Set deep in the Olympics, the resort at Lake Quinault offers visitors a glimpse of yesteryear. The gracious lodge with a fireplace big enough to hold a couple of hefty adults, has a lawn that sweeps down to the azure waters of the lake surrounded by old-growth forests.

Built in the style of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn, travelers have stopped at the "Log Hotel" to swap stories and sit around the fireplace for close to a century.
   
Located two hours from the base, Lake Quinault is located on scenic Hwy. 101 near Washington’s coast.
   
Family adventure packages at the lodge start at $199 and include one night’s lodging, two one-hour boat rentals, and a s’mores pack for four. Or just go for the day, walk a trail the runs along the lake’s shoreline, and take in the fall colors. The lodge offers a first-class dining facility, with a menu that includes salmon, organic greens, and homemade desserts, like wild mountain berry pie.
   
For those willing to sling on a backpack, drive to the end of South Shore road and park at the Graves Creek Campground. From there, an 11-mile hike, good throughout the year, leads backpackers to Enchanted Valley, a place surrounded by a myriad of sparking waterfalls. An old chalet, built in 1930 entirely of materials packed in for a summer resort, still stands as a shelter for the Park employees.
   
The entire area surrounding the lake is known as the Quinault Rain Forest, one of only three temperate coniferous rain forests in the Western hemisphere. The Quinault Valley that creates Lake Quinault and the Quinault Rainforest is known as the “Valley of the Giants.” A 30-mile loop road allows visitors to take in the immensity of the lake, and gives them access to a multitude of day and overnight hikes.
   
Permits are needed for all overnight trips into the park’s wilderness backcountry. A permit registration fee is $5 for a single permit good for up to 14 days and a maximum of 12 people. Fishing the Quinault is permitted from the North Fork below Kimta Creek; East Fork below Fire Creek.

Learn more

Lake Quinault Lodge
345 South Shore Road
Quinault, WA 98575
800-562-6672
visitlakequinault.com

Quinault Rain Forest Visitor Information Center
6094-B U.S. Hwy. 101
Amanda Park, WA 98526

(360) 288-0571

Getting there

From Fort Lewis, head south in Interstate 5.  Take the U.S. Hwy. 101 exit near Olympia and head west towards the coast. It should take two hours and 15 minutes under normal driving conditions, perfect for a day excursion, or over night.