Lake Quinault Lodge Helps Fund National Forest Foundation’s Forest Stewardship Fund Program
Since 2010, Lake Quinault Lodge, managed by Aramark, has raised more than $150,000 for the restoration of popular trails and forest health on the Olympic National Forest. Guests of Lake Quinault Lodge directly funded this program through voluntary contributions of $1/per night to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) Stewardship Fund
Over eight years, the NFF has granted funds to four local nonprofits to support five projects addressing the needs of multiple trails on the Olympic National Forest. The grant recipients also contributed a value of more than $115,000 to these projects through both additional funds they raised and through nearly 5,000 volunteer hours, leveraging the donations of Lodge guests to improve forest health and outdoor experiences on the Olympic National Forest.
“Our long-standing partnership with the National Forest Foundation continues to be one of the best ways we can support the protection and conservation of our beautiful surroundings. With these generous donations the forest can be protected and preserved for generations to come and that is something we are truly proud of and grateful for.”
The NFF is dedicated to on-the-ground conservation work on the Olympic Peninsula and in the Lake Quinault area. Projects involved local youth crews and passionate community members, including 50 youth and a total of almost 90 volunteers, who repaired and maintained nearly 20 miles of trail. These efforts included work on the Falls Creek Loop Trail, West Fork Humptulips Trail, Quinault Lakeshore Trail, Gatton Creek Falls Trail, trails in the Colonel Bob Wilderness, and other priority areas.
This partnership among the NFF, the Forest Service, Lake Quinault Lodge and nonprofit trail organizations provides an integral source of support for community-based stewardship on the Olympic National Forest and illustrates Lake Quinault Lodge’s longstanding commitment to care for the surrounding National Forest. According to NFF President Mary Mitsos, “We are proud to have partnered with one of Washington’s premier lodging destinations for the past eight years. Through this partnership, we have accomplished great work on the Olympic National Forest that would not have been possible without Lake Quinault’s participation and the generosity of its guests.”
Partnership achievements 2010-2018:
- 51 youth employed or engaged
- 88 volunteers and nearly 5,000 hours of work
- 17.75 miles of trail work
- 9 miles of illegal trails obliterated
- 5 acres of recreation-related damage restored
About Lake Quinault Lodge
Built in 1926, the charming Lake Quinault Lodge has long been a gathering place for Pacific Northwest vacationers. The historic lakeside lodge, owned and operated by Aramark, under special permit from the U.S. Forest Service, is located in the heart of one of only three temperate rainforests in the world and offers hiking, biking, fishing, boat rentals and tours of the lake and rainforest. Lake Quinault Lodge is also home to the Roosevelt Dining Room, where Franklin D. Roosevelt dined during a trip that would later result in the area being designated a national park. Learn more at olympicnationalparks.com, on Facebook or (888) 896-3818.
