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| Mini-Rain Forest Trail at Hoh
Rain Forest Visitor Center |
| Directions:
From Forks, drive south on 101 to the entrance to Olympic National
Park. Follow Hoh River Road for 18 miles to the park visitor center
and the road's end.
   Features:
This flat, 0.25-mile paved trail gives users a taste of the rainforest
near the Hoh Visitor Center. Visit a crystal-clear stream and see
huge, old-growth Sitka spruce trees. The trail is paved and accessible
for wheelchairs.
Moisture-laden air from the Pacific brings an
average of 140 inches of annual rainfall to the Hoh Valley, (record
of 190 inches) in addition to condensed mist that contributes another
30 inches.
Other Info:
The Hoh Visitor Center and Campground (ONP) has a picnic area with
one accessible site with table extensions. It has accessible restrooms
and an amphitheater in the campground. There are a number of sites
in Loop A that can handle larger RVs. Wheelchair available for checkout. |
| Trip
Notes:
June 2002 - The mini trail is the only ADA
accessible trail. Poor maintenance of this part of the ONP
threaten even that classification. Even this paved trail has
numerous cracks caused by tree roots. We camped here as well.
Loop A has one handicap spot, but the loop was closed which
meant there was no handicap spots available! The trail from
Loop C to the visitor center was in need of maintenance to
make it accessible for wheelchairs. The wood bridge ends on
this trail would require assistance, but power chairs and
scooters could climb them. There is no curb cut at the end
of the trail to the parking lot. Someone had put gravel there,
but that was worn away - again poor maintenance. When I asked
the ranger about Loop A being closed and if there were other
handicapped areas, he claimed to have only been there three
weeks and didn't know - he suggested I ask the camp host (who
wasn't there during the two days we camped there).
Seems to me like there is no one viewing
the Hoh Visitor Center and campground from the eyes of a person
with disabilities. All the nature trails should be better
maintained for the heavy use they get. Resting points should
be built for slow walkers to stop, rest, and enjoy the forest.
The Spruce and Hall of Mosses trails may never be ADA accessible,
but a lot could be done to make these power wheelchair and
scooter friendly. If the park is going to keep campground
loops closed they should make sure there are handicap spots
still available.
Fall 2006 - The park's newsletter indicates that the mini trail was repaved. |
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|  Hall
of Mosses Trail (ONP)
Directions:
From Forks, drive south on 101 to
the entrance to Olympic National Park. Follow Hoh River Road for
18 miles to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center and the road's end.
Features:
This 0.8 mile loop trail offers an
introduction to the ecology and plants of the rain forest. The trail
shows the moss-draped maples, magically green in the spring, spectacular
with color in the fall and a treat any time of year. The trail winds
through big leaf Maples, Sitka spruce, 300 year old Cedar trees,
and nurse logs, fallen trees that have become seedbeds for shrubs
and seedlings. Short uneven grades.
| Trip
Notes:
June 2002 - Although they say the trail
is mostly flat after an initial grade, there is a tree root
near the base of this grade that stopped me from even checking
out the trail. What a shame! Do go the first 50 feet though
off the mini trail to view a beautiful bridge and creek at
the base of the hill. |
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|  Spruce
Nature Trail (ONP)
Directions:
From Forks, drive south on 101 to the entrance
to Olympic National Park. Follow Hoh River Road for 18 miles to
the park visitor center and the road's end.
Features:
One of the most popular hikes in Olympic
National Park, the Spruce Nature Trail takes you through impressive
stands of old-growth Sitka spruce, and along the Hoh River. Here
the trail meanders through the forests of red alder and cottonwood,
showing the landscape carved over thousands of years by this glacier-fed
river. Interpretive plaques explaining the ecology of the rainforest
are found along the way.
| Trip
Notes:
June 2002 - Took my scooter on this trail.
ONP does not list this as accessible and sadly it isn't. If
I hadn't been able to get off my scooter with someone helping
me, I would never have made it around this loop. There were
about 8 to 10 barriers on the trail. The rest of it was quite
easily handled by my scooter. There were a couple of short
steeper grades where my scooter popped a circuit breaker and
I had to reset it or get off and walk the scooter a few feet.
I am so glad we took this trail as it is
more beautiful than I remembered. It was my birthday and I
was determined to do this trail even though it was difficult.
It was a terrific birthday present!
ONP could remove the major barriers to allow
this to be accessible to power scooters and wheelchairs. The
worst spot was down by the Hoh River where the end of a bridge
drops off a good 8-10 inches to the trail! I thought about
turning back at that point but we were able to lift the scooter
down over that dropoff. There were some other dropoffs where
the park had placed beams across the trail (to control soil
errosion I think). Most of these were like curbs and my scooter
took them with no problem, but several required me to get
off the scooter. Again, with proper installation and maintenance,
these areas could be handled by scooters or power wheelchairs!
It had been years since I had been on this
trail and I could easily see what a beating this popular trail
has taken over the years - tree roots carved out on the paths
which were not there before. If you try this trail on your
outdoor scooter make sure you have assistance and can get
off and walk. |
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| Rialto Beach
Directions:
From Forks, go North 1 mi on US 101 to SR
110. Follow signs 12 mi to Rialto Beach.
 Features:
A short (.1 mile) paved trail leads from
the parking lot through coastal forest at the picnic area to its
end near the beach. The extent of the beach view depends on the
amount of driftwood and cobbles washed onto the end of the trail.
Winter storms have blocked the end of the trail
in this photo, but you can still see down the beach to Hole in the
Wall.
 Other
Info:
Outstanding views of Pacific Ocean. There is an accessible picnicking
site adjacent to the trail. Dogs are allowed on leash at Rialto
Beach until Ellen Creek (about 1 mile north of the parking lot).
Mora Campground (ONP) is 2 miles east of the beach.
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| Kalaloch Nature Trail
Directions:
From Forks, drive 35 miles south on 101.
Follow signs to campground.
Features:  
Beautiful Olympic National Park campground.
First 1000 ft of Kalaloch Nature Trail at the campground is accessible
with assistance.
Other Info:
Very nice accessible campground (Loops A
and D) with some views of the ocean directly from campsites. Loop
D has paved accessible sites with picnic table extensions. One of
the few ONP campgrounds that supports larger RVs. The trail to the
beach is very steep and often blocked by logs brought in by storms.
Dogs are allowed on leash.
Just south of the campground is the Kalaloch
Lodge. The main lodge, resturant, and one cabin are accessible.
| Trip
Notes:
June 2002 - Camped on Loop D in one of this
loop's three handicap spots. The pull through is on the opposite
side of the road next to the ocean bluff and offers partial
views of the ocean (unless a big rig blocks your view). It
also means your RV door opens to the road. (The location reminds
me of the early days of non-smoking areas in resturants where
they put you in the most undesirable locations. Why don't
they have a least one handicap spot right on the bluff?) The
paved path to the restrooms between the two handicap sites
was no longer accessible due to tree roots unearthing the
asphalt. Another maintenance issue within ONP - I will let
them know. Again, I think their maintenance people should
be put in wheelchairs one day and taken through some training!
I did not take the nature trail which crosses
highway 101 since only the first 1000 feet are accessible
anyway and the road is busy in the summer for crossing. There
is a trail leading from Loop C that takes you to Kalaloch
Lodge. It spits you out on the shoulder of HWY 101 for the
last 100 feet or so. I was not able to ride my scooter clear
to the Lodge as there is a one foot dropoff where the trail
meets the shoulder of the road. VERY FRUSTRATING - one darn
barrier ruined the whole thing for me.
We discovered a new little trail to the
campgrounds ampitheater that was lovely and accessible both
from Loop A and the day use parking area. They only have a
curb cut at the end of the parking area. It would be nice
if they put one right where the trail begins.
The beach is not accessible, but then we
figured as much and I resigned myself to viewing from our
campsite. But even my able-bodied partner had a hard time
going down the access trail on Loop D which is much worse
than several years ago when we were there. Next year this
campground starts taking reservations. Then at least you can
make sure you have a campsite where you can view the ocean
beach from your rig. It would be nice if they would maintain
one beach trail that was easy for slow and disabled walkers
to get down to the beach. |
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| Beach Trail #4 at
Kalaloch (ONP)
Directions:
From Forks, drive 30 miles south on 101.
Follow signs to Beach #4.
Features:
300 ft gravel accessible trail to overlook
for views of the Pacific Ocean. The 1000' gravel trail (with some
steps) to the beach is moderately steep (20% slope in some areas).
Other Info:
The parking area has an accessible vault
toilet. |
| Kestner Homestead and Maple Glade Trails (ONP - Quinault
Ranger Station)
Directions:
From Aberdeen, go North 47 mi on US 101.
Turn right at North Shore Road (past Amanda Park and the high school). Follow North Shore Road 5 mi to Quinault Ranger Station
(ONP).
Features:
Both trails start in the parking lot in front of the ranger station. They are flat, hard-packed dirt trails, which are
accessible with assistance. The 1.5 mile Kestner Homestead Trail can
be looped with the 0.5 mile Maple Glade Rain Forest Trail.
If you choose to start on the Maple Glade Trail, it initially crosses a bridge over Kestner Creek (See photo at right.) and then loops through a lovely forest of moss-covered maple trees mingling with Sitka spruce, Hemlock, and Alder. The Maple Glade trail has interpretive signs (numbers corresponding to those in a self-guided brochure that you can pick up at the start of the trail).
 If you want a longer trail with more variety, start on the Kestner Homestead Trail. The path follows the Kestner Creek and wetland area for awhile, through a rain forest of mossy maples. Although the trail has some hard-packed gravel in it, the path is mostly dirt, and at times offers a rather narrow tread for a wheelchair or scooter. The trail eventually turns left, crossing via a wooden bridge to reveal the wonderful open meadows of the old Kestner Homestead. If you are lucky, you may spot elk grazing in and around these meadows.
Anton Kestner arrived here in 1889 and claimed this land under the Federal Homestead Act. He and his family lived on the North Shore, homesteading the land for many years.
 The trail moves back into the big old maple forest draped with streamers of moss until it meets up with the Maple Glade trail. The sun back lights the drapped moss and leaves of the huge maple trees, bouncing off the forest floor, carpeted with sword ferns. It is a beautiful area and gives you a good sense of the temperate rain forest.
Travelers to the Quinault area recommend going in the wet season to fully experience the rain forest and its vibrant greens. (All these photos were ta ken during the dry month of September, but it was still beautiful and easier for a wheelchair or mobility scooter to go through the forest.)
Other Info:
Take the drive around the South Shore to the Lake Quinault Lodge. It is a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a very popular vacation spot. Even if you are not staying there, go into the Lodge and have lunch or dinner. |
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| Symbols
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An agency or a trip evaluation has rated
all or part of the trail as wheelchair accessible. |
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There is some terrain greater than a 5%
grade. A wheelchair user may require assistance on portions
of this trail. Suitable for power mobility devices. |
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No Dogs are allowed on the trail. |
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