Another beautiful rainforest in Olympic Park. Good parking, easy walking path and picnic tables. We…read morewalked down to the lake, it was a easy path. We did drive the 3 mile ring around the lake. You will see watefalls, beautiful lakes and wildlife. The air was so refreshing and clean. We timed this trip, to make sure it wasnt over run with tourist. We walked to the ranger station, and walked around the musuem. This was a nice stop as well. I loved all the totem poles! @noirvedanaturals

"Valley of the Rain Forest Giants"…read more I spent the last day of my trip to Washington in the Quinault Valley next to Lake Quinault. Quinault is located in the southwestern area of Olympic National Park. One way to experience this Valley is to drive the scenic 30 mile loop drive around Lake Quinault, up the Quinault River into Olympic National Park, and back around the other side. There are opportunities to see waterfalls and wildlife on this drive. I personally like to get out of the car and experience nature in person on a hike. In this Valley is the Quinault Rain Forest. This forest is a temperate rain forest that receives an average of 17 feet of rain per year. The Quinault Rain Forest is known for its lush, moss-covered trees and ferns. The Quinault Rainforest Nature Loop is a short easy hike that allows you to get up and close to this rain forest. The trail takes you through an old-growth forest all the way down to Willaby Creek. You can go either way to start the loop hike. Along the way, you will see massive trees, nurse logs, a small waterfall and lots of moss. I personally enjoyed all of the different colored Hydrangea everywhere. There are lots of things to discover on this trail. You might even spot some wildlife. This was my first visit to this area. I decided to stop at the Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station first to learn more about the Quinault Valley. There was a park ranger on hand that answered my questions about the Quinault Rain Forest and how to get to my hotel. He gave me a paper map of some of the nearby hiking trails. You can also pick up a map at Quinault Lodge.

One of my favorite waterfalls in Washington. Great trail and drive up to the trail. You park and…read moreturn around, and the trail is right there. I wish there was a sign because you'll get asked a lot, "Is that the trail?" To access the waterfall, if you want to get great shots of the waterfall, you have to climb down to it. We weren't able to because we have an 8-month-old. But we used to climb down to the waterfall years ago. It's a must! Our first time at this hike was 6 years ago, and we've done it a handful of times since then. I do want to say every time we have come there, there are hardly any people on the trail. Most people will scramble down by the waterfall. It's fun. You do see people turn around at the tree/bench because it's a steep climb down. But you are able to still see the waterfall. Parking: There are about maybe 10 cars that can fit, and then parking a couple of feet ahead. Restroom: None

Such a nice hike. Very lush foliage and trees, and is a short out and back, roughly 1.6 miles. Very…read morelow elevation gain, family and dog friendly. There is some parking available right across from the trailhead. There are a lot of small fallen trees, probably due to that huge windstorm that happened a couple weeks ago. There is one tree you will have to climb over. I'm 5'0 and it was tall enough where I was almost sitting on it when I walked over it. And best of all the waterfall is spectacular! Definitely won't disappoint. I don't know how it is in the summer. There are also smaller water falls you can see on the way there.

Easy to imagine you are in an enchanted forest here. 128 acres with a couple of different trails…read moreabout 2 miles total. It is beautiful and quiet. Several spots to look out onto duck lake also.

Enjoyed the trails here. We were searching out shaded trails when traveling through the area and…read morelucked upon Weatherwax. Nothing epic, but it was the only forest type trail system we found in the immediate area. We only took a portion, a bit more than the loop. Some winding & uneven walking surfaces...trails maintained and easy to follow. Street parking only, but wide enough you can get completely off the road.

Eric was a great guide! It's definitely worth paying for the guided tour through this magical place.read more

Went on this tour when visiting Olympic National Park. Who knew there were rainforests in the US!!…read moreThis is a 4 hour tour lead by a National Park guide so not only is it informative, it is affordable! $35 for a 4 hour tour, not a bad deal! It's also the only tour of it's type in the area. You can bring snacks and drinks on the tour van so it's very relaxing. Anyways, this tour starts at Lake Quinault Lodge. On our tour, there were only 6 people, so it was like a private tour! The rainforest is beautiful and being driving around in AC beats driving your own car on the rough road. The guide stops at lots of waterfalls and sights and that you would not know to stop at otherwise. There is also a bathroom break and we stopped at one of the homesteads to explore. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Olympic National Park. It's a great and easy way to see the rainforest. Be aware that there are bugs in the rainforest and you can get bitten like me! Bring your bug spray!

This place is a hidden gem! It has a very isolated feeling to it. The falls flow steadily into a…read morebeautiful oasis of crystal clear water that outlets into a peaceful creek. The hike to the falls is less than a mile from the trailhead with a 200ft elevation gain. Bringing your whole family to appreciate its beauty shouldn't be much of an issue. I'm almost hesitant to write this review based on some of the disrespect I've seen for the nature in surrounding areas ie; Trash left behind by visitors and people engraving their Initials and other things on the trees/earth. Im hoping my review brings people to want to visit this great spot that our national parks/Forests have to offer! Map: Green Trails Grisdale No. 198 GPS GRID: N 47 21.227 W 123 33.912 Directions: - travel north on Forrest Road 22 "Wynoochee Road" -Turn right on Forrest Road 23 and take for 17 miles - the trailhead sign "spoon creek falls" will be on your right. PLEASE Practice "LEAVE NO TRACE"

Great place to clear your mind with all the beautiful natural landscape. I would recommend wearing…read morea long sleeve/pants while doing the hike down due to overgrown bushes and maybe water shoes. Today I didn't get my feet wet but previously we went during rainy times and we had to cross path in water to reach the waterfall. Kinda hard to find since not a lot of signs but my phone navigation got me there. Not much or no cell service. So if needed print it out. Just past the entrance to the waterfall is a fire pit area for possible day camp. Today someone had a tent in this location.Beautiful waterfall with such clear water. Very peaceful and quite.

Wild and almost otherworldly, Ruby Beach is where the PNW shows off everything it does best…read more From the moment you take the short walk down from the parking lot, you know you're in for something special. Massive sculptural sea stacks rise along the shoreline, rugged and dramatic. The beach is strewn with driftwood, some pieces arranged so naturally they feel like art instillations. Its name comes from the subtle reddish mineral flecks in the sand, which glow beautifully when the sun hits them. We loved exploring this area, and it's absolutely a must-stop if you're anywhere near Forks. Vault restrooms are available just off the parking lot; they're basic and don't have running water. Because this beach is part of Olympic National Park, you'll need to pay the daily entrance fee or better yet, grab an America the Beautiful Pass for access to all national parks. I wouldn't recommend walking barefoot or swimming here. The water stays around 45-55°F year-round, the waves are powerful, and the surf can be unpredictable. This is a place to admire, wander, and soak in the wild beauty of the coast.

Out of the multiple beaches on this stretch of coast, we found Ruby to be the most busy and the…read moreleast interesting of the beaches. Not much to tide pool and the sea scapes are interesting to look at but not much outside of the surface look.

Firstly, several of these reviews are for the wrong hot springs. If a review mentions a restaurant,…read moreor a resort, or a time slot, they are referring to the SOL DUC hot springs, not these ones. Also, the reviews that mention that the hike is easy are all outdated! It's a slog to get there! The Olympic hot springs are a 12 mile hike mostly uphill. It used to be a much shorter hike but about five years ago the road washed out and you now have to hike an extra 8 miles... 12 miles total... one way. It's a slog! The springs themselves, while pretty, are shallow, muddy, slimy, and overall pretty gross. The signs warn of fecal bacteria. If you're hoping to hike 12 miles to soak in pristine pools, think again. Nudity is common. If anyone is actually using the hot springs, they will likely be nude. Get over it!! Let the nudists have their place... and 12 miles deep in the woods is a nice place to be nude. You might also see nudists hiking or biking on the trail to the hot springs. It's not common but does happen occasionally. Just smile and say hi! The hike starts off easy on a paved road for about 3/4 of a mile. Then you have to use a single-track dirt bypass trail that is steep and rooty. If you're using a bike you'll be pushing and carrying it over things. Then you're put back on an old paved road again. It's another 2 miles to the Glines Canyon overlook which is fun to see. Then it's another 5 miles on the same road, but now 100% uphill and sometimes steep, just to reach the trailhead. Once at the trailhead, you're already over 8 miles into it and you have another 2.5 or so to hike... bikes not allowed. You have to park at the Madison Falls parking lot. You're supposed to have a National Park pass.

Enchanted springs in enchanted forest, I have camped here quiet a bit when in college…read more Most special hot springs on earth to me. Hike is fun not too strenuous

Awesome hike with an easily accessible waterfall. Easy and short. This is also close to the…read moreentrance to the Mt. Storm King hike, so if marymere is too easy. There's also that hike available here as well

Anytime we get a chance to hike to a waterfall, we usually find away to make it happen! Marymere…read morefalls was our second hike of the day after we had a good meal in after hiking Mount Storm King. I generally like to embark on hikes early in the morning to get to see the sunrise and see everything wake up for the day as well as to beat the heat and crowds. But, Marymere hike was a much shorter hike and all descriptions stated it was pretty easy. We started from Lake Crescent lodge and headed our way there. The signs were somewhat easy to find and the map the hotel staff gave us helped us to find the trail head. The hike itself, though easy, had a lot to offer on the way to the waterfall. A clearing where there were river stones and sparkling water that birds seemed to wisp by, two wooden bridges to cross, one was a narrow one. Trekking across bridges like those are always a favorite for me, those bridges then lead you to a small loop trail that got you to a lower area to view the water fall and then you can head up further to a higher vantage point that pretty much took your breath away. The waterfall was so worth it to see and after doing such a strenuous hike in the morning this hike was a piece of cake. If you're heading to this area of Washington I highly recommend hopping out and hiking this trail. It's worth it!

Sol Duc Falls was one of the absolute highlights of our visit to Olympic National Park. The hike is…read moreonly about 1.6 miles round trip, making it accessible for most visitors, and every step is filled with beautiful scenery. The trail winds through a peaceful old-growth forest with towering trees, lush ferns, moss-covered logs, and the calming sounds of nature all around you. The waterfall itself is breathtaking. Watching the Sol Duc River split into multiple cascades before plunging into the narrow gorge below creates a view that's unlike most waterfalls we've visited. The wooden bridge provides an excellent vantage point and makes it easy to appreciate the power and beauty of the falls while staying safely behind the designated viewing areas. The trail is well maintained and clearly marked, making it enjoyable for families, photographers, and anyone looking for a relatively easy hike with an incredible payoff. We found ourselves stopping often to admire the forest and take photos along the way. If you're visiting Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Falls is a must-see destination. It combines a scenic forest walk with one of Washington's most iconic waterfalls, making it well worth the visit. We left with amazing memories and would happily hike this trail again on a future trip to the Olympic Peninsula. Highly recommended! Check out our video on our social @reessroots

Sol Duc Falls is a bit underwhelming if you've been to similar falls in northern US / Canada but is…read morevery cool if you haven't seen similar sights. It's probably one of the top tourist attractions inside the park. I personally felt it was a bit overrated for the drive and the falls are nice to look at but you are surrounded by tourists.