Pacific Northwest Road Trip—Day 2
May 2023
Day 2
We ate a hearty breakfast at the lodge before heading out on our day’s journey. It took an hour to reach our first destination via US-101 W.
1st Stop: Rialto Beach Olympic National Park
There is a parking lot near the beach that is just off Mora Road.
When I walked onto Rialto Beach I was struck by the beauty of the beach. The sun rays were illuminating the vast sea and rolling white caps. I suspect that even without the sun this beach has a hypnotic draw.
Tons of driftwood scattered the shoreline. You might have to climb over some large driftwood to reach the water or hike the Hole in the Wall Hike. If you head north on the beach, you will find the Hole in the Wall rock. We didn’t do the hike since our schedule was tight and the tide was coming in, but I wish we had.
The stunning sea stacks rising out from the ocean make every direction you look those Kodak moments…if you’re old enough to know what I’m talking about. Try hard to put your camera down and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this beach. We sat on driftwood and did just that. The serenity of sitting still, smelling the salt air, and listening to the waves roll in is so relaxing. Give it a try.
Tips:
- The beach has a lot of pebbles so wear sturdy strapped sandals (Chacos) or hiking shoes. Don’t attempt to go barefooted.
- If you want to do the Hole in Wall hike, go at low tide. Check the tide times. https://tides.willyweather.com/wa/clallam-county/hole–in–the–wall.html
- If you want to spend time just admiring this beach, take a picnic lunch.
Now it was time to move on down the road. We reluctantly left Rialto Beach and headed to Forks in search of a grocery store. We wanted to have a picnic lunch in the Hoh Rain Forest. We located Fork’s Outfitters that had a grocery store and deli. They made us a delicious sandwich. I spotted some cookies that I couldn’t pass up.
2nd Stop: Hoh Rain Forest Olympic National Park
It took a little over one hour via US-101 and Upper Hoh Rd to get to Hoh Rain Forest visitor center.
The Hoh Rain Forest on the Olympic Peninsula is a temperate rain forest. The rainforest can get up to 14 feet of rain a year. And unlucky for us, a heat wave had come through the area. It was hot and muggy the day we were there and felt like I was back in Florida.
The Hoh Rain Forest is a World Heritage Site because of its unique ecosystem that has remained unchanged for thousands of years. WOW!
You will see many species of trees in the Hoh Rainforest, but the most common are Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock (Washington’s official state tree). You’ll do a lot of back bending to see the tops of these magnificent trees. They can reach over 300 ft in height.
Adventures:
- Spruce Nature Trail
An easy 1.2 mile walk. This trail runs alongside the Hoh River. When we spotted an opening, we walked down to the river and had our picnic lunch. The trail has lots of moss-laden trees and riverside meadows. We didn’t spot any Roosevelt Elk which are known to frequent this area. They are usually spotted in the Spring and winter season.
- Hall of Mosses Loop
My personal favorite walk. The well maintained ¾ mile loop is surrounded by towering old growth evergreens. Along the loop is a grove of moss draped maple trees. The large ferns blanket the sides of the path. You get the feeling you’re surrounded by giant green gremlins with the moss dangling from the tree branches.
Moss is a plant (epiphyte) that does not harm the trees. It derives its nutrients from the air, rain (plenty in the rainforest) and compost that is on the tree branches.
Tips:
- State Park admission is $10 for one day.
- It’s a rainforest so have a raincoat.
- If you can get here early do so. The trails can get crowded.
- Take a picnic lunch and eat by the Hoh River if it’s that time of day.
On our way out of Hoh National Park we ran across 8 doe elk splashing through a small pond next to the road…PRETTY DARN COOL!
Moving on….
3rd Stop: Ruby Beach Olympic National Park
From the Hoh Rainforest visitor center it is a 32-mile drive to Ruby Beach. About 45-minute via Highway 101.
The biggest obstacle with a road trip is you are on the move, and it’s impossible to time your stops due to how long you might stay at each stop is an unknown.
When we arrived at Ruby Beach, the fog had started to roll in. Gone was our sunny day. The hot day was now chilly. We were in shorts and needed pants and jackets.
We walked on a path for about ¼ mile from the parking lot to the beach. The difference I noticed immediately was the sand on Ruby Beach was dark not bleached white like Rialto. There was plenty of driftwood strewn along the beach to navigate.
There was no shortage of magnificent sea stacks to marvel at. But our window was small, and the fog soon obscured our views.
Tips:
- The beach has a lot of pebbles so wear sturdy strapped sandals (Chacos) or hiking shoes. Don’t attempt to go barefooted.
- Check the tide times https://www.tideschart.com/United-States/Washington/Jefferson-County/Ruby-Beach/
- If possible, go and watch the sunset. It’s said to be beautiful.
- There is plenty of parking, but this is a very popular beach so there could be crowds.
- If you can’t make both Rialto Beach and Ruby Beach, I’d just go to Rialto Beach.
We didn’t spend a lot of time at Ruby Beach due to the fog and there was one more stop I wanted to make before we went to Lake Quinault Lodge for the night.
4th Stop: Kalaloch Tree of Life inside Olympic National Park
A 10-minute drive via US-101 South.
Look for signs to Kalaloch Campground. From the parking lot find the path leading to the beach which is opposite the campground across from the parking lot. Once on the beach, turn right (North) and walk about 100 ft. to find the Tree of Life.
The Sitka spruce is remarkable because the beach beneath the tree eroded forming a cave. Instead of dying the tree holds on by its roots reaching across the erosion beneath it to the banks on the side of the cave. All the roots are exposed and dangling below.
Unable to resist the temptation, I navigated over the driftwood stacked near the entrance. Inside the cave is a flowing stream which keeps sediment from building back to support the tree.
The tree is an example of how nature finds a way to survive despite the odds.
5th Stop (and last one for the day): Lake Quinault Lodge Olympic National Park
https://www.olympicnationalparks.com/lodging/lake-quinault-lodge/
1 night
The drive to Lake Quinault Lodge was approximately 40 minutes via US-101 South.
The rustic historic lodge built in 1926 sits in the heart of the Quinault Rain Forest located on the shores of Lake Quinault.
A little history: President FDR visited the lodge in 1937, had lunch in what is now called the Roosevelt Dining Room and shortly thereafter signed a bill creating Olympic National Park. I really enjoy being in a place with so much history.
Lake Quinault was pretty, but Lake Crescent was prettier in my opinion. The lodge is comfortable but needs updating.
After dinner in the Roosevelt Dining Room, we sat by the over-sized fireplace drinking wine. It was chilly outside.
We stayed only one night and didn’t explore the temperate rain forest in this area except across the street from the lodge. There are a few short hikes.
Tips:
- Get dinner reservations just in case you’re there when there’s a crowd.
- If you stay at the lodge, walk the grounds. They’re well maintained and pretty.
- We weren’t able to sit outside due to weather but you’d have an awesome view if the weather cooperates.
- If you visit Hoh Rain Forest, you might want to skip staying in this rain forest.