Quinault Rain Forest Interpretive Trail

If you and your dog want to go for a hike through a stunning temperate rainforest, the Quinault Rainforest Interpretive Trail is pawfect for you! This 0.6-mile loop trail takes you through a forest filled with native trees, and it welcomes dogs on-leash. Be sure to bring rain gear for you and your dog — the Quinault Rainforest gets an average of 140 inches of rain a year!

The trail begins at the Rainforest Nature Trail Parking Lot. Here, restrooms and drinking water are available. Once you head onto the trail, you’ll immediately find yourself in the Quinault Rainforest. The trail takes you up an easy incline along Willaby Creek Gorge. Along the way, you’ll see an interpretive sign that tells you more about the gorge.

As you walk through the trail, you’ll also pass interpretive signs that tell you about the trees you’re seeing. There are a wide variety of trees and plants in the forest, including Douglas fir, Sitka-spruce, Western Red Cedars, Western hemlocks, blackberry bushes, and blueberry bushes. There’s also plenty of wildlife that lives in the forest, including Roosevelt elk, beavers, river otters, bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, and black-tail deer.

Near the end of the Quinault Rainforest Interpretive Trail, you’ll see a small side trail. This trail takes you to a lovely little waterfall. This short detour is the perfect way to end your hike in the beautiful Quinault Rainforest! If all this hiking makes you and your dog hungry, there are picnic tables right next to the Rainforest Nature Loop’s trailhead.

The Quinault Rainforest Interpretive Trail is a short and scenic trail that takes you along a lovely gorge and through a peaceful rainforest filled with towering trees and wildlife. Bring some doggy bags so you can clean up after your dog while you’re hiking, and have a furrific time trekking here!