If you are hiking to the Enchanted Valley on the East Fork Quinault River in the Olympic National Park, O’Neil Creek Camp is a nice easy mid-way camp at 6.7 miles (10.8 km). The river has wandered back and forth across the valley and there are nice sandy spots and fewer mosquitoes on the river bed than you find under the trees where the campsites are located. You can play with the rocks (or enjoy the work of others who have) or, if you’re lucky, watch the elk.
This huge Western Hemlock is signed as the Largest Known Western Hemlock. (there has been arguments back and forth between Washington and Oregon about which state has the largest tree) That’s my pack leaning against it … it’s a large expedition pack … not a small daypack. This wonderful tree is located in the upper East Fork Quinault valley in the Olympic National Park.
I have published shots from this spot before, but I was there last week again and took these from the middle of the bridge that connects the North Shore Road and the South Shore Road. While the river looks well behaved here, it recently washed out the South Shore Rd. That means a longer drive on a road that has foot deep potholes in places to get to the East Fork Quinault Trail. It is also a special treat to visit one of the major temperate rain forest valleys with such wonderful sunny weather.
May is a wonderful month for rhododendron blooms. Different varieties are blooming most of the year, but it seems like May is peak for a great number. The image below is a closer view of the bloom on the right above.
The early morning in the Olympic Rainforest can provide views of mist and trees and ridges … my favorites. The best part is that in the Olympics (if you’re lucky), these morning mists can burn off by mid-morning and you can have a clear sunny day. This is the North Fork Quinault river … the river is over by the other bank at this point. It did turn out to be a sunny day, after about 10:30 AM or so.