Unearth The Voyage
Tucked away on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the small town of Forks sits at a magical crossroads between worlds. This unassuming community is nestled between Port Angeles and Aberdeen, but what makes Forks truly special is its remarkable location. Here, one of North America’s rare temperate rainforests meets the wild Pacific coastline, creating an ecosystem blend you’ll find almost nowhere else on Earth.
The Rain-Soaked Gateway to Green Cathedrals
Forks didn’t earn its title as one of America’s rainiest towns by accident. With over 100 inches of annual rainfall (that’s nearly three times Seattle’s average!), the town creates perfect conditions for the surrounding temperate rainforest to thrive.
This extraordinary precipitation transforms the landscape into a lush wonderland where moss drapes from ancient trees like natural tapestries. The constant moisture nourishes towering Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees that have stood for centuries.
Walking just minutes from downtown Forks, visitors find themselves surrounded by an otherworldly green cathedral—ferns unfurling across the forest floor, mushrooms sprouting from fallen logs, and an enchanting mist that often hangs between the trees. This verdant ecosystem feels like stepping into another time, though the Pacific Ocean waits just a short drive away.
Where Forest Meets Ocean: A Rare Natural Convergence
Few places on Earth offer the chance to hike through ancient rainforest in the morning and dig your toes into ocean sand by afternoon. Forks sits at this remarkable junction, just 14 miles from dramatic Pacific beaches like Rialto and La Push.
This proximity creates a fascinating ecological gradient. As you travel west from Forks, the dense forest gradually transitions to coastal vegetation, then dramatic shorelines where massive driftwood logs—many washed down from the very forests you just explored—create natural sculptures along the beach.
The contrast is striking: from the hushed stillness of moss-carpeted forest to the thundering surf and salty breeze of the Pacific. This dramatic meeting of ecosystems makes Forks uniquely positioned as a basecamp for experiencing two distinct natural worlds without traveling great distances.
The Hoh: America’s Emerald Rainforest Treasure
Just 31 miles south of Forks lies the crown jewel of Olympic National Park—the Hoh Rainforest. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases nature’s artistry at its finest, with trees draped in hanging moss and lichens creating an almost fairy-tale setting.
The Hall of Mosses trail winds visitors through an enchanted landscape where some trees are over 500 years old and reach heights of 200+ feet. Roosevelt elk, named for the president who helped preserve this area, roam freely among the verdant undergrowth.
What makes the Hoh truly special is its status as one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States. While tropical rainforests get more attention, this cooler cousin—with its different species but equally complex ecosystem—offers accessible wilderness adventures for Forks visitors year-round, though summer brings drier hiking conditions.
A Town Shaped by Nature’s Extremes
Long before Twilight fans discovered Forks, the town’s identity was forged by its relationship with the surrounding wilderness. Founded as a logging settlement in the 1870s, Forks embraced its moniker as the “Logging Capital of the World” by harvesting the same magnificent trees tourists now marvel at.
The Forks Timber Museum chronicles this heritage, displaying massive saw blades and equipment that once tamed the forest giants. Today, the community balances resource extraction with conservation and tourism, recognizing that its natural setting is its greatest asset.
The town’s remote location—nestled between mountains, forest, and sea—has created a resilient culture accustomed to weather extremes and self-sufficiency. This isolation has preserved a small-town atmosphere where locals wave to visitors and the diner serves pie recipes passed down through generations, offering an authentic glimpse of Pacific Northwest life.
Adventures Beyond the Twilight Fame
While many visitors arrive in Forks seeking vampire lore from the famous book series, they discover something far more magical—access to diverse outdoor adventures all within an hour’s drive. The town serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring Olympic National Park’s three distinct ecosystems.
Anglers flock to the area’s rivers, which host renowned steelhead and salmon runs. The Sol Duc, Bogachiel, and Hoh Rivers offer some of Washington’s finest fishing. Meanwhile, hikers can choose between coastal trails with breathtaking ocean views or rainforest paths beneath ancient canopies.
Ruby Beach dazzles visitors with its sea stacks and tide pools teeming with colorful marine life. More adventurous travelers can backpack to remote coastal wilderness areas like Shi Shi Beach or explore Lake Crescent’s crystal-clear waters just northeast of town. Whatever your outdoor passion, Forks provides the gateway to natural wonders that outshine any fictional tale.
