This Is the Most Peaceful Area Within This Washington National Park

Olympic National Park draws in millions of visitors every single year and for good reason. This single park encompasses more than 922,000 acres and has 32 named glaciers, approximately 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 73 miles of coast. It is home to more than 650 archaeological sites, 14 campgrounds, 660 miles of hiking trails, and even a ski and snowboard area. With so much to do and see, and so many visitors each year, is it even possible to find a place of solitude within this park? Yes, and it is the Queets River Valley.

The Queets area is a rainforest valley that was carved by glaciers a long, long time ago. Because of its remote location, it is one of the least visited areas of Olympic National Park, making it easy to find the peace and quiet that you may desire.

When you visit, take the scenic drive to Upper Queets, a beautiful road that follows the Queets River. This river, which is located on the western side of the Olympic Mountains, flows for more than 50 miles to the Pacific Ocean. The Queets River fills with snow melt from Mount Olympus and travels through some of the most beautiful terrain.

And while you can drive throughout this gorgeous area of Olympic National Park, I recommend you get out and hike. For a short and scenic trail, tackle Sam’s River Loop. This is an easy 3-mile loop where you will walk through the forest, next to the river, and over small creeks and streams. Pay attention to the flora and fauna you’ll pass, and watch out for wildlife — you never know what you may find in this corner of the national park.

For a longer, more challenging adventure, the Queets River Trail is one hike to add to your bucket list. This trail is approximately 16 miles, and a river ford is required. However, due to potentially unsafe conditions, you’ll want to visit the National Park Service website to view all trail updates before beginning your journey.

If you wish to spend even more time in this quiet, remote area of Olympic National Park, spend a night at the Queets Campground. This year-round campground is tucked away in the trees and near the Queets River. This is a primitive campground with 20 sites that are ideal for tents — RVs and trailers are not recommended here. Sites are based on a first-come, first-served basis, and as of the time of this article’s publishing, the campground is only accessible from Upper Queets Road due to road damage from a past mudslide.

There are many remarkable places in Olympic National Park to visit — Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest are just the beginning. But for a quiet day in this national park, there’s nothing quite like the Queets River Valley. You can learn more about this secluded, remote area in Washington State on the National Park Service website. And if you have a favorite area of this national park that you love to visit, whether remote or quite popular, I’d love to know! Fill out this nomination form and tell me about it. I’d love to hear from you.