Curated by Mitch Christianson
Arriving at Olympic National Park and Finding Quinault Lake
Yesterday I made the drive from Glacier to an hour outside of Olympic National Park. It was about 7 hours in total, so by the time I got here, I was brain-dead. The first thing I did was look for a good lake to throw my hammock up at. After about 15 minutes, I found Quinault Lake, which also happens to have the world’s largest spruce tree.
As I was walking down the trail, I noticed that it led to a campground with two perfect trees for my hammock. This was one of those bougie rich people campsites, so I was a bit nervous, but I didn’t have any issues. Honestly, I think if you just smile and wave, no one questions you. I set my hammock up in this beautiful spot, cracked a BuzzBall, and took a nap for an hour or two. When I woke up, I saw they had showers, and it had been 4 days since I showered—so I had to take advantage. I cleaned up, hit the road, and headed toward my sleeping spot, ready for the next leg of my Olympic National Park road trip.
RELATED: My Day Hiking Medicine Lake, Astra Falls, and Astra Viewpoint in Glacier National Park
A Detour to Ruby Beach
The next day, I woke up in my car about 45 minutes from the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park. The game plan was to go straight to Hall of Mosses, but as I was driving, I saw a sign that said Ruby Beach. I’d heard about this place online, so I decided to check it out—and I wasn’t disappointed.
Rocks and islands are poking out of the water everywhere, and it felt like a scene straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean. I spotted a big island offshore and just knew there was a way to climb it. After a little exploring, I found a trail that led to the top. It was sketchy for sure, but the view made me feel as free as a bird. Having a young body pays off in these moments, so don’t be afraid to do dumb stuff while you’re young. I did fall into a hole and twist my knee a bit on the way down, but nothing was stopping me from continuing to the Hall of Mosses trail.
Exploring the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest
As I drove deeper into the Hoh Rainforest, the forest grew thicker, greener, and full of ferns—it reminded me of high school classrooms for some reason. I grabbed the first parking spot I saw, about a half mile from the trailhead, and set off.
Fun fact:
Mitch C 2025
The Hoh Rainforest is so wet and lush that entire fallen trees become nurseries—called “nurse logs.” Instead of rotting away, these moss-covered giants sprout new trees right out of their tops, meaning some of the towering evergreens you walk past today are literally growing from the remains of trees that fell centuries ago. 🌲🌧️
I asked a guy my age for directions, but his advice was useless, so I followed a map instead (that’s why I ask old people for directions). Once I made it, Hall of Mosses felt like stepping onto another planet. Giant trees towered overhead, ferns covered the ground, and everything glowed green under a blanket of moss. It honestly reminded me of the Rainforest Café back in the Mall of America. When I finished, I noticed it connected to another trail called Little Spruce, and since I still had energy, I went for it.
Swimming, Laughs, and Random Encounters on Little Spruce Trail
Little Spruce Trail was cool because it ran right alongside the river, and it was a steaming hot day.
I knew I had to get in my undies and go for a swim, but the trail was crowded. So I sat for a bit and cracked a beer, and that’s when two ladies walked up and caught me checking them out. It was time to head out after that one.
I asked a guy nearby if it was safe to swim, and he said no because I might get swept away. But of course, I didn’t listen. I stripped down, jumped in, and immediately got caught by the current. I grabbed onto a tree branch and felt like a miniature man getting blasted by a fan. After drying off, I continued on and found a massive stump with new trees growing out of it—pretty wild. A couple offered to take my picture, and they loved my poses. Definitely worth checking out if you do Hall of Mosses and Little Spruce on the same trip.
Cliff Jumping at Devil’s Punchbowl
After I got back to my car around 3 p.m., I wanted one more adventure before calling it a day.
I opened up AllTrails and found a popular spot called Devil’s Punchbowl in northern Olympic. It took about an hour and a half to get there, and my legs were toast by the time I started hiking.
I heard people yelling in Spanish as I got closer and asked what was going on. One guy showed me a video of his buddy jumping off a 40-foot cliff into the water below. He told me it was 50 feet deep and totally safe, so I figured, why not? Just as I was about to jump, a few women showed up, which gave me the extra motivation I needed. I stripped down, climbed up, yelled something stupid, and launched myself off the cliff. I landed right on my ass—it felt like my butthole turned inside out—but I played it cool.
One of the ladies said, “You sooo brave,” which made it all worth it. I told her, “Who knows when you’ll be back here, so jump while you can,” then hobbled off to lie down and recover.
Sleeping on the Beach and Wrapping Up My Trip
That night, I found an incredible campsite right on the beach. It felt like being in Cast Away—just me, the sand, and the sound of the waves rocking me to sleep. I slept the best I had all trip and made it to 6:30 before my back told me to get up.
Now I’m sitting in my car overlooking the ocean, writing this, with a coffee in hand and the sun starting to rise. Today, I’ll explore a bit more of Olympic National Park before beginning the drive south to Crater Lake National Park.
Final Thoughts:
Olympic National Park blew me away with its variety—lush rainforests, wild beaches, and icy rivers all in one place. If you ever get the chance to road trip through Washington, make Olympic National Park a top priority. From cliff jumping and swimming holes to mossy trails and quiet beaches, it’s a national park that truly feels alive.