Lake Quinault Lodge

Lake Quinault Lodge is the grand dame of the southwest peninsula: a cedar-shingled lodge opened in 1926 on the south shore of Lake Quinault, with a high-ceilinged lobby, a big stone fireplace, a sunroom and a long lawn leading to the water. President Franklin Roosevelt visited in 1937, and the lodge has a long tradition of hosting travelers seeking the rain forest. The setting is lush, with moss-draped trees, trails starting near the lodge and a quiet lake on which to paddle. It is the natural base for exploring the Quinault Rain Forest, Kalaloch and the south coast of the peninsula.

Rooms are spread between the main lodge, a lakeside building with fireplaces in some rooms and additional annexes. Each has its own character, and the historic building has the charm and quirks of its era. Expect good beds and comfortable furnishings but also creaky floors, thin walls in places and no pretense of modern luxury. Requesting a lake view is worth it if available, and ask about fireplace rooms for a cozy stay on rainy evenings.

The lodge has a dining room and a bar, with a menu that leans toward Northwest cuisine, and many guests make an evening of dinner followed by a drink by the fire. An indoor pool and sauna are traditionally a draw after a damp day on the trails, though you should confirm current facilities when you book. Boat rentals and guided programs are generally available in season.

From the lodge, you can walk the nearby nature trails, including the loop through the rain forest and shorter paths to waterfalls. The lake loop drive passes Merriman Falls and the Big Spruce Tree, and the trailheads for Graves Creek and Enchanted Valley lie farther up the valley. The Kalaloch beaches are about an hour to the north, and the Hoh Rain Forest is a longer drive, so many visitors use Quinault as a base for the southern half of the loop around the peninsula.

Rain is a feature, not a flaw, in this part of the world. The valley can receive many feet of rain a year, so pack waterproof gear and treat gray weather as part of the experience. Summer is the driest, but also the busiest, and rooms book early. Autumn and spring offer lush scenery and lower rates. The lodge is about three hours from Olympia and four from Seattle, so plan travel time and fuel stops accordingly.

Families enjoy the lawn, the croquet-style games and the proximity to easy trails, while couples tend to favor fireplace rooms and a quiet evening in the lobby. Bring a deck of cards and a book for rainy evenings.