Quinault Loop Trail #854

Quinault Loop Trail #854 is the Forest Service’s roughly four-mile circuit around the south side of Lake Quinault. About 2.7 miles cross temperate rainforest and 1.3 miles follow the shore, linking old-growth trees, a bog boardwalk and Cascade Falls. Allow about two and a half to three hours; the grade is gentle overall with roughly 350 feet of gain. This route is managed by Olympic National Forest. The short Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail is a separate interpretive walk, not the same hike.

The forest portion moves between dirt and compacted gravel, with short wooden bridges over creeks. Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, western red cedar and western hemlock rise above ferns and moss. It is not a boardwalk stroll from end to end: the footing varies and there are small rises, but no sustained steep climb.

Cedar Bog is a good place to pause. A boardwalk crosses wet ground among skunk cabbage and ferns, with benches beside the trail. Farther along, the route crosses Falls Creek on a bridge and reaches Cascade Falls after passing other stream crossings. At the Gatton Creek Falls junction, stay on #854 to remain on the loop. Bugs can be plentiful around the bog in early summer.

The loop opens onto Lake Quinault’s south shore, where the forest edge, lake and old docks make a change from the enclosed rainforest. It passes historic Lake Quinault Lodge and skirts Falls Creek and Willaby campgrounds. Near Willaby, a roughly 0.2-mile stretch through the campground separates two parts of trail; the route then passes under South Shore Road by small waterfalls before returning to the rainforest loop. At the shoreline, include some of the forest in a photo so the frame shows both parts of the walk.

Use Falls Creek South Shore Trailhead on South Shore Road for the no-fee access and four-mile #854 loop represented here. Quinault Rain Forest Trailhead is another official start; it requires a valid recreation pass and has restrooms, water and space for about two dozen cars. Starting there and taking the short Rain Forest Nature Loop approach makes the outing about 4.25 miles. Dogs are allowed on leash; motorized vehicles, mountain bikes and stock are prohibited.