Very underwhelming. It was off season and we waited atleast 30 minutes to enter the park not to mention the out of the way drive. It was pretty but Lake Quinault was much better. read more

Wow. I thought I had seen true beauty before but I was blown away by the magic of the Hoh Rainforest. It was truly breathtaking and enchanting. As you drive in you feel as if fairies and magic do exist. There was so much to explore and see I wish I had spent days backpacking rather than a day hiking. Driving through the rainforest was unreal, you get fog and trees covered in moss then occasionally see a glimpse of the ocean and it's like "Is this real life?" It is considered one of the seven wonders of Washington state and it makes absolute sense as to why. It is located on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington State in Forks. We hiked along the Hoh River Trail which is about 17 miles long (we did not complete the hike because we were not prepared for such a long hike). We also did the Hall of Mosses trail which is about a mile loop and truly stunning. You catch glimpses of the Hoh River along the way. There is so much backpacking to do I plan to go on a backing trip in the near future. There are a few restaurants, lodges and gas stations along the way so no need to worry there. Things are a bit on the pricey side considering how far away from civilization you get. I suggest packing snacks to bring along. read more

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The Hoh Rain Forest isn't really different from most other rain-soaked, moss-covered forests in the PNW except this one is called a rain forest ... and located in Olympic National Park in the remote Olympic Peninsula. The park and rain forest contain some the biggest and oldest trees in the world as well as long nice hikes among rivers, valleys, and trees, trees, and more trees. Drive the long winding road to the center of the forest and a Visitor Center with bathrooms, maps, and a lonely park ranger. The visitor building is open March - November and only open weekends during the spring and fall. The 3/4-mile Hall of Mosses Trail (.8 miles) and 1.2-mile Spruce Nature Trail are easy hikes from the parking lot. So why is Hoh called a rain forest? Because it rains ... a lot ... especially during the winter. Rainfall ranges from 140 - 170 inches per year. If green is your favorite color and nature is your favorite mother then Hoh Rain Forest is a remote destination to see both. read more

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Looking for a great Washington weekend getaway? This is the place to go. There is plenty of camping and other lodging nearby. It's one of the few temperate rain forests in the world. It is also the largest. There are trees in this forest that are over 300 feet tall and 23 feet around, many covered in thick moss. Many animals live here as well. Elk, spotted owls, bear, all type of exciting varieties. You can hike for hours and hours and be in awe of everything. There is a picture somewhere of me standing inside of a hollowed out dead tree. Don't worry, though, the vegetation is so thick that new trees often grow on top of the decaying ones. It's a truly fascinating ecosystem. Oh, and if you are looking for some very easy laughs, the second 'h' in Hoh is silent. That should give you plenty to work with. Hope you had a happy Earth Day! read more

Hoh Rainforest - Hiking Near Me - Forks, Washington

This visitor center is located right in the middle of rain forest (I know the name says it all, but still wanted to mention). There is plenty of parking space, a picnic area and very generous, friendly group of Rangers. There are few quite easy hikes which starts right from the Visitor center. We did Hall of Mosses trail. I personally had never seen a rain forest before. So I felt really good. Giant, lush green, hundreds of years old 200 feet giant trees. I was quite impressed. Road to the rain forest was really pretty. Dense. We also saw a herd of elks along the way. read more

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Unique, calming, and scenic place - excellent for a short day trip! It's about two hours from Port Angeles. We came during the summer and there wasn't any rain, just some clouds. There are two main trails, Hall of Mosses and the Spruce Nature Trail (empty, very little people). We hiked the Spruce Nature Trail first and had lunch next to the Hoh River on some fallen trees, a nice and memorable experience! After lunch, we walked the Hall of Mosses, where you can spot trees and organisms that are literally covered in mosses, nice for photos. I guess for me, it was a lot more fun hiking and walking through the temperate rain forest than taking photos - everything starts looking the same (green) after a few photos... -- Be warned, Highway 101 is where the Police Academy trains their rookies - the speed limit is strictly enforced and we almost got a ticket.... we were warned by our hotel staff as well. The road PHOTOS: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vzbCKmEdSWNQriORDD4rIQ?select=GGlvW3sB_9BExWa54QV2zw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vzbCKmEdSWNQriORDD4rIQ?select=KRc623k1i1RceSJiW81N8Q http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vzbCKmEdSWNQriORDD4rIQ?select=9NEKGKofJI4bHRfle_N5ew http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vzbCKmEdSWNQriORDD4rIQ?select=2bybT17hfp1Lu24ED75Txg read more

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I couldn't believe it when I heard that I could visit a rain forest without ever leaving the state of Washington! It is quite the trip out there if you're coming from the Seattle area. We live in Bremerton and it took us a little over 3 hours (so that would mean at least a 4.5 hour trek from Seattle unless you take the ferry). Regardless, we thought it was completely worth it! The drive out to the rain forest was really scenic. You pass a few beautiful lakes where the water is extremely blue. You also pass a couple of campgrounds and the hot springs. The drive also seemed to go really quickly (minus the last 45 minutes where you're averaging about 35 miles per hour). Once you get to the main gate, it is approximately $15 per vehicle (or $5 per person on foot). If you are military, you should qualify for a free national parks pass. We used our pass from a previous trip and got in completely free. What I really enjoyed was the fact that the vegetation screams rain forest, but the climate isn't as humid as it would be closer to the equator. I found the weather incredibly comfortable and the scenery extremely beautiful. We were even lucky enough to see an elk during our hike. If you're interested in the visitor's center, it is open 5 days a week (closed 2 weekdays). We missed it because it closed at 4, so I can't say much about it. We picnicked nearby and then took the river path. It takes around 30-60 minutes to get close to the river, but it was really worth it. I'm not a huge hiker so I really appreciated the flatness of the hike (although my husband wished it were hillier). In sum, if you're willing to drive several hours, I think this is extremely worth it. read more

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I'm from dry drought-ridden California, some coming here and breathing in the ultra fresh air and seeing the lush trees was much needed. I recommend coming here early because the small parking lot near the visitor center had already filled up by ~9am, and I had to park in the overflow. If you grab a map from the visitors center, you can see that there's a few main trails. There's 2 shorter loop trails that I recommend if you're looking for some easy strolling around. The river at the middle of the loop was stunning and had an interesting turquoise color. I didn't have time to go on the longer trail since I was only there for the day. Bring rain gear, waterproof shoes, and probably something to put on your car floor if you don't want your car getting all muddy; it's a rainforest and you will get soaked! read more

Hike was great, very easy to walk through, we did the hall of mosses and the spruce trail and it was about 4 miles and pretty flat with some creeks running through. Great hike for people of all ages, no dogs allowed. read more

We got there at 10am on a Sunday in august and the car line to get in was already 1.5 hours long (said posted sign). We turned around and didn't wait . It was already a one car out one car in situation. Too bad read more

TOO MANY PEOPLE - I stayed the night at the campground so I didnt have to worry about long entrance lines. However, there were FAR too many people on the trails for them to be enjoyable. Barking dogs, screaming kids, and a healthy amount of cigarette smokers on the trails effectively ruined the experience for me. The park itself is wonderful but it's simply not worth the visit during any reasonable time of day. I cant tell you how many people I had to wait to get out of the trail's path because an entire family just HAD to take a selfie. Walking past a single cigarette smoker was enough to ruin my visit; I have asthma and didnt expect to have to deal with people's second-hand smoke. Absolutely unbelievable. read more

You have to be pretty motivated in order to visit the Hoh Rain Forest since it is quite a drive to get to the main visitor center: there is one road in from Highway 101 (about an hour drive), so you will be backtracking when you exit. The entrance fee is $15 per car, and is good for 7 days. We got there in the afternoon and did the easy hikes, which take less than an hour each to do. I saw a notice for a guided tour of the trail, but unfortunately, we got there too late. Everywhere you look, you will see trees and moss. There is nothing like taking a big breath and smelling all of the trees. If you go in the summertime, I would recommend bug spray. Since we got there in the afternoon, the trails weren't too crowded. We were only driving through, but it would be fun to be able to camp there and spend more time outside of the car. If you are in the area, then it is a must-do. read more

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Went to the Hoh Rain Forest over Memorial Day Weekend. It took us about 2 hours from Port Angeles to get to the rainforest's visitor center. This is already my third or fourth time going there but the scenic drive into the rainforest never got boring. It's still as pretty as I remembered it from the previous times I was there. This time we arrived at the rainforest around 8:30am, before the visitor center was open. However, you can still get into the national park area by paying on the route leading to the rainforest ($15 one-time pass, good for 7 days) The rainforest trails were so nice and tranquil, and more importantly, so quiet and peaceful like we had the whole place to ourselves. We started with the Hall of Mosses hike and found 2 elks (a mother and a baby elk) grazing right next our trail less than 50 feet away (which, in my opinion, is the highlight of our trip!!). After that, we also did a Spruce Nature trail, which allowed us to stroll leisurely along the river. We also saw a deer and many cool looking banana slugs on our second trail, too. It was a really nice, peaceful and not too strenuous walk for both of our trails (0.8 mile for the Hall of Mosses and just 1.2 miles for the Spruce Nature Trail). Love, love this nature place. The place is literally carpeted and decorated with different shades of green of mosses and maple leaves (as well as other plants like ferns and clovers, etc). Definitely worth a drive to visit as you won't find as many places as magical and picturesque as the Hoh Rainforest is a all! Definitely worth a visit!!! read more

On a short visit to Seattle, my sister and I reserved one day to drive out to the Olympic Peninsula and the Hoh Rain Forest was our main stop. Our nearly 10 hour round-trip drive from Seattle was completely worth it, although I highly recommend spending at least a couple days here. We went on a Monday in early Spring and had the rain forest almost completely to ourselves. There are basically 3 trails here. We hiked the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature trail, both short & easy loop trails. My favorite was definitely the Hall of Mosses trail, it was so beautiful, like an enchanted forest out of a fairytale. We were really hoping to see some elk, but never spotted one or any animals for that matter, which was a bit of a bummer. The trails were fairly wide and maintained very well. Informative plaques are placed sporadically along the trails and provide interesting facts. Don't expect a challenge on these trails. Do expect to be surrounded by beautiful, lush scenery. read more

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This is a really special place. Even the road to get there from the highway is lovely. It's about 18 miles and you drive by a river and through some really dense trees. We visited in late July but the air was really cool. Since we visited in the summer, it wasn't raining, and the one down side was there were a lot of bugs. There are several trails, from an accessible "mini-trail" to a long trail for serious hikers that ends up on a glacier (I think -- we are not serious hikers so we didn't take it). Make sure you visit the visitors' center before setting out on your hike so you can learn about what you are seeing. We took the short "Hall of Mosses" trail. It was pretty busy but we still found ourselves with some private moments. I was amazed by two things: the way the trees can fall and other trees just grow on top of them until they rot, and the fact that there are mosses that can just grow out of the nutrients in the normally moist air. I do hope I can go back sometime when it is a little wetter so I can see this in its more natural state. read more

Hoh Rainforest - Moss that can live on nutrients in the air. - Hiking Near Me - Forks, Washington

We visited during Father's Day weekend and were lucky that the Hoh Rainforest was participating in free park admission weekend. We saved ~$20, score! Parking was plentiful but we got there before noon when we left, it was rather full. The info center was cute and cabin-y, with a 60s-70s feel. There were posters with things to read, some displays with stuffed squirrels, a small couch with tv/video. The restrooms were surprisingly clean, with a changing table, and provided hand sanitizer instead of water/soap (to save water). There are 3 main trails. We took the Hall of Mosses because it was the easiest/shortest (we had a toddler with us). The walk took just over an hour with her stopping every few feet...but the adults also stopped every so often to take in the awesomeness that is nature, giant trees, crisp air (really, the air was so nice), moss, and OMG, LOOK A BUNNY! Fortunately the weather had been relatively dry, so the trail wasn't mushy. :) Everyone we passed smiled and greeted us. It was just a good mood-feeling kind of day/place. And the park rangers are cute! read more

At the Visitor Center in Port Angeles, we were advised to go to and experience one of the two major rain forests in the Park: Hoh or Quinault. We opted for the Hoh Rain Forest since it was closer to Port Angeles. It was vividly and uniquely beautiful. As you look up at the gigantic spruce trees that tower over you and whose tops reach towards the heavens, you marvel at their sheer size and your lack of significance compared to them. Naturally, it rains a lot since it is a rain forest. The Hoh Rain Forest receives 140 to 170 inches of precipitation each year. The excess moisture creates an enhanced environment for mosses and ferns to sprout all over the forest. In particular, the mosses accessorizes and clothes the branches of the spruces and floor of the forest with natural outfits that capture your imagination with more than fifty shades of green. In order to get to the Hoh Rainforest, you drive on the Upper Hoh Road off of Highway 101. Once you turn on to Upper Hoh Road, it is an 18 mile drive to the Visitor Center. However, it is a scenic drive as you drive through the beginning of the rain forest. If you have a sunroof and are a passenger, definitely use it so you can gaze up at the skyscraping spruces. The two main hiking trails start right at the Visitor Center: Hall of Mosses (0.8 miles) and Spruce Nature trail (1.2 miles). Both trails are basically flat. The Hall of Mosses is a must see. As the name implies, there are multiple pods of spruces that are covered by the mosses. It is definitely a sight to behold. Some trees look very weird. For this reason, they are very beautiful in their own unique ways. Of course, moss hanging off trees occur throughout the rain forest. Nevertheless, it is most pronounced and concentrated on the Hall of Mosses trail. Since it is a very short trail, it certainly makes sense to also walk the slightly longer Spruce Nature trail. You get to see more of the rain forest and the trail brings you to the river for part of the walk. Again, both trails are short and flat. Moreover, the drive to and from Hoh Rain Forest takes a good amount of time, especially if you are coming from Port Angeles or its nearby area. As such, it is kind of a no brainer to do both short trails to justify the time it takes to drive back and forth. Similarly, it makes sense to visit a beach on the west side of the Park and the town of Forks on the same day as the rain forest. It takes a decent amount of time to drive between each spot. Nonetheless, they are in the same general vicinity on the Peninsula. For a longer trail; there is the Hoh River Trail, which is 17.4 miles one way to Glacier Meadows. Obviously, it cannot be completed in a day. Consequently, you will need a permit to camp overnight to complete the round trip. Naturally, most visitors just do the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature trails. If you are visiting Olympic National Park and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile. read more

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Wow I loved this place, including the drive to it. We only spent about an hour here (we didn't have a lot of time), I would love to go back and spend more time. I would like to check out all the trails. The Hall of Mosses trail was great. It's pretty short and not a bit strenuous making it accessible for all fitness levels. It did sprinkle/mist most of the time we were waking on the trail. It was beautiful and felt a little like something out of a fairy tale. It was pretty busy with all ages wandering about and photo bombing all your photos. Definitely don't miss this if you happen to be with a radius of 60 miles or so. It's worth the drive. read more

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Welcome to Jurassic Park. As close as it gets anyway. Cannot stop GUSHING about our incredible trip into the Hoh Rain Forest. It is truly not to be missed if you come anywhere near this region (yes, I consider Seattle close enough to make the side trip FOR SURE). The Trail: The Hoh River trail stretches east approximately 13 miles from the trailhead into the heart of Olympic National Park. We only had one day to tackle the Hoh, so we only went in about five or six miles before turning around. The trail is as flat as it gets, with little to no elevation gain. You can make this as easy or strenuous as you like by simply tacking on more miles. Lush gorgeous moss drapes over trees, branches dip into crystal clear pools, waterfalls abound, and bright green ferns blanket the forest floor. I was totally heart-eyes for this place. I only wish my friend and I had backpacked in for a few days to make camp. The Wildlife: Lots of wildlife to be seen on this trail. Deer, elk, beaver, red tails and yes, we saw a bear. Granted it was up a tree and we didn't stick around to identify it (i.e. black bear or grizz) but it was pretty sweet! I'd recommend carrying bear spray on any trail in the Pacific Northwest... just in case. :) The Visitor's Center: It was closed for remodeling when we got there and there wasn't a soul in sight (ranger wise). So, you're a bit on your own in that respect. No trail maps available either... but there is only one way in and one way out, so it's pretty self-explanatory. Bottom Line: GO. SERIOUSLY GO. read more

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Want a quick drive-in to nature, or maybe a long hike through rainforest forest? Fortunately the Hoh has it all: from commercialized visitors' centers and the moderately toured Hall of Mosses to more obscure trails that lead to private paradises. (Along with visiting the visitors' centers, I hiked the Hoh River Trail, which I could recommend as being extremely scenic and offering a unique river through a temperate rain forest. If you want to get off the beaten path - no pun intended - the River Trail is a well-maintained yet underused option) Unless you approve of rain, come in the late summer (end of July through August). In early August I had a beautiful blue-sky trail! Walking through the rainforest is truly epic. I feel like it deserves a soundtrack: something like Avatar would be more than appropriate. The trails are all flat and well-maintained, even the far lesser-used trails! Of the Olympic Rain Forest, I do believe the Hoh is one of the best destinations! read more

Hoh Rainforest - Elk on the Hoh River Trail - Hiking Near Me - Forks, Washington

Hands down the most magical place I have ever visited and I've been back several times. The hall of mosses is just one of the many treats you get to see. Bring a camera there's lots to explore. The air is clean and the area is so pristine. Absolutely wonderful ! I saw beaver playing in the clear stream after the hall of mosses. You may encounter large animals. I walked several miles back into the rainforest and found myself at a place called one square inch the most quietest spot in the USA. I wrote a book about this place and I have enough photographs to fill ten more. A must visit!! Yes there are some places with wheelchair access. I do recommend bringing bug repellant and wearing good hiking shoes. read more

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Beautiful destination. Fabulous hiking trails, great fishing (when it's open) on the HOH River. Really cute cabins for rent. Easy roads to navigate....lots of creeks to explore. read more

Hoh Rainforest - Hiking Near Me - Forks, Washington

The Hoh Rainforest is one of my favorite places on the earth (so far). The visitor center is informative to introduce newbies to the temperate rainforests scientific speak and the interpretive-guided trails (read the signs along the way) for short trails give attention and language to the value of old growth, dead and dying trees and the changes of river flow that have occurred to create several environments in the Hoh. Know that there is a $30 fee upon entering this part of the forest that allows you access over a 7-day period but isn't/shouldn't be given to others (don't share your pass). In addition to visiting the visitor center is made camp on the campgrounds in the area. This particular time there was little to no rain (unusual for a rainforest). There's running water at this campground and a good clean up of food and trash is requested as you are in nature (think Yogi the Bear). I camped near the rushing, bumbling and ever-changing Hoh River that laid at the bottom of some tree-laden hills. It was beautiful and frightening to see the rain-filled fog cross over those hills and onto the forest! The only feedback I have is I would like to see on my next visit more of the Hoh/indigenous perspective and language alongside the scientific. I believe it would add to the literacy and value of seen and unseen of this forest. read more

Hoh Rainforest - Welcome to the forest! Nurse log making place for a new generation of trees. - Hiking Near Me - Forks, Washington

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Our trip to the coast this summer was my first time experiencing the Hoh Rain Forest. I'm not really one for nature walks and I initially scoffed at the $20 entrance fee into Olympic National park, but boy am I glad I begrudgingly paid the service ranger. This place is FANTASTIC. I've never felt closer to nature than the day we spent in the Hoh. The 18-ish mile drive is scenic and fun as the road bends around close to the pristine water sources. My biggest regret was not being prepared to take on a longer and more daunting walking tour. We opted for the mosses trail which is about a mile and more in our wheelhouse and we were taken away by the beauty of the Hoh. As a photographer I snapped about 400 pictures during our journey and each shot still captivates me because you walk 25 yards and it's a completely different scene and experience. We will be back for sure. I would love to experience the Hoh throughout all of the seasons. Maybe next time we'll even see a bear! read more

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The Hoh Rain Forest itself is great. The visitor center, not the same... The visitor center is small and crowded. In addition when I went to visit, the visitor center was not selling any of its products because there was some issue, and based on how things were going, this does not appear to be a sudden or rare occurrence. The parking is minuscule, this being the biggest flaw. We were driving until we hit a line. We saw a sign that read, "lot full, estimated wait time 2 hours". Very upsetting, I did in fact wait until I was let in, because I drove hours to get here. Luckily. I do not think it took the whole 2 hours, but definitely close. It seem crazy to me that they have such little parking in a park like this. There is also significant delays to even get to the line due to lots of road work, causing multiple one way roads. My visit was in late July of 2022, and hopefully these issues will be resolved soon. read more

Beautiful and scenic location. It is quite a trek to get here. We were going on the short hike to the hall of mosses. Low effort, high reward. First things first, you need a pass of some sort to park here. The manual pay station is often not stocked with forms to pay and place the receipt in your car. We had to just go for it and pray we wouldn't get ticketed. The hike to the hall of mosses runs in a circle and comes back out to the parking lot. The full loop is rather short but very worthwhile. The scenery just looks very cool and there is obviously a lot of moss. Bring bug spray as there are a lot of insects. Don't forget your camera too. read more

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The Hoh Rainforest is such a vast area that for this review Id like to limit my review to the Hall of Mosses and near by areas. We visited way back when we had just moved over to the Forks area so we didn't know any better and we went on a early Summer day! It was ridiculous how much we paid for entry only to be crowded onto little trails with many other people. It's definitely something you HAVE to see once so don't pass it up... But.... There are MANY other stunning beautiful places in the olympic national park that are not crowded. Even stopping off at any of the gorgeous beaches is a wonderful idea. Take Hwy 101 and make plans to take your time. Like I said I wouldn't recommend passing up the Hall of Moss if you've never been! But... Remember there are many beautiful free places to pull over and see too. read more

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It was my mistake out of excitement that I dragged my husband to this magical Forrest on a holiday weekend to start of summer with little planning. Despite it being busy with no vacant sites left at the Hoh campground, it was still worth it. We travelled from Whidbey Island so we took the Coupeville Ferry across to Port Townsend, drove up 101 through Port Angeles and Forks then back-trekked through to this place of wonder that makes you feel like you've stepped into some kind of Alice and Wonderland Dream. My husband prefers to refer to the trees dripping with moss as comparable to a Lord of the Rings movie set, and I agree, but it's also like being a kid again and wandering through A Secret Garden. The best part beyond the views, peacefulness of nature, and fresh smells, is the easy access to trails once you get here. To reach the Hoh River Trailhead from Port Angeles, drive south on U.S. 101 for 14 miles to the Upper Hoh River Road. Turn left and continue for 18 miles to the Hoh Ranger Station and the trailhead. This is one of the last temperate rainforests remaining on the planet. It has an incredibly rich, diverse ecosystem. First thing you must do when exploring the Hoh Rainforest is picnicking. The Hoh is secluded with the nearest eatery being at least 15-20 miles or more depending on where you're coming/going from. There is a picnic area just inside the Park entrance, but there's also a great big lawn that just needs a blanket and you're good to go. Just like with anywhere else, clean up after yourself and adhere to the National Park Service guidelines around food storage. Seriously. There are bears here. Don't worry, we carried out the above suggestion without actually seeing any wildlife except birds; however, I think people should realize the risk. There are not even many mosquitos right now unless you're deep in the trails, but I would definitely pack bug spray for a summer trip! I hear the best place to animal watch is near heart lake, but you can still expect to do some awesome bird and deer/elk watching in the Hoh. Spruce Nature Trail can be added to the Hall of Mosses hike for a longer journey or you can choose to start from the visitor center. At 1.25 miles, this loop trail provides even more unique rainforest beauty, with small creeks surrounded by mossy trees and ferns, as well as a chance to stand on the banks of the mighty Hoh River. For those looking for the greatest experience in this rain forest, add a 5-mile adventure up the Hoh River to 5 Mile Island. The trail is mostly flat but is lined with giant cedars, firs and maples, offering views of snowy mountains. Capped off with creek crossings on small wooden bridges, the hikes along the river are indescribably beautiful. The Hoh River trail is also a great first-time backpacking trip, leading all the way up to the 7,979 foot summit of Mount Olympus. Complete with a backcountry ranger station, an incredible bridge called the 'High Hoh Bridge', and access to a few wonderful alpine lakes, hiking in the Hoh gives some of the best experiences one can have in not just the Pacific Northwest, but in the world. Breathing in the air feels so fresh, pure. For our next trip here, I will plan accordingly and arrive earlier to try for a camp site near the river. I don't think they allow reservations ahead of time so it's first come first serve. I was very envious of those who got to wake up next to the water. But one can't complain when they are in such a gorgeous place. It's all tranquil. I've got my eye on loop C (#65) right by the river for next trip. Loop C is more private and filled with tall, beautiful, moss covered trees. For an even more leisurely time, I would suggest staying at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Some things to note if you decide to ascend Glacier Meadows: Bear wires can be obtained on loan at Tom Creek, Happy Four, 5-Mile Island, Olympus Guard Station, Lewis Meadow, Elk Lake, and Glacier Meadows. Bear canisters (required for camping on Mount Olympus and in the Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin area) are available at the Port Angeles WIC, South Shore Lake Quinault USFS Office, Hoh Visitor Center and Staircase Ranger Station, but are in limited supply and can run out on busy summer weekends (arrive early to avoid missing out). read more

Love love love! The trails are well preserved for all the rain that this area receives. The welcome center had signage available on both sides of the directory boards to allow more opportunity for groups to look at the maps. The trails are well labeled and there is ample street overflow parking. BUT we got there around 10am on a Saturday and when we left after 1pm, the line coming in was very long, so be sure to plan accordingly. And you do need to pay a fee or have a pass to enter the park. read more

Beautiful! If you're in Washington, THIS is where you need to be. My favorite place out of all the different places we visited on our trip to Washington. It is just so beautiful and different from what I'm used to seeing here in California. There are a couple different trails that you can walk through. We did the trail that was about 5 miles round trip. It was a very easy trail with a gorgeous view. When we went (April 2018) it was slightly drizzling but you couldn't even tell with everything surrounding you. There are bathrooms next to the visitor center. read more

Our visit was mainly ruined by NPS. There was a 2 hours wait at the entrance due limits on parking spots; and NPS had decided that since they can explain the problem they don't need the solve it. So no vanpools, nothing about coming at off-peak hours, not even a mention of this anywhere on the website so people can come mentally prepared. read more

Over loved. Plan to wait for hours to get in unless you hit the first wave of departures as one car out and one car let in. No public restrooms along the parking lot road. Restroom only available for staff at guard station. Some amazing large trees but other places in the large park provide more easy access to amazing sites. This part of the park should have shuttle busses from Forks. Driving in and waiting for hours to walk in an area for 30 minutes is problematic. Very poor access management of an amazing resource. Our day included hundreds of bikes on the narrow causing very hazardous driving. read more

Worth a Quick Visit It is by no means a large visitor center, but there is useful information to be found here. Even better, the staff on hand is friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have. read more

25 bucks is $24 too much to see this dying rain forest. There are three really large trees on the drive-in, although two of them are dying from some sort of parasitic moss. Sad really, but not worth the money or the time. read more

We saw a black bear 4 miles before the visitor center. Several nice places to pull off, even for rvs. Great road. The Hoh Rainforest was better than the Quinault rainforest, if you have to make a choice. RV parking at visitor center, but we were surprised how many people were there at 4:45 on Tuursday in late August. Very much enjoyed Hall of Moss trail. 50ft incline and then level. Having mostly sunshine helped with photos. Visitor Center staff very helpful. read more

Such a beautiful place. It's a moss-laden spruce forest that looks like it came out of a Dr. Seuss book. The brilliant green of the moss contrasts with the dark color of the bark. The groves are massive and there are many large fallen trees across the trails, which adds to the experience. The visitor center now (March) is closed for construction. The Spruce Trail is closed but the moss trail and the longer trails are open. We also saw a herd of elk crossing the road, which was awesome! read more

Oh hell yes!! My husband and I took a 3 day camping trip on the peninsula and this was our second stop. I had never been to the Olympic National Forest before and it was so awesome! There are several campgrounds in the area and we camped at Hoh. The campground itself is quite large, I think it had 3 loops total. The sites are first come first served. Being a Thursday, there were several sites available so we found one quickly. I'd say the sites are fairly spacious and you aren't too close to your neighbors. There are a few hiking trails, a couple that are fairly short, then one that is about 18 miles total. We did the Spruce Nature Trail that was a little over a mile. We saw some serious hikers preparing for the Hoh River Trail (the 18 miles one) which apparently leads to a glacier. One thing I thought was so awesome was that a ranger gives a talk in the campground amphitheater 3 or 4 days a week. There was one on Thursday and we checked it out. Very interesting! I learned several things about the forest, including the fact that it has never been logged and Hoh is the only remaining part of a rainforest that used to run from Northern California to Alaska. Ironically, this was the only place we camped during our trip where it didn't rain. I'd come back here in a heartbeat. We're so lucky to live in a state where there is so much natural beauty! read more

Waited 1.5 hours to get in... totally worth it! There are so many people here, beautiful, friendly people - (very few masks). Stunning scenery. We loved ever minute. read more

If on the West coast of the Olympic Peninsula, this is one of those have to stop at and at least do one of the shorter trails. With more than a few trails to choose from, this is a great place to go for most any level of hiker and to experience an amazing rain forest that is densely populated with so much vegetation and trees. I actually got to see my first "nurse tree" which is amazing that I haven't seen it before considering how many hikes I've been on in the middle of nowhere... This a wonderful place to see wildlife also... We ended up seeing an elk and we were dancing around to get a better picture of her eating foliage. Afterwards, we saw & read the "elk warning" signs letting us know that they have a habit of charging people.. OOOPS.. We'll definitely be back! Due to time constraints, we chose to do a couple of the shorter trails and promised each other that we'd be back to hike in and do an overnight with one of the longer trails. read more

So fun! Beautiful land, rich with adventure for people of any background. The moss was amazing to see. And the trail to blue glacier was amazing we saw several people backpacking that direction for overnight trips. We made it about a mile in, and were impressed with the beauty and energy of these lands. The river was clear and swift, the bark of the trees sacred & full of history. We hope to visit again and stay over night. Until next time. read more

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