The city of Forks can be found in Washington and is surrounded by several rivers and scenic beauty that contrasts with its otherwise dreary feel. Incorporated in 1945, its economy was boosted by the local timber industry for many years, documented in the city’s Timber Museum. Also known as the ‘Logging Capital of the World‘, today Forks is a base for sport fishers and those en route to the Olympic National Park.
The Forks area is well-known for its abundant winter rainfall and warm and sunny summers. Its nearby rushing rivers provide sport fishers with the peninsula’s best salmon and steelhead runs, while a stone’s throw away from the town, there are pristine Pacific beaches, ancient temperate rain forests, sparkling lakes and majestic mountain glaciers. Various wilderness trails invite nature lovers to explore this outstanding scenery.
An entirely different attraction can be seen in Forks’ Tillicum Park; the display of one of the very few Shay locomotives remaining in Washington. If you need a further incentive to visit, the Timber Museum presents a fascinating insight into the history of the local timber industry dating back to the 1870s. Forks also hosts a number of amusing events including the Rainfest (April), Old Fashioned Fourth of July festivity as well as the Last Chance Fishing Derby (September) to name a few.
Highlights
Forks Timber Museum: constructed in 1990, the 3,200 square foot building is an eye-opener; showcasing tools and even a bunkhouse from the loggers of the past.
Tillicum Park: built in 1930, a rare Shay locomotive, complete with three trucks, is on display here.
Hoh Rain Forest: three nature walks are suitable for the whole family created amidst 300-feet high trees, while more adventurous hikers can spend the weekend on the hillsides of Mount Olympus or along the Hoh River.
Olympic National Forest: nature lovers will find rain forest valleys, Pacific Ocean beaches, glacier-capped peaks and a spectacular variety of animals and plants in this region.
Outdoor activities: Forks’ picturesque surroundings provide vacationers with a wide range of leisure activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, river rafting, fishing, beachcombing, claming and whale watching.