What to See at the Hoh Rain Forest (Full Guide!)
Last Updated on February 21, 2024 by Kelly
As a Washington State resident, one of my favorite places to visit is the Hoh Rain Forest. This magical forest has an abundance of plant life due to the frequent rainfall it receives. The forest receives an astonishing 140 inches of rainfall each year! In comparison, the nearby city of Seattle receives only 38 inches of annual rainfall!
A walk through the Hoh Rain Forest is truly incredible. Everywhere you look is green. The trees are cloaked in mosses, the ground is covered with ferns, and the tree canopy is full all year long.
We recently visited this magical place. In this post, we’re sharing what to see at the Hoh Rain Forest to help you plan for your next trip!
About the Hoh Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest is a part of Olympic National Park in Washington State. It’s actually one of four rain forests in this national park. (The other three rain forests in the park are Quinault, Queets, and Bochiel.)
Olympic National Park has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its biodiversity and stunning landscape, and it has been one of the Top 10 most visited national parks (with over 2.5 million annual visitors).
The Hoh Rain Forest is a temperate rain forest, meaning that it receives lots of rainfall in a moderate climate. The rain forest has a lot of epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants). As you walk through the forest, you’ll see lots of lichens dangling from trees and mosses growing on tree trunks.
The forest is filled with giant Red Cedars, Douglas Firs, Sitka Spruces, and Big Leaf Maple trees. When one of these giant trees falls to the ground, it begins to slowly decay and crumble on the forest floor. The fallen trees are nutrient-dense, so you can often find new tree saplings growing on top of them. When the old log eventually decays, you’ll see an entire row of trees with exposed roots that look like stilts! For this reason, the fallen trees are often called “nurse logs.” (See if you can find any when you visit!)
The land has ties to the following indigenous tribes: Hoh, Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Skokomish, Quinault, Quileute, and Makah. Be respectful of these lands during your visit.
Important Visiting Information
Resource: National Park Service website for the Hoh Rain Forest
To enter the Hoh Rain Forest, you need to purchase an Olympic National Park entrance past. There are some entrance-free days throughout the year.
When visiting the park, be sure to follow leave no trace principles. Stay on the marked trails and do not litter.
We recommend downloading the National Park Service app in advance of your visit. Cell phone coverage within Olympic National Park can be unreliable, so it’s a good idea to download all of your maps offline. You can also learn about the many different regions of the park.
Please note that there are no gas stations or restaurants immediately near the forest. The closest service station is located in Forks, Washington. (Which is 31 miles away from the visitor center.)
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
| After visiting the rainforest, head over to Kalaloch Beach to see the sunset and view the Tree of Life! |
Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
Address: 18113 Upper Hoh Rd., Forks, WA 98331
Phone: (360) 565-3000
Hours for the visitor center vary according to the season. Check the visitor center website in advance to plan your visit. The visitor center is typically open daily during the summer, and it closes for a couple of months during the winter. During the off-season, the visitor center may be open only partially during the week.
The visitor center will be able to provide you with important updates, such as road closures or potentially hazardous conditions.
Inside the visitor center you’ll find a bookshop and you can get your National Parks Passport stamped when the visitor center is open.
There are two short trails that start right by the visitor center. During the summer, a park ranger might even offer some guided walks.
How to Get to the Hoh Rain Forest
From Seattle, you have two primary options for reaching the forest. The first option is to take the the Bainbridge ferry and take US-101 across the top of the peninsula. The second option is to drive south of Seattle, driving below the Puget Sound, and then taking US-101.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll then can enter the Hoh Rain Forest by taking the Upper Hoh Road to reach the Visitor Center. These routes can take 4.5-5 hours (without major traffic delays). We don’t think it’s a very feasible day trip from Seattle, so it’s best to spend a night or two in the peninsula to see all there is to see in this beautiful region.
What to See at the Hoh Rain Forest
1. Visitor Center
Begin your visit by stopping by the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. The visitor center has a restroom, bookstore, and exhibits. Feel free to ask a park ranger any questions you have as you prepare your visit.
It’s not uncommon to see elk and deer in the area. During our last visit, we saw a bunch of elk to the side of the Upper Hoh Road on our way to the visitor center. We also saw a deer on the trail in the Hall of Mosses.
2. Hall of Mosses
The Hall of Mosses is my absolute favorite thing to see. In all my travels, I have never seen a place as green.
The trailhead to the Hall of Mosses is near the visitor center. The Hall of Mosses loop trail is .8 miles long with 100 total feet of elevation gain. It’s a very easy hike and is suitable for most abilities. (It’s also a very kid-friendly hike!) You can read recent trip reports on the website linked above as well.
As you walk along the trail, there are plenty of interpretive signs. Be sure to stay on the trail to preserve this landscape. Botanists are sure to love this trail, as there are dozens of different types of mosses that grow in Olympic National Park. Pay careful attention to the mosses and see how many different types of moss you can identify! This website about mosses is helpful in learning about the many different types you’ll find in the forest.
3. Spruce Nature Trail
The trailhead to the Spruce Nature Trail is also near the visitor center. This loop trail is 1.2 miles long, and pairs well with the Hall of Mosses since they are right by each other. The trail is a great place to view nurse logs, and it also has some views of the Hoh River.
4. Hoh River Trail
The Hoh River Trail is a much longer hike. (The trailhead is also by the visitor center.) This trail, if you take it all the way to Blue Glacier, is at least 37 miles roundtrip. You can partially hike this trail, or you can complete the whole thing. If you are going to stay overnight, you’ll need to secure reservation passes in advance of your visit. Most people partially hike the trail. If you’re interested in a day hike along the trail, you can hike to the first river access, Mineral Creek Falls, Cedar Grove, or 5 Mile Island. Be sure to ask the park rangers about current trail conditions before your visit, and always carry the 10 Essentials when you hike.
Nearby Lodging
Hotels
Lake Crescent Lodge
Distance from Visitor Center: 68 miles
This historic lodge was built in 1915 and sits on the shores of Lake Crescent. The lobby has a large stone fireplace, the guest rooms are spacious, and there is dining on-site.
Kalaloch Lodge
Distance from Visitor Center: 40 miles
This lodge is located on the coast. You’ll be able to easily access the Hoh Rain Forest for a day trip, as well as the many famous beaches along the coast. This lodge is a great place to go to connect with nature and unplug. The rooms do not have phones or WiFi.
Lake Quinault Lodge
Distance from Visitor Center: 73 miles
The Lake Quinault Lodge is a grand hotel with rustic touches. The lodge has 91 rooms and one suite. The hotel has a sauna and an indoor heated pool.
Quillayute River Resort
Distance from Visitor Center: 41 miles
The river resort is comprised of six suites. Each suite has a kitchen, bedroom, and living room. The bathrooms even have heated tile floors.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Distance from Visitor Center: 71 miles
This resort is open seasonally. (Check their website for current availability.) The Sol Duc hot springs are comprised of four different mineral pools of varying temperatures.
Hoh Valley Cabins
Distance from Visitor Center: 12 miles
This is a collection of four contemporary cabins nestled in the woods. The cabins are beautifully constructed and perfect for a woodland escape.
For a full list of lodging options in the nearby city of Forks, click here.
| Don’t miss our full guide to Hurricane Ridge! |
Campgrounds
Hoh Campground
Distance from Visitor Center: Right next to the visitor center (.1 miles)
If you want to stay near the Hoh Rain Forest, this is as close as you can get! The Hoh Campground is open year-round. During the summer, be sure to make reservations. The rest of the year, the sites are first-come, first-served. There are 72 total sites. At the time of this writing, the sites cost $24 per night.
Kalaloch Campground
Distance from Visitor Center: 39 miles
This is where we stayed during our last trip to the Hoh Rain Forest. Kalaloch Campground is open year-round and is located right next to the ocean. It’s a large campground with 170 sites. Some of the sites have ocean views! During the summer, you’ll need to make reservations. During the off-season, it’s first-come, first-served. We were able to grab a site with a view of the ocean, and it was one of our favorite camping sites of all time. (Nothing like sitting at the campfire with an ocean sunset in front of you!) The campground has flush toilets but no showers. It took us about an hour to drive from the campground. (Tip: This campground is located next to the famous Tree of Life. Be sure to head down to the beach to check it out!)
Hard Rain Cafe and Campground
Distance from Visitor Center: 12 miles
The Hard Rain Cafe and Campground is located on the Upper Hoh Road. You can choose between a tent site or a campsite with electricity. (There are no campsites with sewers.)
Nearby Restaurants
Hard Rain Cafe
Distance from Visitor Center: 12 miles
The Hard Rain Cafe serves coffee, breakfast, and burgers. It’s one of the closest food options near the Hoh Rain Forest.
Creekside Restaurant
Distance from Visitor Center: 39 miles
The Creekside Restaurant is a rustic restaurant that serves classic American food with a view. At the time of this writing, they are open for to-go orders only.
BBG Blakeslee Bar & Grill
Distance from Visitor Center: 30 miles
BBG Blakeslee Bar & Grill is a full-service bar located in Forks, Washington, for guests that are 21 years old and over.
| We recommend that you view our post about Ruby Beach. We think it’s one of the best beaches in the state! Kalaloch Beach and Third Beach are also nearby beaches that are absolutely stunning! |
Nearby Activities
We also recommend checking out these nearby attractions:
- Kalaloch Beach: Watch the sunset over the pacific ocean and see the Tree of Life. (A tree that has defied all odds by remaining alive, with its roots completely exposed to the elements.)
- Ruby Beach: This is easily one of the most beautiful beaches in Washington State. Watch the sunset behind the sea stacks.
- Hurricane Ridge: On a clear day, you’ll see the tops of the mountains and even as far out to Canada.
- Third Beach: The trail to Third Beach is 3.6 miles roundtrip. You’ll see plenty of sea stacks from this beach hike.
- Big Cedar Tree: A very short .1 mile trail will take you a massive Cedar tree believed to be over 1,000 years old. After storms in 2014, it was split nearly in two.
- Lake Crescent: This beautiful lake is located in the Olympic Mountains.
- Sol Duc Falls: To reach the falls, you’ll complete a beautiful 1.6 mile roundtrip hike.
- World’s Largest Spruce Tree: The tree has a circumference of 58 feet, 11 inches.
- Forks, Washington: This is the town where the Twilight book series takes place. Fans of the books will enjoy seeing many of the places mentioned in the books.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hoh Rain Forest
What town is closest to the Hoh Rain Forest?
The closest town to the Hoh Rain Forest is Forks, Washington. Forks is located 31 miles away from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center (about a 50 minute drive). Forks is a good place to stock up on supplies, have a bite to eat, and fill up the gas tank before exploring Olympic National Park.
How much time do you need in the Hoh Rain Forest?
We recommend at least 2 to 3 hours to visit the Hoh Rain Forest, although you can certainly stay much longer. There’s a campground by the visitor center so you can even stay overnight. We recommend that at the very least you complete the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail. If the visitor center is open, we also recommend that you stop by and look at the exhibits.
Is the Hoh Rain Forest worth visiting?
Yes, the Hoh Rain Forest is absolutely worth visiting! It’s one of the most magical places in Washington State. The entire forest is thick with mosses, lichens, and ferns. The Hall of Mosses is a short loop trail that will take you through the heart of the forest.
When is the best time to visit the Hoh Rain Forest?
The best time to visit the Hoh Rain Forest is between the months of June and September. There will be less rain and more sunshine for better lighting. We personally love exploring Washington State in September. There are less crowds, but the weather is typically very nice. During our last trip to the forest, we visited in early April. Even with lots of rain, it’s still a beautiful place to visit. The forest canopy is so thick, it will protect you from a lot of the rain.
How much does it cost to visit the Hoh Rain Forest?
To enter the Hoh Rain Forest, you will need to purchase an Olympic National Park pass. At the time of this publication, a pass for a non-commercial vehicle costs $30 and lasts for 7 days. We recommend that you purchase your pass in advance and print it at home. If you have an annual America the Beautiful pass (for national parks and federal recreational lands), you can use that pass. That’s a great option if you are planning on visiting multiple parks in the same calendar year. The park also has several entrance-free days every year that are listed on their website.
Summary:
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the best places to visit in Washington State. We recently spent a weekend in April exploring the forest. The trails were practically empty, and we didn’t receive too much rain. Even when it rained, the thick forest canopy helped to keep us mostly dry. To this day, this was one of our favorite camping trips. We hope this post was helpful in planning for your trip!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
