The North Fork Quinault River Trail runs 16.1 miles from North Fork Road to Low Divide in Olympic National Park. This long but moderate trail passes through temperate rainforest, montane forest and open meadows up to the divide (3,602'). The Elwha River Trail picks up here and continues 27.7 miles to Whiskey Bend Road on a 43.8 mile route across the park.

The meadows leading to Low Divide run approximately .5 miles under the Mount Seattle massif

The North Fork Quinault River forms in the meadows at Low Divide and joins the East Fork before emptying into Lake Quinault

The Quinault River Valley is optimally positioned to capture moisture from the southwest, with 140"+ of rainfall each year

Lieutenant O’Neil led the second Government Expedition into the Quinault Valley, this time leaving from Hoodsport

Bears are drawn to the rich meadows at Low Divide and are frequently seen

More than one hundred species of mosses and lichens are found in old-growth forest canopies

The Press Expedition left Port Angeles in December 1890 and arrived at Lake Quinault six months later; today it may only take 4-5 days to travel this same route

The orographic effect occurs as moist air passes over the Olympic Crest and is forced to rise; in doing so it cools, expands and forms thick cloud banks

The river ford at 16 Mile Camp can be deep and deceptively swift, and impassable during the runoff or periods of heavy rain

Despite its lengthy run up to Low Divide, there are only a few points with river access along the way

Old growth Douglas Fir trunks can measure 3 - 6' in diameter, and reach heights of 150 -250' tall with massive, complex crowns.

12 huckleberries species grow in the PNW and can be grouped into plants producing red or blue berries, and plants that produce berries in clusters or individually on the twig

In addition to their edible appeal, the salmonberry plant can be applied medicinally; the Quinault consume a special brew for pain and burn relief

In these low elevation valleys the temperature seldom drops below freezing or exceeds 80°F

An ominous storm system moves up the North Quinault River Valley

Fog can provide 7-12" of moisture to rainforest valleys during the summer months

The trail climbs over 1400' in 3.25 miles from the river ford at 16 miles into big, level meadows at Low Divide

There are two seasons in Pacific Northwest Rainforests: one long, wet winter-spring season followed by a dry, foggy summer

Red huckleberries are edible but tend to be more tart than blue huckleberries

The trail crosses several high bridges over deep gorges and voluminous tributaries

The trail continues over Low Divide to Lake Margaret and down into the Elwha River Valley

Cedar trees resistance to decay comes from naturally occurring fungicidal compounds in the wood (thujaplicins) and thujic acid, which helps make the wood resistant to insect attack

Olympic rainforest canopies are topped by Douglas fir, followed by (in avg height order) Sitka spruce, Western red cedar and Western hemlock