Hoh Rainforest

The Hoh Rainforest is one of the most spectacular rainforests in the US, if not the world. Endless greenery runs for 24 miles (38 miles) along the Hoh River, and this spot on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula gets some 130 inches (330 centimeters) of rain yearly. Much of the forest has been logged over the centuries, but a few old-growth sections—like around the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center—remain, ready to awe nearly every visitor.

The .8-mile (1.2-kilometer) Hall of Mosses Trail is the signature experience here, and the terrain is suitable for all ages. Many Olympic National Park tours—both hiking and driving tours—will also include a stop in the rainforest, as the Hoh is one of the park’s most beloved attractions.

• The Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center has exhibits, a bookstore, and more—it’s open from April through December.

• All trails, including the Hall of Mosses, can be found at the visitor center.

• The Hoh Rainforest Campground, also near the visitor center, is open year-round.

• Restrooms are available outside the visitor center and are open year-round.

Most visitors will get to the Hoh Rainforest via private vehicle—it’s under an hour from Forks, WA; a 2-hour drive from Port Angeles, WA; and 2.5 hours from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center (Olympic National Park is massive with few roads). Many park tours include a stop at the rainforest and let visitors skip the driving hassles.

While many say to experience Olympic National Park in summer—after the snow has melted off the mountaintops—the Hoh Rainforest can be experienced anytime. Spring (April–May) is spectacular, with fewer crowds and mild temps, and fall boasts the same accolades. Even winter is relatively temperate here at lower elevations, though pack that jacket—winter is the wet season.

You have options if you’re visiting in summer and want a rainforest moment away from the national park crowds. In the same area as the Hoh Rainforest, the Queets, Quinault, and Bogachiel valleys offer similar wonderlands of draping moss, wild ferns, and huge trees. Trails like the Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail have all the same splendor as the Hall of Mosses but with even more serenity.