Forks is a city in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington in the Pacific Northwest of the United States of America. Well-known due to the Twilight saga hype, this little charming town of 3,300 people (2020) serves primarily as a transit point for visitors further exploring the beaches and mountains on the Olympic National Park, while the city has a number of attractions related to the movie that are worth seeing.
Due to its distance, attractions in the Quillayute area, including La Push, are included here.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]The main route that goes through the town is U.S. 101. Forks is about 77 miles (124 km) (roughly 90 minutes) west of Port Angeles, 2 hours north of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and at least 4 hours from Seattle.
By bus
[edit]The 1 Forks (bus) Transit Center for Clallam Transit and Jefferson Transit is located along Hwy 101 (Forks Ave locally) at 551 S Forks Avenue on the corner of Forks Ave and "E" Street, south of the high school. Buses travel more or less along US Hwy 101 and do not go into the Olympic National Park itself, Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center or the Olympic National Forest. They can only drop off along the road, and you have to hike into the park:
- Clallam Transit operates service Mondays to Saturdays:
- Route 14 To Port Angeles
- Route 15 Thrice daily service (M-Sa) to La Push
- Route 16 To Neah Bay via Sappho, Clallam Bay
- Route 17 Forks Shuttle, local service around town.
- Jefferson Transit-Olympic Connection travels along Hwy 101 between Forks and Amanda Mercantile at Amanda Park on Mondays through Saturdays. Connection with Grays Harbor Transit Rt #50 to Hoquiam & Aberdeen from Amanda Park (Mercantile). There are no east-west roads across Jefferson County (Olympics Mountains) between the US Hwy 101 corridor and Port Townsend (major city and county seat of Jefferson County) without going all the around through Port Angeles. Passengers can also transfer buses in Aberdeen to continue further south along the coast or east towards Olympia and Shelton.
- Rocket Transportation, toll-free: +1-877-697-6258. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Door to door service in the Olympic Peninsula (Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks) from Sea-Tac $66-150 one way, 30% discount for additional persons with one full fare passenger.
By plane
[edit]The Forks Airport (FAA LID: S18) (for general aviation only) is 1-mile (1.6 km) south of the city. While there is no commercial air traffic, the airport has a lot of general aviation traffic every day. An alternative is Quillayute Airport FAA LID: UIL, 10 mi (16 km), 20 minutes to the west of Forks, which has quieter traffic but a longer runway. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA IATA), the nearest commercial airport to Forks, is 4 hours away.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Forks
By car
[edit]The local roads are designed more or less around a grid system, where most roads are numbered based on their distance from the city center. Addresses also conform to the numbering of the roads around them. Nearly all streets run with the compass directions. Forks Ave (US-Hwy 101) divides east from west while Division St divides north from south.
By bus
[edit]The town of Forks is compact and can be easily covered on foot. Clallam Transit Route 17[dead link] runs a loop around the town.
See
[edit]
Forks is the key setting of the Twilight series by the author Stephenie Meyer and houses several sites featured in the novels and films.
- 1 Forks Chamber of Commerce, 1411 S Forks Ave (Outside Forks Airport), toll-free: +1-800-443-6757. Summer: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. The tourist center to Forks, visitors can pick up guides here for lodging, shopping, activities and dining. There are logging tours each Wednesday at 9AM that last three hours. Outside the Chamber of Commerce is a replica of "Bella's Truck" from Twilight. Free.
- 1 Forks High School, 191 S Spartans Ave (at junction with C), ☏ +1 360-374-6262. While not open to the public, the school is the setting for Bella and Edward's school in Twilight. The school sign was replicated for the movie and is popular with visitors for photos. Filming of the school took place at Kalama High School in Kalama, WA for the exterior scenes while some of the interior shots like the cafeteria was filmed at Madison High School in Portland. In New Moon (2009) the school scenes were filmed at David Thompson Secondary School in Vancouver, BC. Other interior scenes of the high school were also filmed in Saint Helens, Oregon and Pasadena, California too.
- 2 Forks Community Hospital, 530 Bogachiel Way (At junction with 5th), ☏ +1 360-374-6271. The workplace of Edward Cullen's father in the Twilight series, there is a reserved spot in the parking lot for Dr Cullens. The filming scenes for the emergency room, hallway outside of emergency, and later when Bella is actually in a hospital room was filmed at Vibra Specialty Hospital in Portland. Interior access to either Forks Community Hospital or Vibra is limited.
- 3 Forks City Police Department, 500 E Division St (At junction with Camas). This is the setting in Twilight for the workplace of Bella's father Charlie Swan. The filming location for the police station is at the Wauna Credit Union Building (1010 Bridge St) in Vernonia, Oregon.
- 4 Cullen House (Miller Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast), 654 E Division St (Just past Forks City Hall), ☏ +1 360-374-6806. 10AM - 4PM. Similar to the written description offered by author Stephenie Meyer in her first "Twilight" book (page 321), the house is nearly "a hundred years old... painted a soft, faded white, three stories tall", with a "porch... wrapped around the first story". The public is welcome on the front porch for a free view of the note left by Esme. Inside photo opportunities of the graduation caps and Carlisle's Office are available for $3 per person. In the movie the Cullen House was exaggerated in a private residence in Portland (3333 NW Quimby) while in New Moon the Cullen House is in another private residence in West Vancouver BC (118 Stevens Dr). (The filming locations are in privates residences. Please respect the privacy of the occupants).
- 5 Swan House, 775 'K' St. Bella & her father Charlie Swan are described to live here in the novel. Bella's house in Forks is a private residence and offer no public tour inside. It can only be seen from the outside. The filming location for the Swans House in 2008 was filmed in Saint Helens, Oregon; 30 miles (48 km) north of Portland at 184 S 6th St. The "Swan House" in St Helens is available for rent to travelers on a short term basis on Air BnB. In New Moon (2009) the Swan House was recreated on a vacant lot in Surrey, BC which was torn down after filming.
- Forever Twilight in Forks, 11 N Forks Ave. Winter: F Sa noon – 4PM (last entry at 3:30PM) Summer: Th-M noon – 4PM (last entry 3:30PM). A small museum featuring props from the Twilight saga and fan-made items. Free (donations appreciated).
- 6 Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S Forks Ave, ☏ +1 360-374-9663. May-Sep: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM; Oct-Apr: M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Before Forks was known for Twilight, it has been a sleepy town known for its timber and farming industry. Here you can see the machines used for the process up close. $3, free for 12 and under.
Do
[edit]Forks acts as the transit point for travelers exploring Olympic National Park, especially the Hoh Rainforest area, the Pacific beaches, and Lake Ozette. If you wish, you can visit all of them in a single day!
Within Olympic National Park
[edit]- 1 Rialto Beach, Pacific Ocean Wild Beach (14 miles (23 km) E on HWY 110 then Mora Rd). An iconic beach, part of the Olympic National Park. Lines of sprawling sea stacks. The lines of sand has an access to Little James Island and has a view of the La Push Marina.
- 2 Second Beach, Pacific Ocean (Accessible via the Second Beach Trail from La Push). Fabulous 1.5-mile (2.4 km) walk on a safe easy path through beautiful tall trees to Tealwhit Point. Breathtaking! Great beach, tide pools and driftwood. Mystical.
- Third Beach, Pacific Ocean (access from trailhead at La Push Rd, noticeable from pullover area). A quieter beach accessible after a 1.5-mile (2.4 km)-hike. No seastacks but wide enough to spend the night camping here or another few miles away following the track.
Others
[edit]- Elk Creek Conservation Area, 2156-2290 Calawah Way, ☏ +1 360-417-1815. A 3-mile (4.8 km) hiking trail near the town.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Forks Outfitters, 950 S Forks Ave, ☏ +1 360-374-6161. Daily 8AM-9PM. The only grocery store in the city, cheaper wine but equivalent quality to big chains. Also houses an Ace Hardware and sporting goods.
- Native to Twilight, 10 N Forks Ave, ☏ +1 360-374-2111. Su-Th 9:30AM-7PM, F Sa 9:30AM-7:30PM. Local art & craft and souvenirs from Forks, including thematic items related to the Twilight saga.
Eat
[edit]- 1 South North Gardens, 140 Sol Duc Way, ☏ +1 360-374-9779. Tu-Th 11AM-9PM, F 11AM-10PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM. Decent Chinese food option in this small city. Offers both family and individual combos, and a wide array of both meat-based and vegetarian-based main courses. Popular as a to-go option. Up to $11.
- In Place, 320 S Forks Ave, Forks, ☏ +1 360-374 4004. Daily 6AM-6PM. Diner style restaurant that also offers assorted breakfast plates, burgers and sandwiches. From $7.
- Pacific Pizza, 870 S Forks Ave, Forks, ☏ +1 360-374-2626. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. Provides not only pizza, but also sandwiches and pasta, including its special black angus beef tips. Pizza from $8, mains from $10.
- Taqueria Santa Ana, 193161 US-101, ☏ +1 360-374-8606. Tu-Su 10AM-9PM. Although the restaurant seems small from the outside and only has a one page menu of food, tourists and locals flock here for warm Mexican food with local ingredients. Unlimited salsa. From $8.
- Sully's Burgers, 220 N Forks Ave, ☏ +1 360-374-5075. M-Sa 11AM-8PM. A small restaurant with extensive choices of burgers. Gluten free options available. Burger from $3.50.
- D&K BBQ, 275 N Forks Ave, ☏ +1 210-683-5357. F-Tu noon-7:30PM. A small shack serving Southern Texas style hardwood smoked barbecue. To-go only. Combos from $12, meat from $5 per 1/4 lbs.
Drink
[edit]- Westend Taproom Tip and Sip, 70 A St SW, ☏ +1 360-374-7410. Th 3-8PM, F 3-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su-M 3-7PM. A small bar featuring tap beer or flights. Also sells sandwiches if you crave for something more substantial. Beers $2-6, Sandwiches $9.
Sleep
[edit]In addition to the usual bed & breakfast and motels, vacation homes are also up for grabs in the summer, perfect for groups. Campgrounds, especially in the Olympic National Park grounds, are ubiquitous.
Bed and breakfast
[edit]- 1 Miller Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast, 654 East Division St (6 1/2 blocks east of Forks' only Hwy 101 stoplight), toll-free: +1-800-943-6563. Check-in: 4:30-7:30PM, check-out: 11AM. Historic 1916 farm house with 8 guest rooms, all with private baths and TV/DVDs. Two rooms have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, while the Orchard Suite also features a small kitchen. The inn plays the part of the Twilight Series' Cullen House, which however looks nothing like the Hollywood version, which is located in Portland, OR. Hearty breakfasts, soft drinks, cookies, wireless internet and parking included. $115-$235.
- 2 Misty Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast, 194894 Highway 101 N (2 miles (3.2 km) north of Forks on Hwy 101), ☏ +1 360-374-9389. Check-in: 4:30-10PM, check-out: noon. A stone and cedar home nestled on a ridge in the rain forest overlooking the Sol Duc River Valley. Antique furniture and collectibles are set off by the hand rubbed natural woods, rock work and unusual lighting. Guests can select their own menus and meal times, in addition to a wake-up call. All rooms have private baths. The gardens feature plants accented with seasonal flowering perennials and annuals, with an adjacent outdoor spa. A dessert and beverage bar is available to guests in the afternoon into the evening. $85-170.
Motels
[edit]- 3 Forks Motel, 351 S Forks Ave, ☏ +1 360-374-6243, toll-free: +1-800-544-3416. Check-in: 3-10PM, check-out: 11AM. A large motel at the heart of the town. Old interior. Ample outdoor area for BBQ and a swimming pool. Winter from $65, Summer from $90.
- 4 Pacific Inn Motel, 352 S Forks Ave, ☏ +1 360-374-9400. Check-in: 3PM, obtain key after office closes at 10PM, check-out: noon. A small motel at the heart of the town, across the Forks Motel. All rooms have air-conditioning. A few rooms are Twilight-themed, with black and red interior, even into the towels. Spotty Wi-Fi. In-house self laundromat available. Winter from $70, Summer from $105.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- Visitors following the Twilight series (the written novel) usually combine their tours with a visit to La Push, the home of the Quileute Tribe in the stories. It is 14 miles (23 km) west of Forks along Route 110, and is also accessible by Clallam Transit Route 15, which runs three daily services on weekdays (leaving Forks 7:20AM, 11:05AM and 3:35PM) and two on Saturdays (leaving Forks 9:20AM and 4:50PM).
- Port Angeles is the largest city in the Olympic Peninsula, just an hour drive away northbound on Highway 101. Some parts of the Twilight story was also set in Port Angeles.
- Queets is a small town about 40 miles (64 km) south of Forks along Route 101. On the way you'll pass through Kalaloch campground, with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. There are many places to camp here, as well as cabins. Queets features a "general store" and a small village on the border of the Quinault Indian Nation.
- Hoh Rainforest is a the major temperate rainforest in North America and is part of Olympic National Park. The entrance into the park is 18 mi (29 km) south of town along US Hwy 101 and it is another 13 mi (21 km) to the visitors center from the main highway.
- Actual filming of Twilight (2008) took a place in Portland while Twilight: New Moon (2009) was filmed in Vancouver, BC. Other locations in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington state were also used to depict the settings of the story in both films. Later scenes for Volterra in New Moon were filmed in Montepulciano, Italy.
| Routes through Forks |
| Aberdeen ← Hoquiam ← | S  E
|
→ Lake Crescent/Marymere Falls → Port Angeles |
| La Push ← Second Beach ← | W  E
|
→ ENDS at 
|