This area consists of the west face of Quinault Ridge where elevations range from 300 feet near the south shore of Lake Quinault to nearly 3,100 feet at high points on the ridgeline.  Convex ridge tops with moderately dissected side slopes characterize the topography.  Stands of large old-growth, which consist of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, and Sitka spruce, occur on the lower slopes.  Higher elevations are forested with stands of Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock.  Major uses of this unroaded area include hiking and nature study as well as viewing outstanding scenery.

The Olympic National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1990) allocates most of the unroaded area to unroaded recreation uses; the remainder is managed for scenic values.  The area also includes the 1,500-acre Quinault Research Natural Area, a stand of undisturbed Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce old-growth.  The entire unroaded area is classified as Late-Successional Reserve under the Northwest Forest Plan (1994).