, which is most unusual. We still would like more!
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I would love to hike a rainforest. Talk about soul enhancing…
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These temperate rainforests are especially wonderful to hike because you have all the beauty of the rainforest and none of the heat or bugs. These forest are indeed good for the mind, body and soul.
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❤❤❤
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One of my favorite parks/areas in the world! ❤
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Cindy, stunning as usual, for you. Despite the time I’ve spent in Washington and Canada, that is one of the places I never visited. It is a good thing I have your photos. x
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Hi Lea. I hadn’t seen Quinault area of Olympic until this trip. There were lots of firsts on this trip, leaving us scratching our heads, “why hadn’t we been to these areas before?” Hugs to you my friend ❤
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Hi Cindy, I was up on Mount Ranier as a child but never to Quinault. I have relatives in WA and up through Western Canada so I’ve spent some time up there. Yes, once you uncover such a gem, it is easy to understand those fellings. All the best and if you ever need a baggage carrier… ❤
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You would make an awesome travel companion Lea. Let’s keep the idea in our pockets ❤
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Thank you Cindy. ❤
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❤
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Bonjour ou bonsoir BELLE CINDY il doit faire se promener dans ce coin de foret
Mon amitié est une chanson
Que je dépose chez toi
Qui m’ apporte tant d’émotion
Mon amitié est ma chanson
Je veux partager avec passion
De notes de musique sur un rythme fantastique
Mon amitié est une chanson
Que j’offre sans aucune condition
Sur des paroles qui te feront rêver
cette amitié est une chanson
Je l’apprécie et j’en suis fière
Cette amitié que je l’ai construit avec toi
Sur cet air de musique
Que je te fredonne
Je te souhaite une très bonne journée ou soirée
Gros bisous,
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Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
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Thanks for the lovely post with enchanting photographs.
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Thank you more for your kind appreciation & cheers to you!
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Need to put this on my list of places to visit.
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Oh I hope you do go and stay at Lake Quinault Lodge, on the top floor!
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Wow! I feel relaxed just viewing these pictures. 💕
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What a wonderful post! I am adding it to our must-see list for while we are in the PNW this fall!
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Oh how fabulous! You will love Quinault and I can’t wait to see your photos and hear your impressions.
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Beautiful pictures! I felt like I was right there walking through the trails with you. This is very close to where I grew up. It was nice to get a little “taste of home” from far away.
❤ Alana
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Oh what a beautiful place to grow up Alana. I enjoyed the walk with you ❤
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It was a true delight ❤
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❤
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So much green!!! I miss those kind of places here in the desert😊 Regards from Dubai
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I love both the forest and the desert and would so love to visit Dubai.
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