West End rain forests
East of U.S. 101, Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rain Forest — which is the result of the West End getting 100-plus inches of rain each year — is one of the best examples of a temperate rain forest in the world. Less than an hour from downtown Forks, the forest is reached by the Upper Hoh Road off Highway 101. The trees of the forest can grow as tall as 300 feet with a circumference of 23 feet around. Several roadside parking areas provide easy access to short trails that meander through old-growth trees and lead to viewing areas with great views of the Hoh River. Once you’ve stretched your legs, head back to the car for the scenic and seemingly endless drive to the Hoh Rain Forest. Start exploring the forest by hiking the Hall of Mosses. This trail leads visitors through old big-leaf maples decorated with spikemoss that seems to glow after rain or following a heavy dew. Watch for nurse logs — fallen trees that have become seedbeds for seedlings and ferns. The trek is an easy 0.8-mile loop that takes about 45 minutes round-trip. This family-friendly hike starts at the Hoh Visitor Center at the end of Hoh River Road. Near the center of the Hall of Mosses is the Spruce Nature Trail, a 1.2-mile loop through the rain forest to the Hoh River. The trail meanders by the Hoh River and provides a chance to view elk exploring its braided gravel bars and cobbled rock banks. The well-maintained path wanders through impressive stands of old-growth Sitka spruce and other conifers with moss creating a surreallooking canopy. Budget about an hour for the round-trip hike. Travel south on Highway 101, and you’ll come across the green scenery at Queets. As the road begins to wind inland, take a drive to Lake Quinault. This glacier-carved lake is surrounded by the old-growth trees of the Quinault Rain Forest. Sometimes called the Valley of the Rain Forest Giants, this area is home to some of the state’s largest and most impressive trees. A 30-mile drive loops around Lake Quinault and could reveal elk feeding on vine maple buds. A 0.2-mile trail near Lake Quinault Lodge will take you to the largest Sitka spruce tree in the world.
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NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULA GUIDE
Counterclockwise from top: A nurse log colonnade, moss and dozens shades of green greet rain forest visitors. Ducks swim along waterways near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Ferns line the forest floor of the Quinault Rain Forest. Roosevelt elk are a common sight in West End rain forests.
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SPRING/SUMMER 2016