Call me ignorant, but I didn’t know that there are two types of rainforest biomes. I knew about the tropical rain forest — the humid, steamy lush green jungles that are rapidly disappearing. The temperate rain forests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall (200 to 400 cm annually) with average daily temperatures not exceeding 54 F degrees.

There are only a few regions in the world where this occurs; and the largest area on the planet is the Pacific temperate rain forests eco-region which occur on west-facing coastal mountains along the Pacific coast of North America, from Kodiak Island in Alaska to northern California. Some of the largest expanses of old growth are found in Olympic National Park!

Olympic is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. Ninety-five % is designated Olympic Wilderness.

We crossed the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Black Ball Ferry, arriving in Port Angeles. Something about the name sounded familiar, but it wasn’t until I saw Forks and La Push (home of the Quileute People) that I remembered the vivid description in Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer. Forks gets 10 to 12 feet of rain per year, the most of any continental U.S. town and the reason it was selected for the Twilight setting. I’d always wanted to visit the Olympic Peninsula for its mountains and coast line, but had no idea what a treasure we would have.

Entering the Olympic Temperate Rain Forest

My first clue was entering the park and immediately being surrounded by towering pine trees that were so close together that looking into them all you saw was darkness.

Within half an hour we were at Lake Crescent, a 23-mile long lake that is deep turquoise blue.

Crescent Lake with Clouds Covering Mountains

It was gorgeous! We stopped at the historic Lake Crescent Lodge for a few minutes, but were eager to move onto Sol Duc Hot Springs. Highlights of Sol Duc were a hike in the rain forest, long soaks in the hot mineral springs pools, and absolutely delicious food at the lodge.

Next day we drove through Forks on our way to the Coast. Forks was a tiny town but is reknowned for having the highest amount of rainfall. Stephanie Meyer googled the wettest spot and came up with Forks according to the clerk in a store filled with Twilight clothing!

On to the coast and Ruby Beach and Kalaloch.

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach has a beautiful sandy shoreline with red rocks (garnets, not rubies) and piles and piles of driftwood. In the distance you can see Destruction Island with its’ flat top and step sides. Highlight was the view; lowlight was the person peeing next to his car despite clean bathroom facilities!

On the way to Kalaloch, we stopped to see a massive red cedar tree,

Huge Red Cedar Tree

so huge and fertile that it was the home to saplings and other vegetation.

Red Cedar Tree Host to Saplings

Chasing Seagulls on Kalaloch Beach

Not much to say about Kalaloch

other than you can stay in a cabin on the bluff and that there is a wide long beach to walk. We drove on to Lake Quinalt

Lake Quinault View from Our Lodge

where we spent the night. Another historic lodge made of timber, our room overlooked the woods and lake.

Alex and Jim in Lake Quinault Ldoge

The historic lodge had a huge lawn going down to the water, beautiful views everywhere of the lake and mountains.

Tips: The food at the National Park lodges was excellent! Locations are excellent as well, but by far the nicest accommodation was Lake Quinault Lodge.