Fishing and lumber communities mushroomed and dotted the region. Industry followed homesteading as whites began to tap the area’s natural resources. In the 1820s, white trappers, traders and settlers began to discover the Quinault and other western Washington tribal homelands. The Quinault people remained isolated from European contact until they visited the Spanish vessel Sanora in their canoes on July 13, 1775. Lewis and Clark, on their famed trek to the Pacific Ocean, noted that the craft were “…upward of 50 feet long, and will carry 8,000 to 10,000 pounds’ weight, of from 20 to 30 persons….” The original Quinault flourished with access to good fishing (especially salmon and steelhead), hunting, berry picking and wood gathering. Taholah is the heart of the Quinault Indian Nation. The word Quinault evolved from kwi’nail, the name of the tribe’s largest settlement once situated at present-day Taholah, at the mouth of the Quinault River. Built using western red cedar and Douglas fir, this original homestead boasts several outbuildings and original equipment these early settlers used in their daily lives.The Quinault people reside on a reservation of 189,621 acres in northwestern Grays Harbor County, along Washington’s coast. Visitors can now tour the homestead to learn more about the family and marvel at the beauty of the surrounding area. Kestner Homesteadīuilt in 1891, the Kestner Homestead was the residence of Anton Kestner, his wife, and their seven children for 40 years. The ranger stations have hiking maps available for visitors to take along as they explore the trails. Some standouts include the easy Quinault Rainforest Trail, Maple Glade Nature Trail, and the three-mile loop Gatton Creek Trail. The area near Lake Quinault is home to old-growth forest and an abundance of hiking trails, ranging from a short half-mile loop to treks that span closer to 20 miles - and most of them offer breathtaking views of the lake. There are several waterfalls throughout the rainforest to be explored as well.

Travelers will encounter many hiking trails, campgrounds, and what claims to be the world's largest sitka spruce tree. This scenic, 30-mile drive around Lake Quinault offers an extensive look at the rainforest in western Washington state.

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