Forks Washington

The town of Forks Washington (State) is an ideal staging town, setting you up for days of exploring the western side of the Olympic Peninsula, including beaches, temperate rain forest, majestic mountain ranges, not to mention activities like hiking, kayaking and fishing.

It is also the setting for the Twilight Saga, a series of 4 vampire novels written by Stephenie Meyer and published in 2005.

About Forks Washington

Forks is a small town of roughly 3,700 people in the heart of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula temperate rain forest. It is located in a prairie but surrounded by dense forests.

Three rivers converge nearby: the Bogachiel River, Calawah River, and Sol Duc River, hence the name "Forks." Its original name was Forks Prairie, a nod to both the prairie in which it was located, and the nearby confluences of these several large rivers.

Forks is also the main center of commerce throughout the entire west end of Clallam County, which comprises most of the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. From Aberdeen to the south, and Port Angeles to the north, you'll find precious little along the highway other than trees, trees, and trees. And the town of Forks.

Forks Washington Map

Forks Washington is located 56.3 miles (90.6 km) to the west and south of Port Angeles.

But, if Port Angeles is not your starting point, then:

• Sequim WA is 73 miles (117 km) northeast of Forks. Expect a 1.5 hours drive.
• Port Townsend WA is 103 miles (166 km) northeast. Expect 2 hour 11 minute drive.
• Aberdeen WA is 107 miles (173 km) to the south. The drive should take about 2 hours.
• From Olympia WA, expect an almost 3 hour drive to cover the 152 miles (245 km).

Forks Activities

Forks is a working town. But given that it is situated in close proximity to many activities both to the north and the south, Forks Washington makes a great home base for vacationing in the western areas of the Olympic Peninsula. Just be sure to allow enough time to see and do all that you desire.

People love to visit Forks for many reasons. Besides the Olympic National Park beaches, perhaps the other greatest draw is the sheer beauty of the primordial temperate rain forest. Come for the beauty, but while you're here, there is much to see and do.

Sporting:

• Hike through God's country, whether forest, beaches, or mountain peaks
• Kayak the sea, river, or estuary
• Tour via bicycle
• Back-country, kayaking, rafting and cycling tours are all available
• Fishing guides can accommodate both expert and novice fishermen

Scenic Beauty:

• Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest
• Beaches and shorelines

Twilight Saga Tours:

• Re-visit the Twilight drama by touring the places and re-living the (fictional) events
• 2-3 hour, and half-day tours are available

Click here for more information about the various Forks attractions.

Forks Weather

The weather in Forks is --- typically rainy!

No surprise there. Forks Washington is in the middle of a rain forest, receiving on average 100 inches of rain every year. However, the summer months are much less likely to be rainy.

The dynamics of the Olympic rain shadow that keep Sequim and Port Townsend dry are the same dynamics that result in copious rainfall over Forks, and the Queets, Quinault, and Hoh rain forests. 

See Forks Weather for more info and the current forecast.

Whether or not you check the weather before traveling to Forks, don't forget an umbrella or other rain gear. Just in case!

Take a peak into today's weather via several webcams here.

Forks Washington History

Forks' history begins during the 1850's, as both trappers and settlers trickled into what is now the west end of Clallam County, WA.

Farming and hops were the primary interests in the early days. That changed as logistics proved to be too difficult for product marketing. With no roads other than muddy trails and reliance on infrequent stops by supply boats, the settlers turned first to dairy cattle, and then to timber as a source of income.

As infrastructure improved, so did their marketing efforts. The timber industry peaked in the mid-1970s, and then got a punch in the gut from recession, mechanization, movement of operations overseas, and especially from environmental legislation severely limiting logging due to the northern spotted owl.

Today, timber logging continues on a much reduced scale. The Forks population, which took a nosedive in the 1990's, has risen and has been slowly growing. People now find work in other segments of society, including education, health, and environmental fields such as salmon and forestry.

Visit the fascinating Forks Timber Museum for a taste of Forks history.

Additionally, the Forks Chamber of Commerce offers tours of a local Forks lumber mill. The fee is low. Allow around 3 hours for the tour.

For Forks WA history in greater detail, click here.

Twilight Saga and Tourism in Forks WA Today

The publication of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga in 2005, set in the rain forest town of Forks, has brought tourism to the area.

Forks may be the timber capital of the world, but for the last decade it has also been the setting of imagined battles between werewolves and vampires, along with a very sweet love story between Bella, a human, and Edward, an immortal vampire.

In fact, houses and locations throughout the region have been identified which could easily represent the places and events in the various Twilight Saga books.

Come and take the tour for yourself, or simply enjoy your own visit to the beautiful region surrounding Forks Washington.

For more information about Forks, see the Forks Chamber of Commerce website, or the City of Forks website.

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