If you think trees are just tall plants with leaves, get ready to have your mind totally blown.
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is home to some of the wildest, weirdest, and most jaw-droppingly huge trees you’ll ever see.
We’re talking moss-covered giants, trees growing sideways over cliffs, and old-timers that have been standing for over a thousand years.
This road trip is all about seeking out the most famous trees in the area, from rainforest trails to roadside legends.
Let’s hit the road as there’s a forest full of tree celebrities waiting for you.
1. Ancient Groves Trail, Port Angeles
Ancient Groves Trail is a short but magical 0.6-mile loop located off Highway 101 near Sol Duc Road, just under an hour from Port Angeles in Olympic National Park.
This trail winds through a rainforest full of giant old-growth trees, including towering Sitka spruces and red cedars that are over 500 years old and dripping with green moss.
You’ll walk over wooden boardwalks, pass a small creek, and feel like you just stepped into a real-life fairy forest.
2. Hall of Mosses Trail, Forks
Just down the road in Forks, the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rain Forest is where things get seriously wild.
This 0.8-mile loop feels like walking through a green explosion, with thick carpets of moss hanging off ancient bigleaf maples and towering conifers, some over 200 feet tall.
Every inch of this place is soaked in moisture and magic, and there’s even a spot where you can see elk tracks in the mud if you’re lucky (yep, they hang out here too).
3. Duncan Memorial Cedar Tree, Forks
And if you’re into trees that are straight-up massive, the Duncan Memorial Cedar Tree is a must-see.
Located just outside Forks off Highway 101 on the way to the Hoh Rain Forest, this western red cedar is one of the largest in the world at around 178 feet tall and 19.4 feet wide.
It’s not a hike, just a super short path from the parking pullout, and when you stand at the base looking up, it feels like staring at a green skyscraper built by nature.
4. Big Cedar Tree, Kalaloch
And if you’re looking for more big tree action, head over to the Big Cedar Tree near Kalaloch.
This beast of a tree is about 174 feet tall and over 1,000 years old, and even though a storm snapped part of it back in 2014, the trunk is still unbelievably huge and totally worth the stop.
You’ll find it off a short detour from Highway 101 down Big Cedar Tree Road.
It’s not a long hike, but more of a quick wander through the forest to meet one of the peninsula’s oldest giants.
5. Tree of Life, Kalaloch Beach
Then there’s the Tree of Life at Kalaloch Beach, and honestly, it’s one of nature’s biggest mysteries.
This wild-looking Sitka spruce is somehow still alive, even though its roots are totally exposed and hanging in mid-air over a gaping hole in the cliff.
You’ll find it just a short walk from the Kalaloch Campground so there’s no hike required.
You can literally stroll up, snap a photo, and try to figure out how this tree is still standing (spoiler: no one really knows).
6. Spruce Burl Trail, Kalaloch
Just up the road from the Tree of Life is the super unique Spruce Burl Trail, and it’s basically a trail filled with the weirdest shaped trees you’ve ever seen.
This super short 0.3-mile loop near the South Beach Campground is packed with Sitka spruces that have massive burls which are basically knobby growths.
It’s flat, fast, and full of interesting photo ops, so even if you’re not a tree person, you’ll be impressed at how strange and cool these look in real life.
7. World’s Largest Sitka Spruce, Quinault Rainforest
If you’re searching for the biggest and the best then the World’s Largest Sitka Spruce in the Quinault Rainforest is the crown jewel.
This tree towers at 191 feet tall, has a 58-foot circumference, and is estimated to be over 1,000 years old which means it was already ancient when Columbus was still asking for ships.
It’s just a quick 0.3-mile walk from South Shore Road near Lake Quinault Lodge, and standing next to it kinda feels like meeting a celebrity.
8. Maple Glade Nature Trail, Quinault Rainforest
Just a few minutes down the road, the Maple Glade Nature Trail brings you back to the rainforest with a soft, mossy atmosphere.
This 0.5-mile loop winds through a dreamy grove of vine maples, where nearly every branch is wrapped in velvety green moss and everything feels quiet and otherworldly.
The trail is flat and easy, starting right behind the Quinault Ranger Station, and it’s a total must if you’re into peaceful walks with tons of stunning scenery.
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