I want to share this incredible place with you!

Road Trip Season continues...

Picture this:

You’re walking on a path that hushes the sound of your feet. Surrounded by soft and welcoming ferns, moss, and trees. The air is cool and humid and so clean. Everything is green—the most beautiful shades of green. This is Quinault Rain Forest. Let me show you how I spent my birthday.

How it started:

Somewhere in the back of my mind and in several journals I have a photo bucket list. Things I’d like to see and photograph, no matter how many times someone else might have done it. It includes things like the house-covered hillsides in Cinque Terre, the Jurassic Coast Cliff, and Brighton Pier, in England, Joshua Trees in California. My list also includes the moss-covered trees you see in photos of the Hoh Rainforest. But dogs are not allowed on the trails in the Hoh Rainforest and a road trip isn’t complete without my bestie.

In researching the possibilities, I learned that the Quinault Rain Forest, which is part of both the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, allows leashed dogs on the trails. It also has the same kind of vegetation (although I’m told it’s not as impressive) as Hoh Rainforest. I still want to visit Hoh Rainforest, but Quinault was incredible. Bodhi and I enjoyed out time there and we would like to share a small sample of the beauty we experienced.

The Quinault Rain Forest Trailhead leads to a short and easy loop. It’s an absolutely breathtaking walk.

Gazing into the green

Up close magic

As seen on the trail

Lessons Learned:

Thanks to Google Maps I discovered the town of Moclips, WA. which is just 40 minutes from Quinault Lake and everything I wanted to see. Also on Google Maps I found the Moonstone Beach Motel; a pet-friendly place, right on the beach, with great reviews. Bodhi and I both recommend it!

After the trail walk we visited Quinault Lake and then drove the Quinault Rain Forest loop drive. There was no cell service so I wish I had downloaded the maps (rookie mistake!!). Still, it’s a simple and SO scenic drive.

Some of the scenery on the drive

Another view from the road

River that flows into Quinault Lake

Thank you for reading Photographs and Stories! I’m hoping to get one more beach road trip in September and then some close-ish local trips. More photographs (and stories) coming soon!

If you enjoy my work, here’s a link to where you can shop my images.