Words can’t even come close to describing how breathtaking the Quinault area of Olympic National Park is, especially when it comes to the Quinault Rainforest.
I get it. When visiting the park, most people head straight for the popular spots like Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent. But every once in a while, I meet a couple looking for the most off-the-beaten-path experience they can get without having to hike a million miles. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Quinault.
The Quinault area is severely underrated. In fact, I like to call it a mini Olympic National Park. It truly has it all. Temperate rainforests, beaches, lakes, waterfalls, and even the world’s largest Sitka spruce. This area is incredible for elopements. Most of the locations require little to no hiking, the crowds are practically non-existent (especially in the off-season), and you can see a variety of different landscapes throughout the day.
When Nate and Stephanie reached out to me about planning a fall elopement in a forest far from the crowds, I suggested the Quinault Rainforest. After a quick scouting trip, they were completely sold.
Stephanie wore the most incredible green dress, which my photographer heart was obviously ecstatic about. We met up at the trailhead and walked into the rainforest, where Nate and Stephanie exchanged vows alongside custom-built LEGO figures representing their kids and loved ones who could not be there in person.
After a heartfelt ceremony and some portraits in the Quinault Rainforest, we made our way to one of my favorite waterfalls, Merriman Falls. Blink and you might miss it. This waterfall sits just off the side of the road, and while it may look small in photos, it’s awfully mighty in person.
From there, we wrapped up the day at Kalaloch Beach, where Stephanie and Nate shared their first dance as the sun dipped below the horizon.
So take a wild guess. How many people do you think we saw during their Quinault Rainforest elopement day?
Two.
If that sounds like your kind of experience, skip the crowds at the Hoh Rainforest and plan an elopement in the Quinault Rainforest that you will be gushing over for years to come.
Interested in locations similar to this? You might want to check out my guide to Hoh Rainforest elopements. And if you’re planning an elopement anywhere else in the park, my Olympic National Park elopement guide has everything you need to get started.
Mini Quinault Rainforest Elopement Guide
- Best time of year to elope: May-October. I personally love this area in either May when the forest is the most green it will be all year and the summer rush hasn’t hit. Fall is great for weather and crowds.
- Hiking required: Yes. The Quinault Rainforest trail is an easy 0.9 miles roundtrip loop, but you don’t have to hike the entire thing to get an amazing ceremony spot.
- Closest town: Pacific Beach, a 40-minute drive.
- Crowd level: Low to moderate. It’s busy during the summer months but during the off-season, there’s hardly a tourist in sight.
- Pet-friendly: Yes. This entire area is very dog-friendly!
- Permit required: No. The Quinault Rainforest is technically part of the Olympic National Forest so a permit is not needed unless you have over 75 people there.
Quinault Rainforest Elopement Packages
For couples looking for an off-the-beaten-path elopement location in Olympic, or for something similar to the Hoh Rainforest without the crowds, I truly cannot recommend the Quinault Rainforest enough. Walk the trail, visit a waterfall, and end the day on the coast like Stephanie and Nate did. And if you are looking for an elopement photographer to help plan and document the experience, I would love to be part of it.
My name is Brianna, and I am a Pacific Northwest elopement photographer who primarily works in Olympic National Park. Whether you need vendor recommendations, a curated list of hidden gem locations, or help navigating permits and marriage licenses, I am here to guide you through it all. Take a look at my elopement packages below, or head over to my PNW packages page for more details.
- 4 hours – 2 days of elopement coverage anywhere in Olympic National Park
- A personalized elopement planning experience with unlimited assistance
- Personalized elopement location recommendations
- Vendor, lodging, and activity recommendations
- Assistance and information to help you with permits, licenses, etc.
- 90+ page elopement planning guide filled with tips and tricks
- Customized elopement timelines
- Optional complimentary officiant services
- Online gallery with full resolution images and printing rights
- Complimentary album design
- 24-48 hour sneak peeks to share with the world
- Travel fees to anywhere in Washington are already included
- Starting at $6,500
Don’t forget your FREE elopement guide!
An all-in-one planning guide for all things elopements! Whether you’re hoping to hike through the mountains of Washington or sip a margarita on the beaches of California, this comprehensive elopement guide has everything you need to know about how to plan the perfect elopement.
You? You’re the kind of person that gets a lil’ teary eyed looking at an epic view…
That moment when you turn to the person you’re with and ask, “Are you seeing this?” I live for it. Places with trees and mountains and soft breezes that make you say, “I can’t believe this place exists,” I spend pretty much all of my free time searching for and exploring them.
These places have always felt like home to me. And if you’re the kind of person who also feels more at home surrounded by trees than by people? Then we’ll get along really well. The Pacific Northwest is full of secret spots that are too special to share with just anyone. But it would make me happy to share them with you on your wedding day.
If the mountains/beaches/redwood forests are calling your name, go ahead…
(I promise you won’t regret it.)
P.S. I’m Brianna. I’m a Pacific Northwest elopement photographer whose mission is to create custom, one-of-a-kind elopement experiences in the Pacific Northwest that allow couples to fully immerse themselves in the highest levels of excitement and wonder on a day designed exclusively for them.
