Quinault Big Cedar Trail, Lake Quinault, Washington
2013.09.08
Our last trek at the lake was the Quinault Big Cedar Trail. The trail only ventures 2/10ths of a mile from the road, but it climbs 80 feet in steep, uneven, winding steps and over gnarly roots. You could easily twist an ankle here, especially in wet, muddy conditions. Proper trail shoes are highly recommended.
The tree is the largest known Western Redcedar by volume, at 17,650 cubic feet. Despite the title, it is mostly dead. The hollow inside is large enough for three or four people, and the bark is gone, leaving the wood that familiar silvery gray. One windy day it will come crashing down. Easy to overlook, the trail continues past the tree perhaps another twenty feet or so to a small platform where you can turn around and get a slightly better view of the top.
Lake Quinault VI