Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Lake Quinault Lodge
We just returned from a trip to Olympic National Park and no matter how many times we visit, we continue to make new discoveries. This time we started in the park’s southwest corner, in the remote Quinault Rainforest and stayed at historic Lake Quinault Lodge.
Here we found a gorgeous lake in a peaceful setting, rivers and streams, trails through the rainforest and some of the largest trees in the world.
I’m still unpacking the memories and photos so I’ll just give you a foretaste starting with the historic lodge, built in 1926, and modeled after Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone.
According to the park’s website, “On October 1, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Lake Quinault Lodge during a fact-finding trip. During his visit, the topic of establishing a park came up over lunch. Nine months later, Roosevelt signed a bill creating Olympic National Park, which to this day remains a treasure countless visitors continue to enjoy.”
Yes, we were among those happy visitors and enjoyed our time at the Lodge in a responsibly distant manner, masks inside, nothing between us and the fresh air outside.
More to come.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Looking forward to the rest of the story!
Thank you! Stay tuned! 😊
So beautiful, surrounded by nature – what a great place to stay!
Thanks John! It was so wonderful and peaceful. Our first time staying at Lake Quinault, hopefully not the last! 😀
On a trip years ago to the area, we stopped at the Lodge for lunch. It is a beautiful and iconic building reflective of the times in which it was built. Even more beautiful is the natural setting it is found in–trees, animals, birds, water, and more. I look forward to reading more about your visit.
Thanks so much for your comment. Yes, it’s a rustic lodge and an amazing setting. We’d stopped by before but never really explored the area. Spending the night gave us time to soak it all in. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
That’s a real ‘Lodge’ in every way imagiinable. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, exactly what you’d expect to find in the American West! 😊
Did you ever get to Timberline Lodge? Another wonderful spot. We got to stay in the lodge at Yellowstone as kids and watched Old Faithful out the bedroom window. It was heaven!
Yes, we spent the night at Timberline Lodge on our honeymoon! We’ve stopped by a couple of times since then but not for many years; time to go back! The lodges at Old Faithful are the best! I’ve never stayed in them as they’re booked up months in advance but we always stop by when we’re in Yellowstone.
Ahhh, Kalaloch…
My family has visited there and stayed a couple nights in the cabins every year forever! Our cabins are usually 43 and 44, right by the cliff and gazebo. We should have been there just last week if it wasn’t for COVID. Husband and I went there with my parents before we had kids and had only dogs, then when I was pregnant, and then with our kiddos (and dogs when we still lived in the PNW). I so miss it!
Aw thanks for sharing your Kalaloch memories! Sorry you couldn’t make it this year for obvious reasons. We swung by Kalaloch but made our beach stop at Ruby Beach. All the beaches on the north coast are wild and wonderful!