Location: Forks
Top Things to do in Forks
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in Forks, United States
Forks is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,558 at the 2010 census. The population was 3,783 at 2016 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. It is named after the forks in the nearby Quillayute, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Sol Duc rivers.
Restaurants in Forks
1. Forks Chamber of Commerce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By Anonymous855 - Trabuco Canyon, California
What a great tour for city dwellers and led by such a fantastic person (47 years in logging). Reservations are necessary and it is only on Wednesday morning during the summer. We learned so much but then, I am a fan of factories & processes. Tip: Children might get restless with the long drives to logging sites and then standing to hear about it once we arrive. Thank you for making this possible!
2. Quileute Indian Reservation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
One of three Native American reservations located on the Olympic Coast.
Reviewed By Wandah F
This trip is something not to miss. If you get up this way. The beautiful scenery is so amazing with a lot of variety. We were a bit disappointed with Forks. We expected more about Twilight, the movie, but the areas around it came through. We had a teen with us who was excited about this area, and wished it had more Twilight stuff. We were so glad we ventured on. The beach was gorgeous. Just so much natural beauty. I will return for sure.
3. Forks Timber Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 90 reviews
Early pioneer history museum with a look into the past, preserved for the future - displayed through an inviting collection of rooms depicting the life and times of early settlers on the West End of the Olympic Peninsula - featuring farming, homesteads, early businesses in Forks, logging, native influence and shipwrecks, Fire equipment and a Lookout Tower - with many photographic displays and narrative.
Reviewed By S M - Portland, Oregon
Forks lies in the heart of the Northwest Coast's timber country. Therefore, it is apropos that they have established a museum to tell the story of this important industry that historically had such a significant effect on the countryside, economy, and culture of this area. Even with two floors of displays, this museum is very small. However, the items on display are packed in tightly, and there is much to see and read. They do a fine job of exhibiting the various tools and other supplies historically used by this industry. They also have a small, but nice exhibit of local Native American artifacts. The environmental effects of logging, especially on a grand scale, are not well covered. The docents on site were friendly and informative. There is no entrance fee, but they'll accept donations.
Next door to the museum is a small gift shop that has a nice selection of "Twilight"-related items.
4. Tree Root Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By DoloresJacoby - West Palm Beach, Florida
We wouldn't have known about this Tree Root Cave except we were told about it by forest rangers that we happened onto at the Kalaloch Camp Ground. From that area you park and walk north 75 yards along the ocean to find the location.
5. Hoh Rain Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The Olympic Coast national park.
Reviewed By Kelleygirl2 - Sarasota, Florida
Before we left for this adventure we had learned about a character named Mick Dodge who lived in the Hoh Rainforest. National Geographic television has a series dedicated to his hermit-like lifestyle in the rainforest that, as part of our research, we watched before coming. It turns out that Mick Dodge actually lives in Huckleberry Lodge when he is not sleeping in the Hoh. Mick built the yurt on the resort property a few years ago and named it Mick Dodge Lodge that Bill now rents out because Mick had left for California for a time. Mick has since returned and now the weathered 65 year old sleeps outside in the Huckleberry Meadow and every morning drives his van into the Hoh.
By 10am we were packed and on our way to explore the Hoh Rainforest. It was 74 degrees in Forks as we drove out of town (as compared to 48 degrees when we woke). Following 101 south we soon made the turn for the Hoh Rainforest onto Upper Hoh Road but it was a long drive in on the slow moving along the Hoh River to the Hoh Rainforest Visitors Center. Only 15 minutes down the road I saw the infamous Mick (Mic) Dodge of National Geographic nature stories, by his van working out in his "H" (Hoh) tree near the memorial to the Russian-American Nikolai Voyage of exploration that Huckleberry Bill had built. We stopped and chatted with Mick about his life in the Hoh and asked some people who joined us to take our picture with him. Mick obliged but required us to take off our shoes for the photo. Total immersion he said. He was full of stories and advice including information about trails and his Forest Immersion experiences. He said to get the book "Women to Recon With" that is about this area. Mic/Mike advised us to take a secret trail to the left before the Hall of Mosses to see a fabulous mountain view. We found no such path and no one, including the rangers, had heard of it. It will remain a secret to us.
Back in the car we traveled through dense rainforests on the edge of the open glacier-fed Hoh River where we spotted a herd of Roosevelt elk sitting in the gravel at the edge of the river. With all the traffic behind me I couldn’t stop the car so we continued on towards the Hoh Visitor Center. We were lucky when we arrived to find a parking space in the over-crowded lot since it appeared to be more crowded than most places we had visited. We learned about the various hikes in the area and that the word “Hoh” is a Native American term meaning “fast moving water” that well describes the Hoh River in the spring. With water still dripping off the trees we hiked and walked along easy paths three quarters of a mile long in the Hall of Mosses stopping often to admire the ghostly clubmosses and epiphytes hanging from boughs in the big leaf maples. I felt like I had landed in a fairy land. Many of these trees are over 200 feet tall including Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir. We had opted out of the Ranger-led hike but it still took us well over an hour to cover the trail. It was yellow jacket season in this area and being allergic to bees I was lucky to escape without using my epipen! Returning to the car we left the way we came in on the Upper Hoh Road towards 101. On the return leg there was enough room to park so we stopped to look at (and photograph) the elk herd lounging at the rivers edge. I was surprised they were still here since they were in the exact spot when we spotted them about an hour and a half earlier.
6. Makah Indian Reservation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
One of three Indian reservations located on the Olympic Coast.
Reviewed By seetheworld010 - minneapolis
Great stop. We enjoyed this corner of WA. Long twisty drive to get here as it is out of the way but so worth the trip. Don't miss the museum. These are kind people and deserve our respect. Glad we went there.
7. Quillayute River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
A scenic river made up of three forks: the Calaway, Soleduck and Bogachiel.
Reviewed By Crewcab - Auburn, Washington
The river is a rather short river as it flows through the Quillayute Indian Reservation. The river itself is made up of 3 larger rivers that flow out of the Olympic Mtns that meet together to form it.
8. John's Beachcombing Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Phishkabob - Detroit
Museum of things John found beachcombing for 40 years. It was quite cool and interesting. He had things I expected like bottles, floats, rocks, shells, beachglass, and also unexpected things like dolls that fell off a freighter and other odd miscellaneous findings. John will happily share his stories of how he found these things or will leave you to look at your own pace. My favorite were the bottles with a "message in a bottle". It was cheap and didn't take long to tour. My only complaint is I wish he was willing to sell some of his cool treasures!
9. Storm King Ranger Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Ranger station midway between Route 101 and Lake Crescent.
Reviewed By Natalie S - Roswell, Georgia
Free parking, restrooms and information near a trail head into the rain forest. It gets more and more lush as you hike in towards a nice waterfall. (Marymere Falls) Easy hike with a well kept trail, about 1.5 miles round trip. Gorgeously lush, with great lighting in the mid-late afternoon.
If you're crunched for time and trying to fit Olympic Park and the Hoh in one day, consider this as a good alternative that will save you 100 miles or so.
10. Barnes Creek
Overall Ratings
5 based on 9 reviews
Peaceful creek originating in Happy Lake Ridge and flowing into Lake Crescent.
Reviewed By Angeles - Burien, Washington
Most of this trail has been closed for several years as a result of a bridge washing out. The bridge has been repaired and the scenery is awesome. Lots of moss and ferns. Really big trees. Lots of water. A wonderful rain forest experience.
Begin hike at Storm King Ranger Station on Lake Crescent. Not super hard but not easy either.
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