This is the only temperate rainforest in the northern hemisphere
This is the only temperate rainforest in the northern hemisphere. Olympic National Park sits within the Olympic Peninsula, which is in the northwest corner of Washington. The area this photograph was taken is called Quinault. Check out our gallery this month to see a beautiful image of Lake Quinault.
This trail is called the Kestner Homestead Trailhead. This is a very accessible 1.3-mile-long loop trail. You can hike the trail in either direction. Many of the hikers I came across were moving so quickly they were missing everything. I was moving very slowly. Sometimes I would set up my tripod and just sit there completely still and listen. I was able to hear elk vocalizations and eventually some elk came close enough to get a photo. However, the foliage is so thick that it was tough to get a photo of the elk.
As I continued to stand there and look out at the rainforest, I noticed something moving quickly out of the corner of my eye. An owl had just swooped from a tree to the ground, about 30 feet from me. It was a rare spotted owl that had just captured a small rodent in its talons. I observed it on the ground for some time before it flew back into the trees. This was one of the 22 Threatened/Endangered species found within Olympic National Park. We will be featuring this amazing owl later this year so stay tuned!
Although there are ~660 miles of trails in Olympic National Park, this is an excellent one to choose. The Hoh Rainforest is the most well-known area of Olympic National Park, and it can often get very busy. I had read about the Quinault area before visiting and how it was just as beautiful, but with a fraction of the people.
The Hoh Rainforest is the most well-known area of Olympic National Park, and it can often get very busy
If you are interested in shooting photos in Olympic National Park here are some things to consider. Good lighting makes for good photos. Since the tree canopy is so thick, it is hard for light to reach the forest floor where you are shooting photos. I'd recommend shooting photos on a clear day during the midday hours, so you have as much light as possible. Since this isn't always an option, make sure you bring a tripod. This will allow you to take sharp photos in low light conditions. I would also recommend bringing a lot of lens wipes, as this is a rainforest and your lens can and will get wet at times. Finally, since rain is common here, make sure your camera bag is watertight. Or opt for a waterproof camera like the Olympus Tough.
Did you know?
- There are ~300 species of birds found in Olympic National Park!
- There are at least 16 endemic animals and eight endemic plants found in Olympic National Park!
- There are 37 native fish species found in Olympic National Park!
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