Forks, Washington, is a small town of around 3,500 people located on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula. Known for its stunning natural beauty, historic logging roots, and its connection to the Twilight book series. Situated in a lush, temperate rain forest, Forks is surrounded by towering trees, rivers, and the rugged Pacific coastline, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and fans of the Twilight saga. The economy of Forks has evolved from a reliance on the timber industry to a more diversified base, with tourism playing a significant role today, thanks to Twilight. Visitors flock to Forks for both the outdoors and the chance to see places associated with the popular book series. The local economy also depends on fishing, logging, and other small industries that support the town and its surrounding rural areas. The Forks Timber Museum and the Forever Twilight Collection are important local attractions.

Forever Twilight Museum

The Forever Twilight museum celebrates the Twilight phenomenon and the connection between the series and the town, which became a key location in the fictional world of vampires, werewolves, and humans. The museum houses a variety of memorabilia related to the Twilight saga, including movie props, costumes, photos, and exhibits that chronicle the impact of the books and films on the town of Forks and the surrounding region. Fans of the series can explore displays featuring beloved characters like Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, and others. The museum also offers insights into how the Twilight franchise has influenced the local economy and tourism.

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is a picturesque and dramatic stretch of coastline located in the Olympic National Park. Known for its stunning beauty, Ruby Beach features striking rock formations, tide pools, and lush, moss-covered driftwood scattered along the shore. The beach is named after the reddish-hued pebbles and rocks found on its shoreline, which can appear ruby-like in certain lighting.

Hoh Rain Forest

The Hoh Rain Forest not far from Ruby Beach is renowned for its lush, green environment, characterized by towering trees, thick moss, and abundant rainfall. This temperate rainforest is often considered one of the best examples of an old-growth rainforest in the United States. The Hoh Rain Forest receives an average of 140 to 170 inches of rain annually, creating a unique ecosystem filled with diverse plant and animal life. The forest is dominated by sitka spruce and western hemlock trees, some of which are hundreds of years old. The trees are draped in vibrant green mosses and lichens, adding to the magical and otherworldly atmosphere of the area. Ferns and other understory plants thrive in the humid conditions. The area is also a haven for wildlife, with species such as elk, black bears, deer, and a wide variety of birds inhabiting the forest. The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most pristine and beautiful rainforests in the world.

Hoh Rain Forest is part of the Olympic National Park and is such an amazing experience. We enjoyed hiking all the trails and still talk about the beauty we saw there. Definitely a very unique and bucket list experience for us!

Park Review – Gilgal Oasis RV Park

Rating: ⭐⭐1/2
Location: Forks, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads are dirt/gravel and the pads are grass. Each site had a picnic table and a fire pit.
Access: Along US-101 in Forks.
Staff: We had minimal interaction but the person who checked us in was professional.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon achieved about 6.5 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps down on 4G LTE service. The park did not have WiFi. Starlink was unobstructed and had decent speeds. This is the first place we have been that it aligned to the west rather than north.
Restaurants: There aren’t a lot of options but we tried the Longhouse Cafe which featured Native American foods. We weren’t too impressed.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: Close to several local attractions including the film location for the Twilight series, the Hoh Rain Forrest, Rialto Beach, Kalaloch Beach and Ruby Beach.
What we didn’t like: It stays very rainy here and the park was mostly dirt so it was quite muddy in spots.
Verdict: We would stay here again if in the area as there are very few options.