Did You Know Washington Is Home to the Quietest Place in America?

From Hell's Canyon to the ghost forests of Copalis, the Evergreen State contains places of spectacular and utterly unique beauty. However, there's a natural wonder in Washington that I bet you've never heard of. Scientists say that the emerald-green Olympic Peninsula rainforest may contain the quietest place in the U.S. In fact, it's so quiet here, you may just be able to hear yourself breathe, hear your own heartbeat, and hear subtle forest sounds.

Where is the Quietest Place in the U.S.?

If you were going to find the country's quietest place, it would make sense to find it in the Peninsula's Hoh Rain Forest. This iconic Washington spot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of just a few places worldwide where high precipitation coexists with a temperate climate. Paradoxically, however, this otherworldly beauty attracts bevies of tourists—around three million annually. These visitors bring noise, which can impact the fragile habitat.

The mission to find America's quietest places arose through the conservation work of Emmy Award-winning acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton. Called "One Square Inch of Silence," his project uses decibel readings to identify areas with practically zero noise pollution.

Hempton hopes that identifying the country's quietest places will help people see quiet as a natural resource worth protecting. The same hopes informed the creation of America's national parks, where the public was encouraged to appreciate nature for its beauty, not just its utility. In the Hoh Rain Forest, this quiet spot is left intentionally nondescript, only marked by a small, red pebble.

How Can I Reach the Quietest Place in the U.S.?

You can experience this quiet area in the U.S. by hiking approximately 3.2 miles along the Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park. In its entirety, the Hoh River Trail is approximately 17.5 miles and takes you through all types of ecosystems, from the rainforest and meadows to mountain forests. It’s fairly easy at first, but then this Washington hike becomes quite steep. Fortunately, if you simply want to visit this small, peaceful spot in the Hoh Rain Forest, you just need to hike the shorter distance and can then turn around.

What It Feels Like to Walk Through This Silent Forest

Silence may be intangible, but its disappearance has very real effects on people and the environment. Drawing visitors' attention to this tranquil spot encourages hikers to make less noise, reducing their impact on the surrounding habitat.

Of course, even if tourists are quiet, there's still a lot to hear in the Olympic National Park. This is a key feature of the One Square Inch project. By reducing anthropogenic noise, hikers can experience the sounds of water, wind, and wildlife, all of which are proven to improve human health.

There are only 11 similar "quiet zones" in the United States, and the Hoh Rain Forest's One Square Inch is the quietest of them all. But this peace requires protection. Though most visitors respect the project's mission, some don't. Despite protests, the US Navy conducts training in the airspace above. Keeping this place and others like it free of noise pollution will require continued effort from those who believe quiet is worth fighting for.

Best Times to Experience the Quiet

If you wish to experience the quiet of the area, it is recommended to avoid visiting during peak times, such as summer, weekends, holidays, etc. The best time to visit this remarkable area in Washington is early mornings or evenings. Additionally, days that are chilly or overcast tend to discourage many hikers, reducing the chance of meeting crowds on the Hoh River Trail.

One Square Inch of Silence is a natural wonder in Washington that deserves more attention. I recommend visiting it yourself! All you need is a pair of hiking shoes and an appreciation for nature's solitude.