Hoh River Trailhead

Can't think of many places more beautiful and serene than this. A little busy closer to the trailhead but the father back you go the more quiet and serene.

If you want to visit the Hall of Mosses - either get there early or around 4-5pm. Otherwise you will wait 1-2 hrs to gain entrance. You will see lots of ferns and trees with moss covering the entire tree. If you have a few days in Seattle - make the drive.

Pretty long and nice trail alongside the Hoh river. If you follow Tom Creek & campground signs you can actually end up right next to the river. Easy hike with little elevation. Make sure to visit Hall of Mosses too! Plenty of parking space available.

Very good location if you want to go with small kids all three hikes were very easy, just be ready for a long line to enter, took us 2 hours to enter.

This trail is in the Olympic National Forest. You have to get a pass for $30 for 7 days to enter. They say to arrive between 9-10 am to have 30 mins to enter, but it took like 60 mins to get in and we had to wait in line a long time. Once in it was great. We hiked to the waterfall and it was beautiful. You can walk up the right to get closer and down the trail to the riverbed. There was sand and areas where you could get in.

It's definitely not a beginner hike. This trail leads you to some serene and breathtaking views. Whether it be the magnificent trees, the gorgeous river, or just to Tom's Creek where we got to, there is much to enjoy on this hike.

I really enjoyed this hike especially the break offs when you get right on the Hoh River. I went during the week and it was 65°and sunny. I've never seen water that blue before! This is perfect for the solo travelers to enjoy the solitude and capture great moments! Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail are very packed but once you get on the Hoh River trail you'll start to lose the crowd!

Out-and-back trail with a waterfall a few miles in. We made it as far as Tom Creek before turning back and it was a fulfilling hike for us!

I had seen this rainforest on YouTube before and have always wanted to check it out in person. Hoh Rainforest is part of Olympic National Park on the west side of the park. The Hoh part comes from Native American languages and is pronounced "Hoe". Because of the high amount of rain this area gets, a lush green canopy of conifers and deciduous grow here. The surface is covered in moss and fern. This is one of the most popular areas to visit in Olympic National Park. It is so popular that not only do you have to pay to get in, but you have to book a reservation to get i. They also meter the traffic at the entrance station. I got here early and still waited in a very long line. Once I arrived, I checked out the visitor center first to chat with the park rangers. It is a small, but a nice visitor center with lots of information. The two nature trails here is The Hall of Mosses Trail and Spruce Nature Trail. Both are loop trails and around 1 mile long. The Hall of Mosses Trail is a trail that takes you through old growth forest. This is a popular trail that usually has a number of people on it. The Spruce Nature Trail is both an old and new growth forest that is near Taft Creek. The Hoh River Trail takes you to multiple camera spots. All three of these trails begin at the visitor center. Pets are not allowed on trails in the Hoh Rain Forest. I did both nature trails. This is such a beautiful rainforest. It can also be a little eerie walking under all these tree branches covered in moss. There were a lot of people, but not too packed. The Spruce Trail has less people on it. This is definitely worth checking out if you don't mind waiting in a line of cars to get in.

Absolutely beautiful!!! Was probably most excited to visit the HOH Rainforest during our visit to Olympic National Park. Definitely lived up to my expectations. There's two simple, easy hikes that originate from the Hoh Visitor Center - the Hall of Mosses and the Spruce Nature Trail. Both are so incredibly gorgeous, easy, and a joy to do. The Hall of Mosses is a bit shorter at 0.8 miles roundtrip and focuses more on older forest. The Spruce Nature Trail is a bit longer at 1.2 miles roundtrip and includes a bit of trail along the Hoh River. It took us maybe about 1.5 hours max to explore these two trails as we stopped to enjoy along the way. We didn't partake in the Hoh River Trail, but this is their biggest trail that explores the most of the Hoh Rainforest. If we had the time, we would've loved to do this trail. The Hoh Visitor Center is at the trailhead to all the hikes - it's definitely a smaller center, but still has plenty of park and Hoh information, a small bookstore, and a couple of friendly, knowledgeable rangers. They also have nice, clean bathrooms. Hoh Rainforest is a metered portion of the park - they only allow in a set number of people at a time. So once they hit capacity, they hold cars at the gate and let people in as others leave. So keep that in mind when planning your trip - if you come during peak time, you might have to wait a bit to get inside. As expected, there's no food or drinks sold in this area. We stopped in Forks for coffee and breakfast on the way. So definitely recommend that if you need some food prior to arrival (or even after!). Definitely a must-visit when visiting Olympic National Park.

Hoh Rainforest is a very popular attraction in the park, so get there early or you'll find a very full parking lot. Very scenic (and easy) trails through a dense rainforest. The trees are amazing.

Beautiful area, but crowded We drove thru this area to get to the visitor center and the hall of mosses trail. It was a nice drive.

The trails are well maintained, great signage, nice ranger shop for your souvenirs and park information. It is a definitely worth the stop

The Hoh Rainforest is a must see. This is the only rainforest in the contiguous (connecting 48) United States (US). It's located in Olympic National Park, in Washington state. The views are amazing, and the only place to see a rainforest in the Us without visiting Alaska or Puerto Rico.

This temperate rainforest has been declared one of the "quietest places in the US". Annually, it gets 130+ inches of rain, so understandably summer is the peak time for visiting. Words can't describe how tranquil and mystical it is walking through the forest. There were times where no one was following us on the trail and the only sound was our own footsteps. As serene as the forest is, the line to get through the gates really tested our patience. We arrived at about 10:30A since it took a couple hours for us to drive there from Port Angeles. Due to limited parking, the park rangers had to start metering cars at the entrance; for every car that left, one car was allowed in. The line was so long that people were getting out of their cars to start counting how many people were ahead of them. I heard someone say at least 60 cars were ahead of us, so we ended up waiting for over an hour before we reached the gates. There are signs posted that say wait times can reach two hours. Past the gates, you'll drive several miles before getting to the parking area. The main lot was full, but we found a spot on the side of the road. We spent a short time in the visitor's center and then went off to the trails! They have ranger-guided walks for those interested in wandering through with a group. We started with the Hall of Mosses (0.8 mile loop) which will lead you through lush old growth with moss carpeting the trees and branches. The most fascinating section of trees is fenced off, keeping it as pristine as possible. We then ventured to the Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 mile loop). You'll also see mossy trees, many of which are humongous. I felt like an ant standing next to some of the huge trees that have been around for centuries. We spotted a couple chipmunks, saw a woodpecker in action and enjoyed how the trail led us along the Hoh River. Signs posted throughout the trail provide information regarding the forest's history, foliage and wildlife. Both of these trails are considered easy and are mainly flat. There's also a 17-mile Hoh River Trail for those seeking a backpacking trip, but we did not attempt that one. Although not surprising, we encountered flies, mosquitoes and bees. Be sure to wear some sort of bug spray or long sleeves. Our visit to the Hoh Rainforest is something I'll remember forever! It's a definite must when visiting the Olympic Peninsula.

Another beautiful spot in Olympic National Park. We lucked out and arrived for the afternoon (& night) at a less busy time of day. As a result, we had a fairly quick and easy time finding our site and enjoying the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail. The trails are beautiful for sure. Like so many others I'd had Hoh on my Must List for so long. As a result I'd probably built it up a bit too much in my mind. We had a lot of fun, but my husband and I actually enjoyed the Quinalt Rainforest a bit more. Still, a lovely and truly picturesque area...just time it right to avoid the crowds!

THE BIG: UNESCO World Heritage site located on the Olympic peninsula of Washington state. ~4 hr drive from Seattle. THE BLACK AND WHITE: Get here early! We left at 5:30am and got to the park around 9:30am and had to wait to get in. The parking lot fills up quickly and they meter cars to go in after the first batch goes through. There's three major trails: Hall of Mosses, Spruce Bottom and the Hoh River Trail. The first two are ~1 mile each while the Hoh River Trail is ~18 miles long. Perfect for camping. We did the two 1 mile hikes and they were both great. Tons of interesting foliage and mosses. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall, a fun time in the temperate rainforest of the pacific northwest. Highly recommend for those who like green everywhere.

The Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the United States, meaning it has heavy rain and mild temperatures. The Hoh River runs through it and you'll see portions of it as you drive through the Olympic National Park entrance to get here. The Hall of Mosses hike (0.8 miles) didn't have a lot of incline. There was a part of the hike that had a bunch of mossy trees and you'll see people doing photoshoots there. The Spruce Trail hike (1.2 miles) had fewer people but a similar amount of mosses. On top of that, it had a view of the Hoh River. There are longer hikes such as the 5 Mile Island Trail (10.1 miles) and the Hoh River Trail (18.5 miles). Near the trailhead there were also picnic areas and campgrounds next to the river. The rainforest is full of trees and greenery all over and is a popular place to visit if you're at Olympic National Park.

Located on the western side of Olympic National Park, Hoh Rainforest is most known for the moss covered trees and it really feels like an entirely different National Park. From Port Angeles, it took us about 1.5-2 hours to drive here. We planned to arrive early to beat any weekend rush so when we arrived, there were barely any cars and ton of parking spots. As you're driving down the road to the parking lot, you'll pass by a ticket booth to pay an entrance fee. The two trails we hiked were The Hall of Mosses Trail and The Spruce Nature Trail. It's about 2 miles all together and barely any elevation change. We breezed through these pretty quickly, only stopping at a couple of trees that were densely packed with moss and by the Hoh River for pictures. When we left, the parking lot was completely packed and the line of cars just to pay the entrance fee stretched out pretty far. Really glad we planned ahead! One of their main trails is the Hoh River Trail which technically is over 15 miles long but people can go as far out as they want. If you're planning on backpacking, make sure you have the required permits! For just the two hikes we did, it didn't feel very worth the drive but at least it's easy. I think I was expecting greener moss but most of what we saw had a dull green to it and some brown. I'd imagine that if it was misty, the scenery would completely change but we had pretty clear skies.

A frozen river, but stunning views at the Hoh Rainforest 18 miles off the main road, this forest is worth the drive and visit out. We visited during 22° Fahrenheit weather and got this view, what will you see?!

The Hall of Mosses was enchanting. You could spend hours on that one hike. We spent about 2 hours waiting to get into the park, and the line was twice as long when we left. We did go on a Saturday of a holiday weekend, but I highly recommend going early.

These trails are easy to walk in my opinion, you do need to watch your footing in certain areas and take it slower if you aren't as sure on your feet. These trails are beautiful and feel like magic, there is so much to see and so many great photo opportunities as well as nature photography.

Hoh Rainforest is a special place. The bright green mosses, towering trees and oceans of ferns are so magical. I was there on a warm sunny day, and while it was lovely, I would love to see it in all its rainy, drizzly glory, as well. It's quite something to see a temperate rain forest like this out west. Getting there is a journey. If you're staying in Port Angeles, plan for at least a 2 hour drive. Everything I read, recommended to get there before 10 am. As part of Olympic National Park, the NPS also calls out that there could be extended delays between high visitation hours of 10-3 during the summer and weekends. I arrived at 8:50 am on a Wednesday with just two cars ahead of me. The lot was about 50% full already. I've read that at peak hours it could take 60 minutes or more to enter. Rangers monitor the lot and don't let any more cars in once full. It is a rather small parking area considering its popularity. I know reservation systems at National Parks can be a touchy subject, but sometimes they are needed to manage visitation. Hoh might actually benefit from that and help improve the visitor experience. Anyway, about the hikes. Since you're out here, you may as well sample all of the three main trails. Hall of Mosses is about 1 (less actually) but the showcase trail with all the Insta-photo-ops. It was pretty but overcrowded, even first thing in the morning. Spruce Nature trail is up next with a 1.2 mile loop that also brings you up close to the Hoh River. That trail is less crowded and just as pretty as Hall of Mosses. Finally, there is the Hoh River trail where you can choose your own adventure. It stretches on for about 18 miles and you can turn around whenever. It's a route for backpacking camps and also, I've heard, your mostly likely opportunity for wildlife spotting. On my way out on the trail, it was very quiet and I felt like I had it practically to myself. It's a pretty flat trail but lots of roots and rocks to step over, so it can be slow going. I went as far as Mineral Falls, stopped for a snack and headed back. Park maps put that as 5.4 miles round trip but my tracker showed 6. Lots more hikers on the trail on the way back, a surprising amount for a week day. The Visitor Center was closed when I visited but there were still clean restrooms and water fountains. Nearest food and gas would be in the town of Forks. Overall, this was a must stop for me in Olympic and I spent about 4 hours here, soaking in the ancient forest. Entry fee of $30 or you can use your America the Beautiful Pass.

This Will Hoh Your Mind The only North American rainforest (https://bit.ly/38oonVv) runs almost entirely all along the West Coast (aka West Syde™), from upper NorCal all the way up to Alaska. But no part of that rainforest region is more well-known than the forests of Olympic National Park here in the Hoh Rainforest--which receives an avg of 200" of rain a year! While a fantastic place to visit, it's out in the middle of nowhere and a 2.5hr drive from Sequim (2hrs from Port Angeles) with little to no amenities in the surrounding area. If you're looking for food, then just stop now; the nearest town is Forks (yes, that Forks, WA "Twilight" fans), and their food scene is a nightmare. I recommend bringing your own snacks or sammiches to get you through the day until you can make it back to Sequim or Port Angeles for some real sustenance. The other thing is while the first is iconic and unlike anything we've ever seen--except for the fact that we kinda *had* seen it the day before at the Marymere Falls. There, you'll find almost the exact type of flora, fauna and scenery that you'll see here. The biggest and best reason to come to the Hoh Forest is that it's your best chance of seeing Roosevelt Elk. And if that's enough for you, then so be it because that's essentially the only reason we came was a chance to see some Elk, and we scored epically! My next and last piece of advice is if you have done Marymere Falls and still decided to come here then do yourself a favor and skip the Spruce River Trail, Hall of Mosses Trail, do not pass "Go" and do go directly to the Hoh River Trail. While the former two are fine loop trails and a great intro to the rainforest environment, the latter is much, much more of an adventure with more interesting things to see and take in.

What an incredible experience. Such a beautiful and unique place to visit. The visitor's center has a small educational area about the nature/wildlife in the area, as well as a gift shop. There are also clean & warm restrooms next to the visitors center. The Hall of Moss was a lovely trail & absolutely stunning. Definitely recommend Hoh River Trail - it's a beautiful walk & the river is surrounded by mountain ranges. Absolutely stunning.

An absolutely beautiful forest that you absolutely must visit during your trip to Olympic National Park! We went in June on a weekday and arrived around 9 am. When we left around 12-1 pm, there was a loooonnng line at the entrance station, where they were letting in 1 car for every 1 car that left. So just be aware of that when planning your day. There are several trails of varying lengths which all leave from the visitor center in the Hoh. We did the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail, both pretty popular but everyone kept fairly quiet, I think just observing and admiring everything around them. This is a stunning place and I would love to come back!

Getting into hog rainforest is crazy . Long wait times . Once u get in, it's an amazing place . We walked through him river trail . Very peaceful and nice roads . Not sure if smaller kids with strollers are possible . It's actually a very long trail , but you can walk a mile or two and come back . There is a space where you can walk through and see the River . It gets a bit slippery and needs extreme caution . We liked it overall . Nice walk and good trail experience..

Truly and absolutely magical. I had to pick my jaw up off the forest floor the entire time. I took a million pictures and none of them really did justice to this incredible place. As far as trails go, you've got two popular trails (Hall of Mosses / Spruce which are both a flat mile each or something along those lines) and the Hoh River Trail which is a backpacking trail (17 miles). I recommend doing both Hall of Mosses and Spruce which are similar but still different enough to be enjoyable. If you can, I'd say come here during the rainy season. We came in November (late) and it was absolutely perfect. I'm not sure what it looks like during a drier time but I'd recommend trying to maximize the life force behind all the growth. The best tip I can give you is to take your time. Don't walk too fast and really look around you. There are so many incredible types of fungi hiding in plain sight. The biodiversity is stunning.

Hoh rainforest is a must when visiting Olympic National park. Yes, there are other places in the park that is far less busy, with less wait times to see mossy forest trees BUT there's just something magical about this place. The trees are much taller and dreamy in every turn. Highly recommend bug repellent and to arrive early in the AM or much later. I had to wait an hr just to get in the park at a stop and go.

Absolutely stunning and dreamy. Went on a rainy day and an overcast but no rain day. Every inch of space is filled with wonder and inspiration. I recommend the trails for sure. There are 3-Hall of Mosses, Spruce Nature Trail, and the Hoh River Trail. I read one of the reviews that said skip the first 2. That's foolish. Don't. They're so different from one another, yet right next to each other. They're stunning in their own ways. And the first 2 are short enough that you won't be sorry to just see what they have to offer. I can't express how special this place is. You just need to experience it yourself.

The Hoh Rainforest is really amazing. Beware that if you are there in the summer months, there will be a TON of people. We had to circle the area a couple times to find a parking space, and they have a lot of parking for this. There are several trails, ranging from easy to difficult. Hall of Mosses is really cool, with moss growing on everything with curtains of it lining the trees. There's a visitor center and restrooms. There is an overnight camping area next to the center and parking lots.

Part of the Olympic national park. This place was pure magic. A must go if you've never been, and visiting the park. Every couple feet there's a new picture to take or some magical tree. Was the highlight hike of our trip.

Just did the hall of mosses trail while visiting but if we had more time would of done another hike. Hall of mosses was paved and super simple circle walk. Something I'd recommend my mom to walk. Seems to be a popular area which kinda makes it not as enjoyable but at least you know it's less likely to run into a mountain lion.

Wow...what an absolutely magnificent place! If you're in the area, I'd say you really need to do the hikes here! They're are two relatively easy and flat hikes that aren't very long, but you'll be so mesmerized and want to take so many pictures that it'll seem like a long hike lol! I did both trails in two hours...but I doddled and meandered slowly through the ethereal wonderland. A truly magical place! Ferns carpet the ground and everything is dripping with moss! I could hear the tree frogs!! A very faint chirp in the background! I half expected the fairies, elves and gnomes to come carry me off during parts of the hike! The two trails I did were the Hall of Mosses and the Spruce Nature Trail. Plenty of paved parking...the parking lot was absolutely packed ...but could still find some empty spots and was still able to be alone...especially for most of the spruce trail! The spruce trail is lower and mostly flat...much more humid and it seemed a little warmer...much more like what you'd expect a rainforest to be like! The hall of mosses trail climbs in elevation a bit more...and there are about 3x as many people on this one. Both trails are marked as one way. Everyone on the spruce trail was respectful of that but there were several families on the hall of mosses trail that went the wrong way and didn't put masks on. The internet mentions that the hall of mosses is paved but it's not. There's a smaller "mini trail" that is 0.1 miles long that might be paved so maybe they were thinking of that one? Definitely recommend to do the little maple grove walk (200 ft) off the hall of mosses trail! The Visitor center at trailhead of both trails has fairly decent bathrooms There were lots of little bugs/flies...and they will land on you and buzz you but they didn't bite or sting me at all...more of just a nuisance really, so don't let it bother you.

Went camping here for couple nights. We found a perfect camping spot next to the Hoh River. We loved waking up with the view of the mountains and the sound of the river. The campground have a flushed toilets and running/drinking water. It's not a rainforest if it doesn't rain right? Pack your rain jackets, rain boots and umbrella. Bring some insect repellants too. So many Noseums (tiny bugs) that will eat you alive worst than mosquitoes. We enjoyed our lil hike in Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail. It was so majestic.

This is a really stunning part of the Olympic National Forest with incredibly impressive trees and foliage, beautiful creeks and rivers, and some great hikes! There is The Hall of Mosses which is an easy walking trail located at the visitor's center near the campground and is great for all ages and skill levels. There are also a few other moderate hikes in the area and then many other longer ones that encompass more of the rain forest and terrain of the peninsula. Hoh is one of the largest temperate rain forests in the US and includes a variety of species of gigantic trees. Want to see what the world was like when dinosaurs ruled the land? Go check out these massive trees and you'll feel small and humbled in no time! The hanging mosses add a dramatic effect to the already magical setting and I've never seen clearer water than in the creeks and Hoh river that flow through this forest. While we visited in the summer, our friend who is a Seattle native informed us that spring is really the best time to see the forest because the amount of rain in spring keeps all the greenery bright and beautifully mesmerizing. Definitely recommend the stop though regardless of when you're passing by.

Absolutely stunning. Hoh Rainforest is a must when visiting the Olympic National Park. With its lush fern and moss-covered trees, there's a lot of beauty to see here. We came here as our second stop when visiting the park. We were coming from the north end, which took about an hour and half of a drive to get to this rainforest from Hurricane Ridge. And once we arrived, there was a line at the ranger booth to get in on a Saturday. Unfortunately, for those who've already paid their admission fee (like us) has to wait in the same line as those who need to pay, which is why it takes so long here. But it's worth it. There are multiple trails here at Hoh Rainforest, but we did the main one, the Hall of Moss, which is an easy, flat walk. Other trails are more of a hike and are longer. Since we were trying to hit up more spots throughout the park, we did the Hall of Moss, which I recommend for anyone who wants to see the Hoh Rainforest, but is on a time constraint. The fern and moss-covered trees are a real thing. This is a place that's hard to explain in words, as you really have to see it for yourself. Although it doesn't sound like much, it's stunning. It's also very serene, walking around the trail and seeing so many tall trees that have been here for years. I was also shocked to see how incredibly clear the streams of water were. You could see everything in the water, with the rocks and plants underneath. Incredible. For anyone visiting the Olympic National Park and has never seen the Hoh Rainforest, make this one as part of your agenda. You will not be disappointed.

This is a must to visit! So beautiful and green. I was mesmerized by everything in this forest. It was so interesting to see all the mosses and I loved every minute that I spent here. It was definitely a long drive but well worth it. My friends and I had lots of fun and took so many photos. We even saw some animals on our drive out. Highly recommend coming to this place!

My wife, two sons (13 and 11 years), and I came here in late July 2019 for sightseeing. We drove from Port Angeles to see Lake Crescent, the Hoh Rain Forest, and Ruby Beach. The rain forest was less scenic than expected (perhaps because the area had drought conditions in July) as we hiked by a few dry, moss-covered trees and some ferns on the Hall of Mosses trail. After 30 minutes, my sons were getting bored as they preferred kayaking at Lake Crescent. We also walked along the Spruce River Trail, which gave a view of the Hoh River, but it was just OK. The rain forest is probably a "should-see" destination for families if it's your first time visiting Olympic National Park. That said, if your time is limited, I would recommend skipping the rain forest and using that time to enjoy Ruby Beach or Lake Crescent at a more leisurely pace.

So it's definitely a haul to get out here, and we had to sit still in traffic for more than 30 minutes to get there due to construction and parking at the park being full (it's a one in one out kind of thing where if it's full, you don't get in until someone else leaves). We got here ~ 330 pm so may have beeb better to get here earlier. But we still had plenty of time to get in and explore the park. It really is uniquely beautiful out here though. Highly recommend if you're in the area. You do need to make sure you have either have an america the beautiful nature annual pass, or pay ~ $30 for parking for an average size car.

So, it's nice and it's a pretty flat, doable walk out on the rainforest trail, or a quick walk of about a mile through the Hall of Mosses with a bit of hilliness. But it's not worth an hour or two on line outside the park. The line isn't due to slow booth employees, it's because they only let a car in when one leaves after the pots fill up, which happens pretty early, maybe 9 or 10 from what I heard from a ranger in another part of Olympic. Most people don't spend too much time there, so people will leave, but as I looked at the line as I drove out, I wished the people on line knew what they'd see inside and knew they should turn around and come back before 9 another day. Maybe the park is more spectacular when it's actually rainier. It's interesting and a different ecosystem than elsewhere in the park. We didn't see any big fauna, but we did see a licorice slug. On the River walk you're not out on the River, so it's nice and shady, but during the walk to Five Mile Island you're only out on the River a few times.

Date of visit: Sept. 19, 2020 One of the loveliest places to visit in Washington. Plenty of trails to hike to your heart's content, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the Olympic Mountains. Visitor center was closed, but they had plenty of trail and park information posted. Bathrooms are open and rangers are still there to answer questions. Nice little walk on the trail that takes you around the rain forest. It was refreshing especially after being locked down at home for long due to the covid. Campground was also very well kept with nice, new sinks and toilets to use; a real hidden gem. This is a must-see for fans of old-growth forests! Parking wasn't hard to get. Absolutely worth visiting. All in all highly recommended if you're in the area!

Not worth the drive from Port Angeles and way overrated... You get the same look and feel at Sol Duc plus you get to see the waterfalls In recap It takes forever to get there (prepare to wait at several points due to construction and it added 45 min) Once you are near the entrance, plan to wait another hour prior to entry Once inside, you have 3 hikes Two are super short and one very long In recap, not worth it and the Forrest was so dry We preferred Hurricane Ridge at sunset 1000 times more...

Hoh Rain Forest was one of my favorite activities and sights to see while visiting Olympic National Park. After spending the night in Forks (home to the Twilight Movies)...it was a simple 13 mile drive to arrive here. I came first thing in the morning and had Hoh Rain Forest virtually all to myself! With this place being quite the popular attraction, parking can be difficult to find. But since it was 8am, there were plenty of spots. Exploring around Hoh Rain Forest was easy. Basically, there were 2 main paths to walk around which pretty much summed up the essence of what makes this area so magical... First I walked the HALL OF MOSSES TRAIL. This according to the sign posted..."Begin this 3/4 mile loop entering an older part of the forest. Here there is a primeval spirit - moldering logs, trunks shaggy with moss and giant trees that seem as old as the earth". One of the best aspects of this Hall of Mosses Trail was MAPLE GROVE. I took a bunch of pictures here. I believe Maple Grove was the pinnacle of Hoh Rain Forest, sort of the main attraction. This entire section really exemplified the trees, bushes and forest being covered in colorful green moss. I was quite impressed with Maple Grove! Especially with the sun rising from early morning, it really shined down and throughout the lay of the land as if I was transported to an alternative universe! Seriously, that's how I felt! Continuing past Maple Grove along Hall of Mosses Trail, there were a couple of other real prized moments to appreciate the mosses including walking past a small creek along the Hoh River where the waters were so clear and visible I could easily see down to the surface! And with the mosses hanging alongside the tree branches above the creek, I felt as if I was in a scene from Jurassic Park! And again the water was so picture perfect clear...it looked drinkable, lol, j/k. The second hike I took was the SPRUCE NATURE TRAIL. The sign for this path stated..."Along this 1.25 mile loop trail you'll pass a lush variety of plants, representing different ages and stages of forest affected by the wandering power of the Hoh River." This trail had some nice aspects and stopping points to appreciate more of the colorfully green mosses spread throughout the forest. At times it felt as if the moss had come alive because the surroundings were so vibrant, especially now that the sun had pierced it's way through the crevices of the tree branches. Funny at the end of Spruce Nature Trail, the grounds were so moist/wet and with the sun reflecting upon the sporadically embedded shrubs throughout the grounds...I could see the fog and moisture rising as the sun peeked on down. As if I could visualize "smoke" rising into the air, but really it was just the condensation evaporating. In all the setting was so unique and lively, I had to stop for a few moments to appreciate the entire setting. After I completed Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trails, I headed back to the parking lot area where there's a Visitors Center for using bathrooms, getting your Parks Pass Stamped and for any little souvenirs you may like. Although the Visitors Center was technically closed for this summer season for 2020, Park Rangers were standing outside for any questions or assistance you may have needed. In all, I spent maybe 2 - 3 hours exploring the trails, hanging out and enjoying the scenic ambiance of Hoh Rain Forest. And when I completed my visit here, the parking lot was full of cars. From Hoh Rain Forest, I continued onto the La Push area of the Olympic Peninsula with Third Beach. Overall, Hoh Rain Forest was quite the memorable experience. It really exemplified the true meaning for being among such a thriving rain forest with a superabundant amount of greenish/yellow covered moss. Leaving here and reflecting back, I have a newfound respect for beautiful moss set in the heart of the Pacific Northwest!

So much beauty to be seen in this enchanted forest. It truly is like walking in a fairytale. Beautiful green moss coats the trees while ferns and other plants fight for space on the forest floor. The rivers and streams flowing through the forest are so clear you won't believe your eyes. If you're fortunate, a deer or elk can be seen wandering about. As soon as I stepped foot in this land of wonder, my stress instantly disappeared and a feeling of calm took over. Whoever said magic doesn't exist hasn't been to the rainforest. :-)

Hoh Rainforest was one of the most magical places I've ever visited. The forest is just gorgeous and the moss coats the trees in such a way that it feels like you're out of something like Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. Olympic National Park is a beautiful place and this was one of my favorite places in the park. I will say that visiting in the summer necessitates bug spray or the mosquitos will make you pay for forgetting it haha

I visited twice this month and it was this green in November. Absolutely fell in love. Come here and bring the right gear. It was raining and about low to mid 40's, but layers well and put on a raincoat. Maybe saw a handful of people if that so made for great pictures outside of tourist season. I will be returning. You'll say "oh wow" a lot of you're from the East coast. Biggest trees I've seen in person!

This review is for the visitor's center and the rainforest itself. Like many national parks, it cost $30 to enter. We parked at the visitor's center and hiked two trails. The Hall of Mosses trail is the most famous and only about a .8 mile loop. Then we did the Spruce Trail which is a gorgeous 1.2 mile loop. Both are gorgeous! Be on the watch out for huge banana slugs! We even saw a deer! The mossy trees are breathtaking and there is a wonderful moment by a river on the spruce trail. The Hoh river trail was a bit out of our abilities hiking with a 4 year old but I hear that one is amazing and you can see elk and a huge waterfall on that one. The visitor's center isn't very big for a national park, but it does the job and the staff is very friendly and informative.

Loved every minute we spent in Hoh rainforest! If you're coming from the Seattle area, be sure to leave before 6 am so you'll arrive by 10 (before it gets too crowded). With COVID precautions, once the park fills they only let one car in for every car that leaves. You don't want to be sitting in line outside of the park waiting to enter for hours so do yourself a favor and get up early! Once there, the landscapes are indeed worth the visit.

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

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.

My boyfriend and I went camping here in October and it was very beautiful and rainy! We saw elk, birds, and deer, and lots of moss and mushrooms. We hiked the two short hikes at the Hoh rainforest and spent most of our time cooking and hanging out at our campground. It will be very rainy, so be prepared with a change of clothes, rain gear, tarps, and good shoes. We ran out of firewood and had some trouble starting it when it was raining, so we had to go buy more from one of the local forewood sellers.

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.

The Hoh Rainforest is absolutely amazing! It is a migical place and we enjoyed visiting this place. It was $30 to enter the park and you can access other areas of the park for one week. The mossy trees were magical and we loved our hikes. We went on Hall of Mosses and Spruce River trail. We also went off the trail to see the river. It was such a great sight to see and I'm so glad we came here. We saw an elk on our way there. It was all around such a great sight to see!

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.

Just incredible - this is a must see place. Driving in to the park we encountered several elk crossing the road. They definitely know who is in charge...sauntering slowly across the road, not a care in the world. Made a great photo op! The paths through the forest are magic - beautiful trees, mosses, streams running with rippling water plants. I will definitely return, it was a lovely day! Beware - arrive early to avoid the wait to get in to the park! We did, and were surprised to see the long line of cars waiting to enter as we left.

Olympic National Park has been on my hit list for many years. It was the photos of the whimsical mossy trees in the Hoh Rainforest that were calling my name. Given the slow and long drive from Seattle, I'd never had a chance to pull it off until now. From SeaTac airport, it will take you around 4 hours to reach the park's visitor center on the north side in Port Angeles. The Hoh Rainforest is found on the west side of the park. Entrance is $25 per car. Note that the visitor center closes at 5pm. However, bathrooms are still available after that. Consider lighting when timing your visit for the best mossy green colors. We opted for the hour long (easy) Hall of the Mosses hike loop. This route gave us several beautiful views of mossy trees, wildlife (baby elk and a lizard) and forest beds covered in ferns. We visited at 5pm and enjoyed the lack of humans and ease of parking (however, this may be the case year-round). If you're visiting Hoh Rainforest, do yourself a favor and carve out an extra hour or two to swing by Ruby Beach along 101 just south of Hoh. Especially if you can pull it off at sunset. It's completely magical.