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!)
Wow these are beautiful Cindy. I love how the first one looked like zebra stripes on the roof. A lot of my family live in WA state. I love the colors so vivid 💜🦋
It does look like zebra stripes! Wonderful. How lucky your family is <3
Oh I agree with you. What an awesome place to live. I’ve only visited a few times. Excellent photos as always Cindy you take us places we wouldn’t see normally! <3
You may each trip a better experience Michelle. Thank you & cheers too!
indeed beautiful Cindy…cheers back to you in beautiful Olympic National Park ~ smiles hedy ☺️✌️
Smiles and all the best flying back to you <3
Lovely photos.
So happy you enjoyed & thank you for letting me know <3
The photos are really extraordinary. They let see all the beauty of the landscape. An impressive forest to stay and live there and enjoy the silence and kindness of nature. A great trip Thanks for sharing.
WOW! You totally get it. Thank you:
“to stay and live there and enjoy the silence and kindness of nature.”
What a beautiful place! I live in this general area–Vancouver Island, BC. Will you be visiting Canada on this trip? It’s an amazing place to live as long as you don’t mind a little rain!
Vanouver Isand is at the top of my places to live, which we are still researching. I don’t mind the rain. I love everything about your island (and Canadians!) I have been to the islands many times, but it has never been enough. <3
Green. Very green. Moisture and green work well together.
Yes! They make green havens for us, away from the stress of human life.
I love these photos – very similar to the rain forests of Vancouver Island.
Very much so! You live in paradise. And Canadians are wise to protect it <3
Beautiful and green, but much too much rainfall for my liking, We get 8 inches or less precipitation a year out here.
It sounds like you live in an optimal place.
Luscious place. Looks like a perfectly cool place to be during a heat wave.
You could swim in the lake and shelter in the forest <3
This is so tempting. Wish to be there.
It attracts the type of people who love it completely. I hope you come here!
In sha Allah
❤ 🌳
Wow–truly gorgeous! Forest bathing in the very best way:).
Yes, forests thrive with good baths and showers <3
I meant forest bathing this way: https://www.google.com/amp/time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/%3famp=true
Oh so right! The forest has this amazing power to heal and to relax. I say prayers often as I hike that start with, “Our Father, who art right here….” God is in nature for me. Thank you for sharing this with me. Wonderful!
A truly majestic beauty. May America never be without it.
Of Course a … president could demand the resources, therein.
Hoping you guys will vote in a new president!!!!!!!!
Yeah. The future of America is horrific now.
This amazing park is on my to-visit-list. Great shots, Cindy!
You will be put so at peace when you come here. I do hope you go. People refrain from excess talking here. The let nature talk for them.
Cindy!!
You’re in my neck of the woods now!!
Isn’t it a gorgeous place??
As usual, your photography is stunning 💜
So lucky you and your woods! There are so many aspects to this forest: It is utterly beautiful as only pristine nature can be, and even more, it calms the human soul and psyche. This is a place where nature heals us. <3
Yes yes yes 💚💜😊🌲⛰️🐿️
Hugs to you sweet friend <3
Your photos are exquisite, they reveal the rainy depth of this beautiful place!
Thank you so much! It rains, and you just keep on going, for awhile. Then the rain stops, and the wet earth is illuminated, by sunshine. The light is so incredibly beautiful.
A totally different kind of beauty, Cindy, the kind that you have to experience in person to fully appreciate. Wonderful pics 🌺
Love to you Paul & hope all is well with you <3
All is well, just busier than a one armed paperhanger. 🌹😓🌹
That is a new one for more! Cheers to you cuz~
Beautiful photos and I love your story too. I would love to experience this place firsthand. Just gorgeous☀️💚☀️
Thank you and I hope you do come here! I am here now. The silence of the forest is the most beautiful symphony.
So well said. I know so many that fill their days with noise whether it be music, the sound of the tv, or podcasts…with the purpose to drown out the silence. I, on the other hand, love the silence and the quiet sounds of nature. It brings me calmness and many times the opportunity to open up a conversation with another. Have a wonderful day in this beautiful place you are in.
Yes! Silence is such an important part of serenity <3
Those paths look very enticing – it must be a joy to walk in that forest!
It is joyful! Sometimes, while hiking, I silently recite, ‘The Lords Prayer,’ starting with, “Our Father, who art right here…….”
What a wonderfully appropriate thing to do!
<3 🌳
Very interesting post Cindy. Traveled in the NW many times before and never been there. Looks like a wonderful place!
You Gary, are a lucky wanderer. Long may you wander <3
Wish I could tag along. Oh, I forgot, I am. Thanks to you. Is it really that beautiful? And those old and tall trees, amazing! Wonders don’t cease when we follow here.
It is every more beautiful than I can capture with a camera. Having you traveling along with me is a great joy. Thank you!
An amazing collection. The bridge is my pick. Its so calm and inviting. 🌿
Yes, this is what nature is for us, calm and inviting.
What beautiful forest, I could walk there for days!
We understand each other and that is just what I am doing ❤ 🌳
A peaceful and tranquil sacred space.
You understand Rebecca ❤ 🌳
What a beautiful place.
It has the silence and serenity of the forest which humans like me sorely need ❤ 🌳
GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS CINDY AND THANKS FOR SHARING, CHINA
china.alexandria@livingthedream.blog
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
Thank you my friend and cheers to you!
Beautiful and serene. You must come away re-fuelled and refreshed, with your cup running over at such beauty and tranquillity ?
Yes. It has a healing effect. I need regular escapes to the forest in order to feel good.
Ein wunderschöner Naturpark, just great – I like it very much…
Es ist wunderschön und erinnert mich an die Schweiz! Danke mein Freund und Prost~
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Pictures taken by Cindy Knoke in the lovely Quinault in Olympic National Park.
You are a lovely lady! Thank you Particia & cheers to you~
Such beautiful country. I’m afraid the rain would drive me crazy! LOL! Need my sunshine! 😀
It is a nice change from sunny Southern Cali, but it does affect the mood of some of the people who live here.
Lovely shots – and not an avian close-up in sight 🙂
Sometimes, I can unglue my eyes from birds!!! But not for too long 😉
🙂
toll, liebe Cindy, lass es dir heute richtig gut gehen, Klaus
Alles Gute dir, mein lieber Freund Klaus!
how beautiful it is there
It is so good for the psyche and the soul <3 🌲
Thanks for sharing these images. 🙂 they jogged my memory of fifty+ years ago when I was there as a boy on family summer vacation!
Oh how wonderful!! And it hasn’t changed much at all thank God! I brought my kids here 25 years ago, but have me beat by a long shot.
What a beautiful peaceful place. wish I could go myself.
I would love to beam you right over!!!
*waves from Port Orchard* just on the other side of the Olympic Mountains 🙂
Enjoy your time here…
You live in God’s green country! Lucky you. It is so beauteous <3 🌲
It feels like paradise, Cindy…I can almost smell the forest!
I love it too because it is damp, not dusty forest, with all this amazing hanging moss <3 🌲
Very therapeutic…I’m sure. 🙂
Perfect time to visit when few people are there and such lovely hiking paths.
Leslie
The hikes are so beautiful and it is the perfect time to visit before the June visitors arrive.
The trails look so inviting….
Lovely place to visit, but how I’d hate living with all that rain! We’ve had more than our share here this spring. Enjoy your travels, Cindy, and be safe!
I hear it has been raining at The Holler too which is most unusual and very needed.
Such a beautiful area to explore – lucky you! <3
It is, and the rhododendrum are blooming! Gorgeous colors…..
Beautiful and lovely 😘😘
Thank you kindly & cheers to you <3 🌲
So real I can smell the forest. Beautiful pictures of a gorgeous place. Thank you.
Wish I could send the forest scent to you via laptop! <3 🌲
Spectacular!!! 💖
Very kind of you and much appreciated too!
Thank you! The beauty of the natural world cannot be surpassed <3 🌲
Indeed! 😊
Beautiful photos. I visited there in the late 70s, the early 80s and again in 2001 – always so pretty. Thanks for the memories.
And the most wonderful thing of all? It doesn’t change and hasn’t gotten over developed.
It’s a very special place.
It reminded me of Scotland and the Lake District in England. Gorgeous photos enjoy your trip, I love quiet times to visit.
Yes, it is similar, with all the verdant green, beautiful lakes and atmospheric skies.
What a gorgeous area! 🙂
The Quinault is my favorite part of Olympic and it is much less crowded!
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
As always Cindy Knoke shares amazing images.. Quinault in the Olympic National Park.. and I reckon this has to be the most amazing writers retreat.. stunning.
This would be the most amazing place for a writers conference! Hugs to you sweet friend and thank you sincerely <3 <3
Sorry that I cannot follow you around carrying your camera bags Cindy to see some of these places first hand..♥
I wish you would <3
Added to the bucket list!
Wonderful! You will love it here <3
Beautiful fresh deep green of the forest. The view from the phone hotel (?) is gorgeous!
So happy you enjoyed my friend. I am sitting in my room in the hotel right now and looking at the lake as I type. Cheers to you my friend <3
I envy you 🙂
Your photos are fabulous, Cindy! What an amazing place to visit.
You are very kind & most appreciated! Thank you <3
You are certainly getting around, first Chile now Washington! Have fun!
Laughing….There actually are rest stops in between. I often keep posting about places after I have returned home. Cheers to you Terri <3
I always look forward to your adventures, Cindy, and your wonderful images…keep ’em coming !
Hugs to you Terri <3
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.
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 <3
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!!
What wonderful memories you must have <3
Such beautiful photos, Cindy! That forest looks so vibrant and alive, it’s remarkable!
The rain makes such incredible cool air rain forests, so different than the tropics, and so much more pleasant to hike in!
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.
We can just love them both with no apologies! <3
Sounds good to me!
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?
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!
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.
I am excited to go and have read about the museum. Thanks for the tips!
Now that’s a classic lodge from that era … and that walk – beautiful! Safe travels and enjoy!!!
These old National Park Lodges are treasures. Thank you Frank.
I wrote this place down. My husband and I were just talking about a new place to visit
Looks lovely and peaceful 🙂 Jen
Oh I do hope you go. Quinault is quieter and less bustling than other more visited areas of the park and oh so beautiful.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing Cindy.
Thank you more for appreciating & cheers to you Wally!
Thanks for this gorgeous slice of heaven. <3
Very pleased you enjoyed & hugs to you my friend!
<3
good for jim
Jim is good <3
You captured the greens so beautifully, it practically brings out the fairy in me
This is THE place for fairies <3
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
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.
That wonderful green… An what overbrimming nature!
It lowers your heart rate just to be here <3
Garden of Eve.. quite relaxing even watching this pictures
Oh good! This is what nature does for us.
It’s all so beautiful!! A lodge built in 1925 and trees more than 1000 years old!! Amazing!!!
Enjoy your trip and keep sharing!! 😀
So kind, and so appreciated! Thank you.
that’s a beautiful nw holiday environment!
how nice not experiencing
rainy photographs 🙂
Love your poem. It perfectly captures this beautiful environment. Thank you.
Beautiful photos of this national park. Happy travels, Cindy! 🙂
Thanks much Amy & cheers to my my friend <3
Home
You are so lucky <3
I was is hoh, not in Quinault
HOH is gorgeous and very similar to Quinault, but Quinault is less visited and you have the place more to yourself.
Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for sharing your beautiful piece of paradise with a tourist like me <3
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.
I love <3 's that <3 nature. Thank you & cheers too.
Wow- this looks amazing! Great photos!
Thank you and very happy you enjoyed!
Your photos do a good job of showing the feel of the place. It makes me want to see it 🙂
I hope your drive on over. I would love to see your photos.
So gorgeous. Love your picture of the forest pathways…makes me feel so at home.
Your thoughtful comment touched my <3 Thank you!
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.
Wow! The effects of mountain ranges are dramatic aren’t they, but that is really a remarkable difference!
It’s a smaller version of the wet western WA and dry eastern WA caused by the Cascades.
Beautiful country <3
What a beautiful place! Your photos capture the magnificence.
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.
You are welcome, Cindy. It does sound like the perfect place.
<3
Awesome pictures of this beautiful place!!
I am so happy you enjoyed Isabel & thank you!
What a lush and beautiful part of the world, Cindy. I’m sure you packed your rain jackets. 🙂 🙂
We definitely did and were glad we had them! Since we are from SoCal we enjoyed the rain.
Yes, I imagine so. Your part of the world is always “hungry” for rain!
True, but this year we have gotten a lot and are continuing to do so, which is most unusual. We still would like more!
I would love to hike a rainforest. Talk about soul enhancing…
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.
❤❤❤
One of my favorite parks/areas in the world! <3
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
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 <3
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… ❤
You would make an awesome travel companion Lea. Let’s keep the idea in our pockets <3
Thank you Cindy. <3
<3
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,
https://i.postimg.cc/gJr9P5b1/bonne-journee-106.jpg
Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
Thanks for the lovely post with enchanting photographs.
Thank you more for your kind appreciation & cheers to you!
Need to put this on my list of places to visit.
Oh I hope you do go and stay at Lake Quinault Lodge, on the top floor!
Wow! I feel relaxed just viewing these pictures. 💕
What a wonderful post! I am adding it to our must-see list for while we are in the PNW this fall!
Oh how fabulous! You will love Quinault and I can’t wait to see your photos and hear your impressions.
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.
<3 Alana
Oh what a beautiful place to grow up Alana. I enjoyed the walk with you <3
It was a true delight <3
<3
So much green!!! I miss those kind of places here in the desert😊 Regards from Dubai
I love both the forest and the desert and would so love to visit Dubai.