Nestled along the west side of Olympic National Park is the Hoh Rainforest. 18 miles off Highway 101, you’ll find the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest. Easily the number one thing this section of Olympic National Park is most known for.
When we visited the Hoh Rainforest, we went against our own recommendation and went smack in the middle of the day. It was crowded and hot, making our time in the Hoh Rainforest short. But shoot, the short amount of time there left us wanting to go back to explore more (without the crowds of people). This area of Olympic National Park is beautiful.
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Hoh Rainforest Quick Facts
- There is a $30 entry fee, waived with the National Parks Pass
- When busy, there’s a one car in – one car out policy, leading to long lines.
- As of September 2022, there is roadwork on the road leading to the rainforest between 11-3, expect delays.
- Some shade in the parking area, be patient for a spot!
- A water station + bathrooms + a visitor’s center awaits at the trailhead.
- Beautiful rainforest, however, we preferred The Quinault Rainforest instead.
- The Hoh Rainforest gets 12 feet of annual precipitation — prepare for wet weather!
READ MORE | looking for a hike where pets can join? Check out this rainforest hike nearby!
The Hall of Mosses Trail In The Hoh Rainforest
The Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rainforest is the reason we went to this part of the national park. In fact, with the heat and the sheer amount of people in the Hoh Rainforest, we only hiked this one trail.
The Hall of Mosses is a manmade trail through the rainforest weaving in and out of trees with drooping moss covering the limbs. And when I say drooping moss, I mean it. The moss droops off the branches in some cases more than two feet down! It’s something we’ve never really seen anywhere else.
And shoot, the moss is beautiful. If you take the time to really slow down and look at the light shining through the moss, it’s a site to see.
With that said, in our experience, everyone was just there for the shot. People were zooming through, walking briskly to the areas Instagram has made popular, to take a shot and carry on their way. This is truly unfortunate, as it in some ways ruins the experience for those wanting to really slow down and take it all in… Don’t let this be you. Slow down and enjoy the area too!
Seeing how the Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rainforest is one of the most popular trails in the area, the trail itself isn’t that great. While the beauty of the area is a lovely distraction to the totally misplaced trail, the gravel trail doesn’t match the rainforest. And that was a major turn-off for us!
In fact, while the Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rainforest is pretty, we’d 10/10 recommend visiting the Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail just south of the Hoh Rainforest, to truly be immersed in nature!
Other Hoh Rainforest Trails
From the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center, there are a handful of trails to enjoy. They range from an accessible .1 mile loop trail in the rainforest to a 17.3 mile one-way hike to Mount Olympus. Keep in mind that the only trail where wheels are allowed is the mini trail. And remember, since the Hoh Rainforest is part of Olympic National Park, pets are not allowed on any of the trails. No exceptions.
Mini Trail | .1 miles
The mini trail is just that, a super mini trail through the rainforest. It’s all compact dirt/gravel making it accessible for those with limited mobility. The trail loops right to the visitor’s center through part of the old-growth rainforest. You’ll find massive trees and beautiful ferns and other plants just steps from the parking lot here.
Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest | .8 mile lolli-pop loop
The Hall of Mosses trail is the most popular trail in the Hoh Rainforest. It starts out flat, followed by a small climb, before becoming relatively flat again as it loops through the old-growth rainforest. Slow down and take in the sounds of wildlife and be on the lookout for things like mushrooms and maybe even a four-leaf clover.
Spruce Nature Trail | 1.2 mile loop
The Spruce Nature Trail is the other shorter trail in the Hoh Rainforest. This trail is not as popular as the Hall of Mosses, though is supposedly really nice too. We did not do the Spruce Nature Trail because it was too to leave Georgie in the van in the sun.
Hoh River Trail | 17.3 mile one-way trail to Glacier Meadows
The Hoh River Traill is a very popular trail for overnight backpackers. In fact, we saw so many people gearing up to hit the trail or just coming off the trail that we lost count. The hike takes you to Glacier Meadows, offering views of Mount Olympus and the Blue Glacier. Head Here to find out more about this backpacking trail and for information on the wilderness permit needed to stay in the backcountry.
Places To Stay Near Hoh Rain Forest
If you plan on camping, there is actually a campground right at the Hoh Rainforest and multiple campgrounds along the road leading to the entrance of the Hoh Rainforest and National Park.
Hoh Rainforest Campground | $24 per night
The Hoh Rainforest Campground is within the national park and is located right at the main parking area to all the trails. There are over 70 campsites at the Hoh Rainforest campground, starting at $24 a night for single sites.
These sites can be reserved up to six months in advance from June – September. Learn more about the Hoh Rainforest Campground + how to reserve a site here.
DNR Primitive Campgrounds | free with Discover Pass
If visiting Washington and planning on camping while in the state, check out this Discover Pass. It’s $35 for an entire year and offers free camping and day-use access to thousands of sites in Washington.
The best part, there are loads of campgrounds right on the edge of Olympic National Park to stay in.. including a handful of them along the road to the Hoh Rainforest! This is by far the best way to stay at actual campgrounds for extremely cheap (free after the $35 pass purchase), saving you money and stress finding places to stay overnight while visiting the Hoh Rainforest.
All campgrounds are on a first-come-first-serve basis. So be sure to find your place to stay and set up camp before heading into the Hoh Rainforest.
Dispersed Camping | free
Dispersed camping is our go-to way to camp while on the road. It’s relatively easy to find places to park, especially with so many national forest roads in this area, and it’s free — requiring no reservation or anything.
LEARN MORE | find out how we find dispersed camping in the United States + rules to follow here.
Hotels + The Like | reserve and book ahead
We know camping isn’t for everyone. That’s why we’re sharing the nearest places to stay with an actual roof over your head here.
Forks is going to be the closest larger town to the Hoh Rainforest. You can find and book places to stay in Fork by using this link here. (it gives us a kickback + costs you nothing extra!)
The other option is to search for a place in the Quinault Valley. We highly recommend visiting the Quinault Rainforest, so why not stay at the lodge in the valley? Check for openings and current prices for the Quinault Lodge here.
Best Time To Visit Hoh Rainforest
Honestly, whenever you’re in the area is the best time to visit the Hoh Rainforest! Okay, in all seriousness, the Hoh Rainforest gets an average of 12 feet of rain each year, and that’s dispersed throughout the year. That’s why it’s so green and lush.
The busiest time of year for the Hoh Rainforest, and the entirety of Olympic National Park, is the summer.. June-September. During that time, you can expect large crowds and metered visitors in the rainforest.
Metered visitors is just a one car in one car out policy that the national park does, as parking is limited. It’s said that you can wait up to an hour just to enter the Hoh Rainforest section of the national park during these times!
As far as time of day goes… the early morning is when you’ll find the best lighting on the Hall of Mosses trail. Early in the morning, you’ll also have fewer crowds and if you get there before 10, you’ll beat the road construction crew as well!
Hoh Rainforest Photography Tips
- Visit the Hall of Mosses and the Hoh Rainforest in the morning for the best lighting.
- Slow down and shoot more than just the moss! The ferns and fungi are pretty too!
- Search for the red mushroom! Someone was set up taking a lot of shots of it when we were there, so we didn’t get any.. but fun to try and find it!
- Zoom in and capture the details.. they’re magnificent.
- Don’t just shoot the popular spots, the entire trail is full of beauty.
Hoh Rainforest Facilities
At the Hoh Rainforest section of the national park, you’ll find the following…
- Campground
- Bathrooms
- Drinking water
- Visitor’s Center
- Picnic Tables
- Grassy area
- Wheelchairs available for checking out for mini-trail
- Trash facilities
Other Hikes in Olympic National Park
Hiking Mount Storm King | 2,000+ feet of elevation gain in 2 miles!
3 Waterfalls in Olympic National Park | easy hikes for those looking for a short stroll
13 Day Hikes in Olympic National Park | with trail difficulty + duration
Hiking With Pets? Read of a Rainforest Nearby Your Fur Babies Can Hike Too!
General Travel Resources
We’ve been traveling pretty regularly since getting married back in 2013. We’ve backpacked for six months in South America, moved to Scotland, traveled the UK & Europe in a campervan, and are now traveling in the states in our newest van build. Here are some travel resources we put together of things we’ve learned on the road.
LEARN MORE | The BEST Apps For Road Trips and Vanlife
LEARN MORE | Our Tried and True Travel Accessories
SAVE MORE | How to Start Saving Hundreds Today
GET INSPIRED | Our $3,000 Campervan Build | No Need For Debt
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