Quinault Loop Trail
A couple weeks back, I took advantage of the rare occasion that I was able to request weekend off to go camping in Olympic National Park. During the winter months, I am usually quite limited to the lowlands as my Honda Civic Hatchback really does not do well in snowy conditions. But never let the weather deter you, there are so many beautiful hikes to do in the Pacific Northwest. If you are someone like me that doesn’t own a Subaru, I’ve got you covered with this beautiful hike through lush forests with a few small waterfalls to admire along the way.
Can’t get anymore Pacific Northwest than this - Lake Quinault
My friend and I have been planning a camping for a few weeks prior to deciding that we were going to camp at Kalaloch Campground. This is one of the established car camping campgrounds along the coast. During the offseason, Kalaloch is first-come, first-served so try to get there early if you are absolutely looking to get a beachfront site. If not, there should be plenty of spots tucked away from Highway 101 and shaded by the abundant towering Douglas Fir. This was my second time heading to Kalaloch this season. I realized that the loops are open on a rotational basis. Last time I was here in November, I stayed in Loop D. This time, I stayed in Loop C. I didn’t see a stark difference as the beachfront spots were already taken up by the time I got there. My friend arrived earlier than I did. I was stuck in traffic. Good thing I wasn’t solo camping this time, if not I would’ve suffered from massive anxiety of not being to find a spot for the night. Alas, my friend texted me and said he did indeed secure a spot. The forecasted rain did not deter people from grabbing the beachfront spots, so no luck with those spots once again. It could have been a blessing though because it was a rainy and windy weekend. Having the trees to shelter us from the elements was probably a good idea.
The Tree of Life - a short walk from Loop C of Kalaloch Campground
Camp dinners hits a little differently
Kalaloch is reservable from May 25th through September 15. The rest of the year, as mentioned, is first-come, first-served. As more people are opting outside, I would try to get there as early as possible to secure a spot. Whether you are heading down for a quick walk to the Tree of Life or the other beaches along the coast (Beach 2 and 3 are pretty popular I think), you’d want to know that you will indeed have a spot to park your vehicle or RV for the night.
I didn’t do as much research as I wanted to because I am a slacker and my work days were all over the place. I did a quick search on AllTrails to see what hikes are nearby. I’ve done the beaches multiple times and I was really feeling a longer walk somewhere. I saved the Quinault Rainforest Loop in my list but realized it was only a 0.5 mile hike. Another bonus about Kalaloch is there is spotty service and as you drive further South along 101, you will get full signal once again. But that didn’t really affect our plans, my friend and I decided we were going to meet at the trailhead even though there was actually no official trailhead.
Getting to the trailhead:
We opted for the Quinault Loop Trail instead of the rainforest loop. The latter has a giant parking lot and starts in the Willaby Campground (I am definitely going to check out this campground during the summer months). The trailhead was a little tricky to locate for the former. I believe you can either start at the Quinault Lodge or you can start by crossing the road near the Quinault Ranger Station. There were multiple boards and maps near these trailheads but a lot of them have been pretty washed out due to the elements. I took out my phone and quickly did a search on Gaia to see where we should start. We decided that we would head to Cascade Falls, not knowing what it looks like. Spoiler alert: it ended up being beautiful.
Hiking through the Quinault Rainforest:
This was a super easy hike. There were a few downed trees along the way but they were easy to climb over or maneuver around. The only tricky part was the last part as we were getting closer to the lodge. It seemed like there was some flooding as a result of some of the heaviest rains we’ve gotten in the Pacific Northwest a week ago, so the trail becomes a little harder to hike through. There were definitely signs of water from Quinault Lake that probably reached record highs as part of the picnic tables in Willaby Campground seemed to have shifted and there were clear signs of logs being washed ashore due to the tides.
A classic walk in the woods
One downed log on the way
The boardwalk was a nice addition as it was super muddy
But for the majority of the hike, it was an easy stroll through the rainforest. You will be greeted by towering Douglas Fir and also a boardwalk (which was a really nice touch). I remember seeing about 3 small waterfalls. Cascade Falls was a little underwhelming because there was no clear view of the waterfall, instead you are greeted by overgrown trees and depending on what angle you’re standing from, you’ll get sneak peeks of the entire waterfall. Don’t expect this to be Twin Falls or Wallace Falls. It’s about 1/4 of the size. But I still enjoyed it.
The trail was a photographer’s dream come true. I never enjoy taking pictures during harsh sunlight as it really could obstruct the lighting of everything. Although it probably wouldn’t have been a problem since most of the hike was walking through lush rainforests. There were also many bridges along the way and the trail was definitely well-maintained. Another bonus was because it was Super Bowl Sunday plus a rainy weekend, we saw maybe 3 groups at most and had the trail to ourselves for the majority of the time.
You will hike through Willaby Campground, and this is a great way to scout out camp spots if you are planning on returning to the area in the summertime. Willaby was at a prime spot along the lake. So if you’re unable to get a beachfront spot at Kalaloch, I highly recommend reserving a spot at Willaby so you are camping right on the lake. Towards the end of the hike, you will be merging with the 0.5 mile rainforest loop. It was partially closed when we were there but that didn’t interfere with the loop trail as they were separate. The self-interpretive rainforest loop trail had multiple signs describing the landscapes and geological features of the area. I didn’t read every single one of them but the signs that mentioned animals were pretty interesting. I highly recommend taking the time to read the signs if you are interested in learning more about the coastal habitats of this side of Olympic National Park.
Overall, I really enjoyed this little walk in the woods. It didn’t have any massive views but I was definitely amazed by all the trees and how dense the forest was. I know we all have a tendency to summit a mountain or see big views like Mount Rainier popping out of nowhere. But for an easy, low-maintenance hike, I definitely recommend this. You start out in the forest and you end your hike at Quinault Lake. It might not be as pretty as Lake Crescent but this lake also gives you tons of opportunities to get out on the water when the warmer months roll around. This hike is also great if you are looking to learn more about the animals that reside in the Olympic forest and how the forests came to be and function within a greater ecosystem. For nature lovers, don’t miss out on this hike.
Stats from my Gaia recording:
Distance: 5.01 miles (it’s a loop)
Total Time: ~2 hours
Elevation Gain: 955 feet
Pass: America the Beautiful aka the National Park Pass
Parking: Lots of parking. No privy at the trailhead we started at, but there should be one near the Rainforest Loop trailhead
Resources
Kalaloch Campground
Someone else’s recording of Cascade Falls Loop on Gaia
Visiting Quinault (NPS Website)
Leave No Trace Principles
I’ve always enjoyed Olympic National Park - it’s one of the few parks that offers big mountain views, alpine lakes, and waterfalls all in the same park. Although I have been here a handful of times, there is still a ton to explore. My next goal is to hike along the coast to Toleak Point. If I’m lucky, I might be able to score last minute permits to hike the High Divide (Seven Basin Loops). But I know I at least already secured a permit to tackle Royal Lake again as I failed to do it last time. It was still a good learning experience though because I was able to hike 10 miles with my pack on. We all should celebrate tiny victories because sometimes those are the things that would inspire you to do better the next time an opportunity arises.