Welcome to One Square Inch A Sanctuary of silence at Olympic National Park
One Square Inch of Silence is very possibly the quietest place in the United States. It is an independent research project located in the Hoh Rain Forest of Olympic National Park, which is one of the most pristine, untouched, and ecologically diverse environments in the United States.
Where is One Square Inch of Silence?
One Square Inch of Silence is a real place, once arguably the quietest place in the United States. It is the birthplace of quiet conservation. Located in the Hoh Rain Forest at Olympic National Park, it is 3.2 miles from the Visitor’s Center above Mt. Tom Creek Meadows on the Hoh River Trail. Hiking time from the parking lot at the Visitor’s Center to the site is approximately two hours along a gentle path lined by ancient trees and ferns. The exact location is marked by a small red-colored stone placed on top of a moss-covered log at: N 47.8666001° W 123.870084°
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park was an ideal location to study natural quiet for two reasons: its great sonic diversity, including glacier-capped mountain peaks, temperate rainforests, and the longest wilderness coastline on the west coast of the United States, and its large noise-free interval (NFI) or lack of aviation noise due to a nearly absent air tour industry and sparse high-altitude commercial air traffic.
Unlike the difficulties of Yellowstone and Grand Canyon NP, where transportation noise is common and natural quiet restoration is difficult, natural quiet only needs to be defended at Olympic National Park.
Next part of the story
Therefore, The One Square Inch of Silence project was initiated on Earth Day 2005 (April 22nd) to defend the natural quiet within Olympic Park’s backcountry wilderness. The logic is simple; if a loud noise caused by an aircraft could have a noise impact over many square miles, then, would it be true that a single point of quiet, if maintained in a completely noise-free condition, would also have an equally large quiet impact? Indeed, this proved to be the case between the years of 2005-2018 when the One Square Inch project active. During those 13 years, when noise intrusions were observed, the noise source was identified via internet flight tracking data and the responsible party asked voluntarily to avoid flying over Olympic National Park.Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines all cooperated.
The success of One Square Inch of Silence resulted in a book by the same name, and the place itself deep within the Hoh Rain Forest became a destination for quiet seeking travelers from around the world. Quiet is quieting.
Changes, but not all lost
Unexpectantly in 2018 the United States Navy escalated electronic warfare exercises over and around Olympic National Park using EA-18G “Growler” jets, despite public outcry, legal challenges, and condemnation by UNESCO World Heritage Committee. As of November 16, 2020, more than 4,400 Growler flights occurred over Olympic Park annually with plans to increase training exercises further by adding 36 more Growlers. The maximum noise levels heard on the ground can be as high as 100.6 decibels (dB).
Yet, all has not been lost. The One Square Inch of Silence Foundation became Quiet Parks International(QPI) in 2019.QPI has a mission to save quiet for the benefit all life, both human and wildlife, and not just at one place but worldwide. Today, QPI has awarded Quiet Parks in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Donate.
Read the book
One Square Inch of Silence by Gordon Hempton is a powerful journey through America’s last quiet places, highlighting the urgent need to preserve natural silence in an increasingly noisy world. Through vivid storytelling, Hempton reveals how protecting soundscapes is vital for both environmental and human well-being.
