Washington

The hikes in the Enchanted Forest of Washington are some of the most lush, green, and beautiful. HOH is 1 of the 7 rainforests in the U.S!

Here is a 5 day itinerary with all the information you need to maximize your time.

I highly recommend flying to Seattle. You'll be doing lots of driving as it is in WA. From L.A. it's a 3 hour flight. Totally worth the time you’ll save that you can use for exploring instead.

The drive to get to the area of Mt. Olympic from the airport in Seattle is 3-4 hours.

You will need a rental car once you get to WA. All of the locations are between 1-2 hours away from each other and none of the roads connect so to get anywhere you have to go back to the main road to head to your next destination. The one good thing about this is the fact that it makes it nearly impossible to get lost.

1st stop: Sol Duc falls. The waterfall here is beautiful & super easy to get to. 

How long it is: It wasn't a long rigorous hike to get to the waterfall. It took us less than 1 hour and we stopped a lot, but it all depends on your pace.

There are several easy hikes here & there is a cabin style resort where you can stay that offers hot springs to help recover after a long day of hiking. This location is convenient, but more expensive. For more economical options stay in any motel in Forks.

Sol Duc Falls

*Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is open to the public for a $15 entrance fee that allows you access to the thermal pools.

Sol Duc Hot Springs

2nd stop: HOH rainforest. This is where you'll find the Hall of Mosses. Easy & quick, but BEAUTIFUL hikes.

(You can do both Sol Duc Falls and the HOH rainforest in one day.)

HOH Rainforest

3rd stop: Ruby beach. Get there at sunrise or at sunset so you can walk into the ocean where the low tide has left tide pools with marine life. Very cool to experience.

Ruby Beach

4th stop: Lake Quinault. Even if you don't stay there, make sure to check out Lake Quinault lodge. The grounds are beautiful & offer access to kayaking on the lake. The road there takes you on a loop through the lake where you'll find waterfalls just off the road all along. 

Hike the Irely Lake trail. There are so many frogs you might have to tip toe on the path so as to not step on them. 

This itinerary is a great way to see a huge part of Mt. Olympic.

Who can go: All these hikes are easy for people of all ages. Nothing to strenuous and no heights involved.

Where to stay: It's best to stay in Forks, it's central to everything.

Time of year to go: We went in July and the weather was perfect. Washington is a wet state & is known for its rain, but in the summer there is a window of less rain. It sprinkled here & there while we visited, but only enough to wake up the environment.

How long do you need: We covered all of this in 5 days, but we were on the move a lot. You can take longer, but I would say 5 days minimum is required.

What to wear: We didn't have an umbrella. We wore layers & used sweaters with hoods to protect us against the sprinkles. The ground stays moist so wear waterproof hiking boots. Layers are a must because the temperature fluctuates.

The area where Sol Duc Falls is located is a 3/4 hour drive from Seattle and I recommend staying at Sol Duc Falls Hot Springs Resort. It's a cabin style resort that offers a hot spring! Amazing way to end the day after a long day of hiking. ..

Bugs & mosquitoes: There were bugs & mosquitoes & they tend to love me, but I kept my skin covered & did not get bit not even once. The bugs are around, but they are tolerable. If you're really worried, bug spray your clothes & keep your skin covered & you'll be ok.