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The Last 1-Inch Square in America With No Human-Made Sound Is in This Washington Rainforest


One Square Inch of Silence, Hoh Rainforest

Gordon Hempton designated One Square Inch of Silence on Earth Day, April 22, 2005, as an independent research project to protect natural soundscapes.

Located 3.2 miles from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in Olympic National Park, Washington, this special place is marked by a small red stone on a moss-covered log.

The Acoustic Ecologist Behind the Stone

Gordon Hempton won an Emmy Award for his documentary “Vanishing Dawn Chorus,” which captured the sounds of dawn breaking across different continents.

He calls himself “The Sound Tracker®,” a name he trademarked after decades of recording natural sounds.

Hempton circled the globe three times searching for places free from human-made noise. These journeys led him to start One Square Inch, a non-profit group dedicated to saving natural soundscapes.

What Defines Natural Silence

Hempton defines silence not as an absence of sound but as “the presence of everything.” This means experiencing a place where only natural sounds exist, without human-made noise breaking in.

He describes Earth as a “solar-powered jukebox,” showing how natural energy creates the world’s soundscapes. Bird calls, rushing water, rustling leaves, and animal movements make up this natural symphony.

In 1984, Hempton found 21 places in Washington state with 15-minute periods free from human-made noise. By 2007, only three such places remained.

Today, Hempton thinks fewer than 10 locations in the United States still offer this true natural silence.

Why The Hoh Rain Forest Was Chosen

The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most pristine ecosystems in the lower 48 states. Its healthy environment supports over 1,200 plant species and more than 300 bird species, creating a rich natural soundscape.

Olympic National Park houses more than 70 mammal species and includes 57 miles of coastline, the largest undeveloped coastal stretch in the mainland United States. This wide range of wildlife creates a complex sound environment worth saving.

Unlike many national parks, Olympic has no roads cutting through its wilderness. The lack of internal roadways means fewer vehicles making noise within the park boundaries.

This isolation helps maintain periods of natural quiet, making the Hoh perfect for sound preservation efforts.

The Ancient Forest That Dampens Sound

The quietest groves in the Hoh Rain Forest measure just 27 decibels, as quiet as empty concert halls. This remarkable silence comes from natural sound-absorbing features throughout the forest.

As the largest temperate rainforest in the mainland United States, the Hoh gets between 140-170 inches of yearly rainfall, creating the thick vegetation that soaks up sound.

Massive old-growth Sitka spruce trees reach heights of 300 feet, forming layers of canopy that catch and scatter sound waves. The forest floor, covered with deep moss and ferns, further absorbs sound that would otherwise bounce off harder surfaces.

Big Leaf maple trees draped with hanging moss act as natural sound buffers.

How One Inch Protects Many Miles

Hempton’s protection idea works on a simple principle: if human-made noise can affect many square miles, then protecting one square inch from noise can save the soundscape for miles around it.

When noise breaks in, the organization tracks down the source and sends them a recording of the natural soundscape they disrupted.

Commercial pilot Philip Greenspun confirmed that several airlines voluntarily changed flight paths to avoid creating noise in the protected area.

Hempton also pushes for a single federal law banning aircraft from flying over pristine national parks.

The Journey to Find the Red Stone

Reaching One Square Inch requires a 3.2-mile hike from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center along the Hoh River Trail. The path takes about two hours to walk at a steady pace.

The trail follows the Hoh River, adding flowing water sounds to the mix.

The marker sits above Mt. Tom Creek Meadows.

The journey itself becomes part of the experience as senses tune into natural rhythms. Many visitors report greater awareness of sounds they normally wouldn’t notice as they approach the site.

Visiting One Square Inch of Silence

In 2024, about 460,000 people visited the Hoh District of Olympic National Park, which includes the rainforest and visitor center.

Visitors to One Square Inch are asked to avoid conversations at the site and instead engage in quiet reflection.

Read More from This Brand:

  • If You’re an Introvert, You’re Going to Love the Least-Visited State Park in Washington
  • 8 Mysterious Disappearances in Mount Rainier National Park
  • America’s Only Rainforest Wilderness Hides Ancient Trees, Wild Beaches & Snowy Mountains in Washington

The post The Last 1-Inch Square in America With No Human-Made Sound Is in This Washington Rainforest appeared first on When In Your State.



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