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Temperate Rain Forests
The temperate rain forests of Olympic National Park are the remnants of a vast primeval forest .
Guide Sections
Use Temperate Rain Forests's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Temperate Rain Forests Details
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The temperate rain forests of Olympic National Park are the remnants of a vast primeval forest that once stretched from southern Oregon to southern Alaska. Similar forests exist in only a few other places on Earth, including Chile, New Zealand, and southern Australia. Olympic's lush, old-growth rain forests are found in the Quinault, Queets, Hoh, and Bogachiel valleys. The forests are fed by massive amounts of rainfall -- 140 to 167 inches annually -- and sustained by moderate temperatures. Sitka spruce and western hemlock are the most dominant tree species, and many century-old monsters reach heights of more than 200 feet. The jungle-like feel of the forest is created by a variety of mosses, lichens, and ferns growing on the trunks and branches of the trees.