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USA: Washington: Hurricane Ridge, Kalaloch Beach, Lake Quinault, Long Beach, Marymere Waterfall, Port Angeles, Puget Sound, Ruby Beach, Seattle

Lake Quinault, Washington, USA: Amidst a temperate rain forest
by Prakash Bang, Editor in Chief

Lake Quinault, Quinault, Washington, USA

Owned by the Quinault Indian Nation, Lake Quinault is a lake on the Olympic Peninsula. It is located in the glacial-carved Quinault Valley of the Quinault River, at the southern edge of Olympic National Park. One of the most dominant features of Lake Quinault is being located within the Quinault Rain Forest, a temperate rain forest. Area activities include fishing (with permit from the Quinaults), scenic drives and hiking.

Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA We reached Quinault at about 7:30 in the evening. We were hosted at the Historic Lake Quinault Lodge that sits on the edge of the lake. Before retiring for the day, we were hosted to a sumptuous dinner at the lodge. My room overlooked the lake and had a fire place. Couldn't have asked for more.

The Lake Quinault Lodge was built in 1926. The hotel was designed by Robert Reamer, a Seattle architect, in a rustic style reminiscent of Reamer's work at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. It is a notable example of a rustic wilderness lodging, suited to its woodland environment.

Post breakfast (their sausages are legendary!) we were ready for a short drive / hike in the rain forest around. Minutes from the hotel and by the side of the road was the pretty, 40-feet high Merriman Waterfall. A good photo opportunity. And yes, we were lucky, as many travellers in the region would be, to spot wild elks peacefully grazing around.

A few hundred feet from the Merriman Falls is moss character named Moss Squatch. It was created by Jason McDonald, who lives in a house across from Moss Squatch. Jason said he had a couple of great mossy limbs, but it took him a while to find the right face, as he did not want it to be too cartoony - and he found the face one day while splitting firewood and added it. The character is quite a tourist attraction and has his own Facebook page!

After hugging Moss Squatch, we continued with our onward journey.

Lake Quinault Image Gallery Photo viewer Photo viewer

Lake Quinault Lodge, Quinault, Washington, USA Lake Quinault Lodge, Quinault, Washington, USA Lake Quinault, Quinault, Washington, USA Lake Quinault Lodge, Quinault, Washington, USA Wild Elks, Quinault, Washington, USA Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA
Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA Merriman Falls, Quinault, Washington, USA Hugging the Moss Squatch, Quinault, Washington, USA

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