by Phil Rowe
After leaving delightful Crescent Lake, up on the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula, we headed west along US-101 toward Lake Quinault and the magnificent lodge along the southern shore. The drive around the Hoh Rain Forest and the peninsula is really special.
We arrived, after a brief stop along the way at nearby Kalalock Lodge for a clam chowder lunch and a stroll along the coastal beaches, to be greeted by a much busier and more crowded Quinault area than I remembered from our visit a few years earlier. But the, this was the "in-season" time and lots of folks head for this beautiful place. Our advanced reservations were a must and assured us a room.
As you can see from the photographs, this is a classic resort featuring comfortable accommodations and a fine restaurant. It's a place to really enjoy the scenery, taking long trail walks or getting out on the water. Paddling my sea kayak on thus lake was my primary objective, though we did other things too.
My first paddle took place the morning following our arrival. I was up before dawn to take my kayak of the car-rack and wheel it down to the beach. It was foggy, but the lake was like glass. There wasn't a ripple. Lake Quinault isn't all that huge, perhaps three miles long at most and under two across. But it's in a delightful setting, with the Olympic Mountains to the north and the ocean a few miles to the west. The seashore, the mountains and even this nice little lake offer about all one could ask.
After launching my silent craft, I headed northeast across the lake, wholly engulfed by the fog. It wasn't until an hour or more after sunrise that the fog lifted. But there's no way you can get lost here, and besides, I had my trusty compass to steer by.
The local Indians operate a fish hatchery over on the West end of the lake, a floating affair with log boom surrounding the rafted buildings and pens. A small village nestles along the far shore and made for an interesting area to paddle. I saw only a few small boats, a canoe or two and a an outboard motorboat carrying fishermen. And the winds remained calm until nearly noon. It was a fine day to paddle.
We stayed at the lodge two nights and that gave me several times to paddle out on Quinault Lake. It also gave us the opportunity to take long trail walks to see nearby waterfalls, the lakeshore and forests. It's a very comfortable place to stay, in a setting not to be missed.