A small, rural area next to Olympic National Park
Tucked within the Olympic National Forest, the town of Neilton looks like the set of the “Twilight” series, dense with evergreens in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. It's an area where people can experience a quiet, secluded lifestyle in nature. The community is less than 5 miles from the southern gateway of Olympic National Park, home to over a million acres of Pacific Northwest wilderness. “That’s a very rural area. There're very few houses there, but it’s where you can live off the grid and enjoy knowing all your neighbors,” says Realtor Clinton Potter, who works with Realty ONE Group All Stars and grew up in Grays Harbor County. The population of around 200 people relies on Amanda Park, a town only about 4 miles north, for its public school, grocery store and other necessities.
Olympic National Park adventures
The southern entrance to Olympic National Park is the area’s crown jewel, with natural scenery ranging from rainforests to a glacial-carved valley over Lake Quinault. The Quinault Loop Trail goes through a forest dense with pine trees where hikers encounter scenic waterfalls and views of the lake. Along the Big Spruce Trail is the world's largest Sitka spruce, a tree almost 200 feet tall and about a thousand years old. The July Creek Picnic Area offers picnic benches overlooking the Olympic Mountains above Lake Quinault and a swimming access point where people can wade into cold but clear water. It's also only about 25 miles northeast of the nearest beach on the Pacific Ocean — Mockrocks Beach in Moclips.
Large, wooded lots on U.S. Route 101
Neilton is a tiny community set along U.S. Route 101, a long highway framed by tall evergreens and rolling foothills. Many of the houses are on this main road, although a few side streets have homes. The yards are often spacious, with an acre or more of land. The lots are usually wooded, studded with a few pine trees in front and covered with them out back. The architecture includes ranch-style homes, Cape Cods, split-levels and cottages. Ranch-style homes range from $150,000 to $600,000, while cottages range from $100,000 to $200,000.
Amanda Park restaurants and groceries
As a secluded rural community, Neilton has no retail or restaurants. Residents can drive to Amanda Park to eat at the Quinault Internet Cafe, which serves breakfasts, coffee drinks and adult beverages. At Dino's Pizza and Grill, patrons can order casual fare like burgers and sandwiches in a casual eatery with a pool table. The nearest grocery store is Northshore Grocery, which is also in Amanda Park.
Events and attractions in Amanda Park
Amanda Park Timberland Library is a community resource that hosts events, from Saturday Crafternoons — craft meetups once a month — to meeting Smokey the Bear. At Lake Quinault Museum, visitors can learn about the area's history and view artifacts from local Native American tribes.
Lake Quinault School
Lake Quinault School serves around 200 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It earns a 5 out of 10 on GreatSchools and offers events like a winter sports banquet and a career fair.
A 40-mile commute to Aberdeen
Neilton is a car-dependent community. It's located about 85 miles from Olympia via U.S. Route 101 and about 40 miles from Aberdeen via the same highway. Those who rely on public transit can catch a Grays Harbor Transit bus going up or down Route 50. Harbor Regional Health Emergency Department is 40 miles away in Aberdeen. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the closest international airport, is about 130 miles away.
