Known as the Valley of the Rain Forest Giants, the Quinault Valley is home to some of the largest trees in the world, with only the sequoias and coastal redwoods of California growing larger. In total, the temperate rain forest of the Quinault Valley is home to six champion trees (the largest of their species) as measured and counted in points by the American Forests Association.
One of these champions is the Quinault Giant Sitka Spruce, and with 883 points it is considered the overall largest* Sitka spruce in the world. Estimated to be roughly 1,000 years old, the tree stands 191 feet tall, 17.7 feet in diameter. It has a total volume of 10,540 cubic feet and an impressive crown spread of 96 feet. The remaining five champion trees include the world’s largest western redcedar, Douglas fir, Alaska (yellow) cedar, western hemlock, and mountain hemlock.
To access the Quinault Giant Sitka Spruce, you’ll only need to walk a short 0.3 miles one-way from South Shore Road on a well-maintained, relatively flat gravel trail.
* With a volume of 11,901 cubic feet, the Queets Spruce in the Olympic National Park is the largest of its species purely based on volume.
According to outdoorproject.com. Source of photo: internet
