This is the only temperate rainforest in the northern hemisphere
Lake Quinault sits at the southern perimeter of Olympic National Park in Washington. This lake sits adjacent to a temperate rain forest. This is the only temperate rainforest in the northern hemisphere. In fact, Lake Quinault gets an average of 131 inches of rain a year! That is more than double the amount of rainfall Miami gets in a year!
Lake Quinault and the Quinault River were formed from moving glaciers. Glacial moraine dams formed and glacial runoff from the Olympic Mountains fed the massive deep-water lake. Just how deep is Lake Quinault? The lake has a maximum depth of ~240 feet deep!
The Quinault River is a 69-mile-long river that is fed from the Olympic Mountains. After Lake Quinault, the river flows southwest eventually dumping into the Pacific Ocean near Taholah. The section of the river from Lake Quinault to the Pacific Ocean is owned by the Quinault Indian Nation. The moderate climate as well as the abundance of fresh water and land-based and sea-based foods allowed these people to thrive. It wasn't until 1888 that the first non-native explorer made his way to this area to trap game.
Lake Quinault is four miles long by about two miles wide. Although it is near the Olympic Mountains, the lake itself sits at only 190 feet above sea level. If you are ever up in the Olympic Peninsula near Lake Quinault there is a must-see giant tree very close to the lake. The world's largest Sitka spruce is something you will never forget. It measures 58 feet 11 inches circumference! It is 191 feet tall. It is estimated to be 1000 years old. The tree is easily accessible, with it only being a short five-to-ten-minute walk from the parking area. With the proximity to all the clean fresh water of Lake Quinault, this tree should continue to dominate the landscape for years to come. The Quinault Valley is also home to some other champion trees such as the largest known Douglas fir, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, and western redcedar.
The world's largest Sitka spruce is something you will never forget
Did you know?
- Olympic National Park is 922,651 acres!
- There are over 3,000 miles of rivers and streams in Olympic National Park!
- There are 22 Threatened/Endangered species found within the park.
- There were almost three million recreational visitors to Olympic National Park in 2023. Fortunately, there are ~660 miles of trails throughout the park!
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