Hoh Rain Forest Reviews

We did the two loops near the visitor center: hall of moss and spruce nature trail. Both around a mile loop each. The hall of moss was pretty incredible to see. And we ended up seeing an elk in the spruce trail. Was crowded but was definitively a must see in Olympic national park.

If you LOVE nature, then THIS is the place for you! What a drive! I just LOVED all the moss all over the trees. My poor husband got so tired of stopping so I could take photos! But, I am hoping that he is pleased with the ones I took. I want to have them hanging around our house!

The Hoh Rain Forest is truly otherworldly! Beautiful beyond description. While walking a path, there was a group of elk feeding, minding their own business.
We highly recommend you visit. You won’t be disappointed.

Just the drive back to this site will give you a good feeling for the forest. The main trails are fairly busy, and so the feeling of being out in a rain forest was somewhat lost with all of the people. If you can find a lesser used trail, and have the time, try to get away from the crowds. But even if you can't you should see this unique ecosystem.

.....and that's probably why it had to pour out of buckets when we started the second part of our circuit here, i.e. there are two relaxed circuits for hiking, where you can look at nature very well and where just the occasional rain shouldn't bother you.

A very nice (if only small) part of Olympic National Park - highly recommended (admission price for a vehicle 30 USD).

Although I would recommend coming to the rainforest, the wait outside the park was really long! When I got there I spent about an hour walking along some of the trails and then left. Unless you’re going to go for long hikes within the forest, it’s really not worth the long line. It’s just OK.

We took our young kids here and they loved seeing the trees and plants of the area. Everything was really green even though they were going through a dry spell when we visited. We took the short loop hikes by the visitor center and it was perfect for the kids (flat and easy). There was limited parking when we arrived around 9:30 and the parking lot was filled by the time we left (noon). Definitely worth the stop if you have not spent much time in a temperate rainforest.

We went on a Monday and this area was still very crowded with long waits to get in. There was more parking than I expected, but there were so many people that it almost didn’t matter. The Hall of Mosses hike was easy and had some cool stuff to see, but was packed. Not sure that we would come back and battle the crowds again.

Amazingly serene and breathtaking at the same time. Easy hike through the forest with the sun shining down between majestic trees.

1.5 hour line to park, exhaust all day in a natural park, really!
You get within a couple of miles of the ocean the fog is so bad! You can't see the ocean! Drippy la push.

You may ask, why only four stars? Before I answer, let's review the experience itself. The Hoh Rain Forest consists of developed trails through meandering rain forest. These experiences were worthy of 10 Stars! I will forever remember this one view looking down at the clearest water I'd ever seen, with grass undulating in the current. I spent a lot of time just letting this in. The reason for the less than perfect review is that this was a highly impacted site, meaning there were lots and lots of people on the trails. It made this wide open experience feel slightly congested. We were hoping that by going post-Labor Day we'd miss the crowds. Still, don't let this minor criticism keep you from visiting. The Park Service has done a great job of bringing the Pacific Northwest rain forest alive in just a few, short trails.

We did the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail. They were nice and short. Neat scenery, a lot different than what we see in Florida! The Spruce Trail will take you down to the river where you can explore. Some neat photo ops. Was a little crowded especially for a Monday! Don't forget if you went to Hurricane Ridge you can use your pass for Hoh Rainforest as well.

A surreal beautiful place where you can truly connect with nature. It can be a little crowded, especially during the busiest months, so start your day early with this beautiful hike.

There is a lot of driving in this park, and we found that hiking Marymere Falls offered the same diversity as the Hoh Rainforest area.

This is something you just have to see. You would not expect this in the Northern United States. The trails are easy to walk and anyone could do them. The different things you can see and the way the trees grow with all the moss and ferns is amazing. If I can make one recommendation go very early. This is a one road in one road out place with very limited parking. We went early and spend the entire morning walking around. We saw some elk and even found a couple different slugs. But if you don't go early you could be waiting in line for hours because as a certain point they will only let a car in if a car comes out. Don't miss it but go early.

The rainforest is amazing with plenty of ferns, mosses and trees. We enjoyed the short 1-mile loop hike, Hall of Mosses, and a portion of the Hoh River Trail. The trails are a bit muddy and sloppy in places so bring proper footwear. Also, bring raingear so you can enjoy the forest in the likelihood of rain. We arrived at the entrance station shortly after 8 AM and there were only two vehicles in front of us. When we left about five hours later, there were over 30 vehicles waiting to get in.

This is such a beautiful place, but it can get quite crowded by noon, and that can spoil the experience for some people. Get there as early as you can. We got here by 8 am, before the visitor center was even open, and had a close encounter with a group of elk just behind the center. It was amazing. The two short trails are beautiful, but to really get away from crowds, and for another perspective, take the Hoh River trail. It's an out and back trail, and you don't have to do the whole thing. We did about 4 and a half miles, before turning around.

I visited the Hoh rainforest on a recent trip to Olympic National Park. The drive through the lush and dense forest was beautiful, and worth the trip, but I was dissappointed that it was so crowded that you could barely walk along the easier trails without bumping into another person; I'd have been happier being able to listen to the trees.

This is a lively place to visit. The drive to the visitor center is amazing by itself. We did both nature trails and enjoyed seeing some elk.

Olympic National Park has multiple different entrance. Each with very different environments & views. A must travel destination. Warning, issues with rocks falling onto driving vehicles in the Lake Crescent area on the 101 HWY during stormy weather. The winds and rain wear away at the mountain sides. This area has a history of landslides. But it has gorgeous views of Lake Crescent. HWY 101 has sever scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean Outlooks/ pullouts have free and convenient access to the beaches. The Upper Hoh Rain Forest Road is paved. Rest stops have outdoor toilets. Road run pretty much along side of the Hoh River. Weather conditions ca change drastically. Pay attention to the weather forecast before planning your trips.

While we enjoyed the Quinault Rainforest area a bit better that the Hoh, the Hoh is amazing, beautiful, and well worth visiting. The spectacular trees covered in moss, the abundant flora and fauna, and the vivid shades of green everywhere will keep you busy taking pictures as you attempt to capture the magic. There are various trails you can explore and a nice visitors center with clean restrooms. You may experience large crowds that make photography and quiet reflection difficult as well as a parking lot bursting at the seams, but don't be discouraged, you're still going to be amazed by the beauty of this unique place.

To be honest, I'm sure this place would have impressed me far more if we hadn't just spent 10 days on Vancouver Island taking short hikes in various areas (Little Qualicum Falls, Cathedral Grove, Cape Scott, Lighthouse Loop on Wild Pacific Trail, East Sooke Regional Park, etc) with lots of old growth douglas fir, western red cedar, etc. Many of these other places had very similar geography which made me wonder why everyone talks about this place so much. There were generally far fewer folks we encountered at the other places on Vancouver Island as well.

At any rate, this is a very nice spot to visit, even with all the crowds. My wife and I did the two short walks from the small visitor center at the trailheads - the Spruce Trail and the Hanging Moss Trail. I'd say they were about 2 miles total and very easy walking. There is a large parking lot at the visitor center but it appears to fill quickly and there are signs saying you can park along the road as long as all tires are off the pavement.

It is a pretty drive into the park on this road and the trails we did were very nice, just lost some of it's luster when comparing it to places we had just visited on Vancouver Island. At any rate, we would certainly recommend a visit to this location. We had a Seniors Park Pass so there was no cost for us.

If you do not plan on getting there early, then it’s not worth your time to even go. We had read all about the long wait times and did not want to wait or experience this with a million other tourists so we went early. Sunrise early. Got up at 4 am and drove nearly 2 hours and it was the right decision. We started on Hall of Mosses and had the trail to ourselves, which meant taking our time and pictures without anyone else in them. After, we went to the river trail and it started getting busier. When we went back out to the visitors center and parking lot (9 am) it was already full and the line to get into the park was 45 minutes. The most famous trail, Hall of Mosses, is unique but very short.

Incredibly beautiful temperate rainforest with nice easy hikes. Hall of Mosses is must see. We spent several hours enjoying the peaceful scenery. River water levels were quite low at this time of year--would be even more spectacular with a higher flow. Even so, all in our group agreed this was definitely worth the trip.

This place is like a whole other world. The ferns, moss, and trees are just amazing. We all loved the 2 short hikes we did here. We went in early June, and it wasn't crowded at all. The weather was cool and perfect. The hall of mosses is a great trail and then we took an adjoining trail that went partially along the river. The water was a gorgeous color. We stayed in Forks to enjoy the coast and this part of the rain forest, and I'm so glad we did. It felt like being on the set of Jurrassic Park. My teens both said this was their favorite hike on our PNW trip.

Out of this wordly! It was snowing and we still loved it. We didn’t drive the entire path because we were worried about getting back for a wedding.

It was interesting to see the moss. I most likely will not go back. It rained, but as you are in the trees it wasn’t bad. Not worth buying a plastic poncho. We waited 50 minutes to get in at 10am. If you can’t see the outhouse by the ranger entrance from your vehicle turn around. That means you have a VERY long wait (like 2 hours). Go to Beach 2 instead.

We had a great time in the Hoh Rain Forest. On a tour we were constantly being informed about all the things we were seeing. We walked probably 5 miles and then had a great picnic lunch in the parking lot.

20 minute line to get through the entrance at 4 in the afternoon. Once there, some great short hikes in cool mossy and fern covered trails. Worth the drive

We loved walking through the Hall of Mosses. Beautiful drive getting to the parking area and only a short walk to the trails which are to the right of the visitors center, which isn’t open due to Covid. Restrooms are open. There were a lot of people, but most wore masks and gave each other space on the one way trails. Only the Olympic National Park $30 entrance fee. If you’re going to Mt. Ranier National Park also, you may want to get the $80 pass that gets you and anyone with you in for free at any national park nationwide for a year from your purchase date.

Pretty place but not as lush as Maple Glade. Worth a hike though. Busy even in mid September. Keep an eye out for deer hiding in the trees. Saw a banana slug on the trail

This was the most interesting part of the park. Was it worth traveling 2,000+ miles to see during a week of endless rain? Debatable. Olympic National Park is not easy to get around. So you are forced to literally go to one site a day due to the lack of connecting roads. Major areas of the park are not upgraded and offer little interpretive information compared to other Canadian and US properties. Antiquated is not the right word—beat up, sparse and lacking investment are the best words to describe Olympic. There are so many sites that are more accessible and offer more bang for your buck in North America. Really look at other park options before making the trek out to the West Coast.

A place a sacred beauty. Quiet and solemn it demands respect. The experience will be an important part of your life

We were surprised at the warm and sunny weather on our visit to this rain forest (we'd been to others elsewhere, almost always in the rain).

Two short trails (and a connecting loop) provide easy access to some old growth, with numerous interesting formations. There is a longer trail for the more adventurous.

Get there early - there's lots of parking, but it fills quickly. The Visitors Center doesn't have much in the way of exhibits, but has decent washrooms and water fountains.

Right beneath my feet
And how did you get there...
trail?

Please stay on the trail.

Great place to visit in the Olympic National Park. Poetry guides your tour around the Hall of Moses.

Sublime, nature is sometimes crazy... very pretty walks to take despite the crowds... and yet, we were there in September, but it felt like DisneyLand

If you have time, choose Quinault National Forest, it's just as beautiful, but above all more peaceful

We loved walking in the Hall of Mosses! There were some places where it just seemed magical to be in all the moss and ferns. We saw a banana slug and a giant elk that was blocking the path and we had to wait for him to move to continue. The walk took us about an hour, but that was with time taking pictures and waiting for the elk to move. We got there at 9:30 and got right in, but when we left an hour later there was a large line already. If you can't get there early I would suggest coming back in the evening to avoid the line.

Amazing to see a rain forest in such an area. The Hoh River runs alongside the 18 mile road from Hwy 101. Busy up there and summer is just beginning. Beautiful drive and easy walking trails .

We loved visiting the Hoh Rain Forest and all the unbelievable sights and sounds that it delivered. Starting off with massive tress, standing moss all over trees, rocks and stones, streaming rivers, and more. Lots of hiking and a great visitor center to boot. Great photo opportunities await you.

drenched in love and rain and sweat.......
go .....go now......enjoy being in bliss with the wild world....
saw a crazy woman in her wedding dress--- very muddy and happy.
its a thrill to be this happy......poems posted on the trails......

Very pretty driving thru pretty forests; many stops along the way; trails and hikes clearly marked; the paths are safe and well, the walks easy and very interesting to learn from..

We took the .8 mile and 1.4 mile hikes and both were beautiful. We couldn't get over how clear the water was in the streams and how quiet it was even with other people around. Both hikes are easy and good for any age group.

The sunlight that filters through this rain forest is so soothing and relaxing. I loved the fresh smell of this place.

Please heed the warnings and go EARLY! We left Forks around 9:30 or 10 and should have been to the rainforest in about 40 minutes, but we never made it. The 2 hour line of cars to get in was too long for us. We ended up finding a pull-out and took a very short trail into the forest. It was a good view of the rainforest with no other people around. It is definitely worth the trip- just know it will be a long wait if you don't plan accordingly.

We stayed in a cabin near the park and arrived at the visitors center at 7:45am. Parked right in front. On the drive in we saw a young male elk and a huge male elk.
We started our day at the hall of mosses. Very quiet and beautiful so early. We enjoyed the Spruce trail and the interpretive signage.
We hiked the Hoh river trail to five mile island. We passed people on the way at the beginning, but it thinned out quickly. Trail was flat at the beginning and end with some up and down in the middle.
Very fun hike. Enjoyed the beauty.

You’ve driven to the Hoh Visitor Center, why not take multiple hikes? Your odds of experiencing wildlife like the local Roosevelt Elk increases proportionally to the time you spend on the trail.

Both the Hall of Mosses and River hike are quick and easy while opening a window of knowing to the ancients. And with your camera by your side you might just capture that image of a lifetime!

Wanted to do a quick stop and see info center in park for pins,( I collect pins). The drive up is beautiful and worth it but going in the park wasn't worth the $30 unless you want to hike or camp. Better scenery on the road up then right at info center in park. Didn't have time to hike.

Hoh Rainforst is closed for near future. Check with Park Rangers. Road is out Rislto Beach spectacular. Best at low tide to catch tide pools!!

I enjoyed the short hikes through this temperate rainforest. The droopy moss that hangs off the trees give it a spooky feel

We walked the Hall of Mosses trail, it was very cool to see mosses covered trees. You'll see mosses covered trees in many areas in Olympic national park, but on Hall of Mosses trail, there were several mosses heavily covered old maple trees, it was very impressive. We also walked Spruce Nature Trail to see many big trees, it was fun.

I had been to Hoh once before and it was utterly magical. I don't recall what month but it had to be shoulder season, like November or March because we were layered up with hats and scarves and gloves and RAIN GEAR. That is when its moss-magical! You have to do some plan ahead because roads tend to wash out in those seasons.
August was crowded, dry, greenISH, but really no different than any other easier to get to and less crowded trail. Definitely not worth it in the summer.

This place is truly breathtakingly beautiful! My imagination just ran wild here. Sounds silly for a grown woman to admit that she was so mesmerized that I kept looking for/expecting to see fairies flitting about! The trails are all very well maintained and marked.

This is really one of the largest temperate rain forests in the US. It is very wide and has many tall trees. Most impressive to me is the magical and attractive scenery.

Did some amazing hikes with our 11 year old son. Some very accessible hiking through beautiful majestic forests. Oh the moss....

Tall trees, some moss, interesting but not overwhelming. Hoh River Trail kind of boring. Parking lot is very small so we had to wait 1 hour in line at the Ranger station to even park.

The HOH rain forest and entire Olympic National Park should be on everyone's bucket list. So many absolutely huge old-growth trees of various species are just amazing to stand next to. The only down side to this visit is that there is a long line to get into the park, due to limited parking. It's about a 15 or so mile drive from Hwy 101 to the park, and you're not informed until several miles before the park entrance about this. We waited 1.5 hours to go several miles; we wished we'd been prepared to wait that long. Probably if you go early in the day or later in the afternoon it would be a shorter wait, as we left at about 3 pm and the line was only about 1/2 mile long at that point.

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.

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! The Hoh Rainforest is a great display of the pacific northwest's very unique biome -- the temperate rainforest, the only rainforest in North America. Please check it out. They have long trails and short trails, including the super fun Hall of Mosses. We did two of the shorter/medium trails and got fun pictures. We did, however, have to wait in a surprising, extremely long line of cars just to get in though. Made me jealous of the backpackers... However, the wait times are overestimated (they said two hours, it took half of that and we found ways to entertain ourselves). I personally felt it was worth it.

Very accessible trails. Drive in is beautiful. But arrive early or be prepared to wait for a parking spot. However, despite the crowds the rangers did a good job of keeping the wait for parking organized.

Hall of Mosses was closed so we did the Spruce Nature Trail and it is gorgeous. The designs of the mosses on the trees, the nurse trees, the SIZE of some of the trees. We easily spent over an hour there, mostly because walking and gawking is not recommended around tree roots, rocks, etc

Breathtaking. What else can I say? The forest appears primeval with the mammoth-sized trees covered in moss. The trails are easily navigated and the silence is both beautiful and deafening.

There are several trails and trail loops. It’s about a fifteen mile drive inland from Highway 101. We were so excited to meet an elk family on the way in. Hikes to the Hall of Mosses and Sitka areas are fantastic. The ranger station closes at 5 pm. We had a fantastic time in the forest and sitting beside the Hoh River. This remote location is worth the trip!

My husband and I visited on a random Tuesday in early August and when we arrived to the park we were greeted by a 5 mile long line and a sign that said it would take us an hour and a half before we can get into the park. We made the best of it though and turned around and pulled off the road to some unmarked trails and got a little bit of hiking in. It’s a very beautiful and unique spot so if you go, make sure you get there early so you don’t have to wait in a long line and then you can have easy access to the Hoh river trails.

This is an easy hike, also good for kids to do. Just keep in mind, when going in high season there is a chance you have to wait 1+ hour to get into the park (one car out, one car in); as they have limited parking spots. The nature is nice, green, lush etc.

Everything I hoped it would be and more. The mosses, flowers, ferns, trees - it was fabulous. ONP has been top of my bucket list for years and I'm thrilled to have gone. We shared the experience with our two daughters, extra two daughters and brother. 7 hiked these trails and 7 took home wonderful memories.

A couple of short trails wind through the rain forest and describe the different types of vegetation. It's all really beautiful.

An excellent way to reconnect with nature and enjoy some time outdoors with spectacular and yet easily accessible views and trails.

The Hoh Rainforest in remarkable. It’s a temperate rainforest. The place is so lush and verdant. More so than any ordinary woodland. The ecosystem is remarkable - new trees grow on top of fallen trees which nourish them. Mosses cover and hang down from the trunks. You can do some real forest bathing here! There are four main trails from the parking lot. First you have a short paved trail which would be suitable for disabled people. Next you have a .9 mile trail called the Hall of Moss. This is easy and accessible. But if you are doing a longer hike and have time for this as an extra, it is worth it because some of the most impressive and unusual moss covered trees are here. There is a 1.2 mile nature trail, in a loop and also accessible. This is good for a lake view and lots of fascinating thinks like living trees growing along fallen trunks, and educational signage. For a moderate hike, take the Hoh River trail. It follows close to the river, which is wide and runs along a stony glacial valley with mountains behind it. It also dives into the lush, green forest. The difficult bits are climbing over fallen trunks, muddy parts and some uneven up and downhill slopes. You can actually go as far as Blue Glacier as part of a 25 mile thru hike. But for a half day, try walking 5 miles to Five Mile Island and then the 5 miles back. Five Mile Island opens to a wide vista and it is possible to camp there with a permit. You also pass a waterfall on your way.

There are a couple of relatively short easy trails through the rainforest near the Ranger station which even if you are not that fit are good to do.

OK, this place is POPULAR. I mean REALLY POPULAR. We were driving from Astoria Oregon to Port Angeles and making stops at Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach and our last stop was Hoh Rainforest before driving to Port Angeles. We did this on Thursday 7/29. I knew we would most likely have to wait and I thought the later in the day the better. So we got there around 2:45 pm. 5.7 miles prior to arriving at the parking lot, a sign said the wait from that point would be 1 hour. We waited along with the line of cars.

There was a ranger standing by the road that said if you come before 9:30 am or after 5:30 pm, there is no wait.

We actually waited 40 minutes, not quite 1 hour. Actually the gate where they check your pass (we have the America the Beautiful Annual Pass) was really the bottleneck. We got past the gate at 3:30 and parked by 3:40 pm.

We did both the Hall of Mosses Trail (.8 miles roundtrip) and Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles roundtrip) in approximately 1.5 hours. Both trails are easy through the rain forest.

Honestly, I am not sure I know what the fuss is about. The forest was very similar to what we saw on the Sol Duc Falls trail or Marymere Falls trail or Staircase Rapids Loop trail. However, I understand that people want to go to the most popular area of the park. Just plan accordingly and go early or late to avoid a wait.

I had visited Olympic National Park over 6 years ago on a single day excursion from Seattle. Sadly, I quickly realized multiple days would be needed to really enjoy this sprawling park where only a few roads (including the Hoh River Road) penetrate the considerable wilderness of rain forests and lush alpine beauty. We were only able to spend about 30-45 minutes in this famous rain forest which is often described as "lush, enchanting, and fairy-tale like". Shortly thereafter, returning to this forest and tackling the entire Hoh River Trail in its entirety was a bucket-list item (17.5 miles to Glacier Meadows and nearly another mile to the glacier moraine, per the signage within the park. However, I can tell you from experience, it's actually closer to 20 miles one way).

After months of preparation and planning, I was able to return to the Hoh Rain Forest on a solo backpacking trip. Though the trail remains within the rain forest for roughly the first two-thirds of mostly flat trail, it begins to climb sharply before eventually ending in the awe-inspiring majesty of the Blue Glacier.

A description of the trail:

The trailhead begins outside the Hoh River Visitor Center after about a 17 mile drive from Highway 101; the road runs parallel to the Hoh River for most of its duration and, during the summer months, there is an entrance station requiring a $30 entrance fee (good for 7 days, so make sure to keep the receipt handy if you go to Hurricane Ridge). For those who are backpacking/camping, wilderness permits are required and should be picked up prior to your trip at either the Port Angeles, Quinault, or Hoodsport permit station. I imagine reservations can be made through the Hoh River Visitor Center, but I recommend booking in advance, particularly for weekends.

The trail itself is easy to follow and, not surprisingly, most crowded within the first few miles of the parking lot. Upon my return trip on a Wednesday afternoon, the parking lot was full, though there is overflow parking available. Therefore, arrive early if you intend to backpack. For those who are looking to get the most out of a day-hike within the rain forest, 3-4 miles out should be sufficient to really appreciate all the diversity of biomass within the forest. Around the 4 mile mark, there is a nice waterfall (despite the 140 inches of annual rainfall, the presence of waterfalls is surprisingly few and far between on the trail). For a good turnaround point for those looking for a long day hike, 5 Mile Island presents one of the better views of the river along the trail and a fair opportunity to see wildlife such as elk. 5 Mile Island also has a good campsite with individual tent sites and group camping available, as well a pit toilet along with easy water accessibility.

Anything beyond 5 Mile Island is really backpacker country. Honestly, the scenery becomes redundant and the forest itself seemed a bit drier than near the visitor center. It's pleasant, but I remember on my return trip, not seeing anybody for nearly 5 miles during this portion and there are no particular memorable landmarks.

Eventually, at about 9.1 miles in, you'll reach the Olympus Ranger Station and campsite. This area contains a shelter if you're looking to rest for a best, particularly if you encounter the strong likelihood of rain along the trail. There is a bulletin board that provides some trail campsite information, elevation gains, and other helpful information. I realized at this point just how limited the number of actual tent sites are available at the individual sites; for those booking online, you'll be a directed to a website which gives kind of misleading information on the number of sites available. Along the river are gravel beds which seem to be factored in the number of sites, but in reality, the number of actual defined tent sites is usually anywhere from 4-8. There are defined group areas which, per the web site, seem to be able to accommodate dozens of people, but from what I saw, it's likely closer to about half a dozen tents. Per that booking web site, the impression I got was of sprawling campgrounds but I didn't really find that the case.

For the first night, I decided to stop at Lewis Meadows, which is about another mile from the Olympus Ranger Station. Though the trail is mostly flat, the distance is considerable (again, likely closer to 12 miles than the 10 listed by the National Park signage). Lewis Meadows was a welcome relief upon arriving - an open area with well-defined tent sites with good tree coverage, working bear wires, and a "good enough" pit toilet. There is a separate trail which leads to the actual river; the distance to the river was longer than I expected and required walking over a considerable rock bed and black gravel. The scenery is quite pleasant as the river runs throughout and there are surrounding mountains.

From there, it's another couple of miles of denser, more wild rain forest before reaching the 12.4 mile marker which marks the unofficial end of the actual river portion of the trail (something to keep in mind is that the trail often meanders away from the river, so actual view of the river along the trail is surprisingly limited to a few points and a couple campsites). Beyond this point, there is a large bridge to cross over a couple hundred feet chasm which shows the source of the river itself. Crossing this bridge begins the actual elevation gain of the trail towards Elk Lake.

The trail becomes more difficult and interesting during this portion; I recommend filling up with water at Lewis Meadows or the 12.4 mile marker before starting this portion as water sources become fewer and further between despite the constant threat of rain. Around the 13 mile point, there are 2 small campsites which have signage but cannot actually be reserved and are not really recognized in any official documentation of the trail. As you continue climbing, obstacles like downed trees pose require some interesting gymnastics to hurdle over, particularly with a full backpack. About 15 miles in, Martin Creek is reached, though the trail seems to have been partially demolished here with some downed trees. I needed to basically slide down a rock embankment to reach the creek shore; some helpful orange ribbons hung from nearby trees provided directional pointers.

The trail continues through the actual Martin Creek campsite (which was small but pleasant); I lost the sense of the trail here, but continue towards the sign which says "last campfire site" and hang a right across a small stream to reestablish the trail. Elk Lake is a short distance from this point.

Elk Lake itself seems like it should be a better destination, but there were a few things I wasn't terribly fond of: the lake is surrounded by heavy vegetation, so any views of it are limited (though there are a few nice vantage points from higher up on the trail to Glacier Meadows). I couldn't find the trail which provides access to the lake to gather water and needed to ask another person staying at the campsite on this side trail location. It's a bit hidden, but eventually leads out to a few logs which require some good balance to filter water. The campsite is located on a hill and was already pretty damp with rain upon arrival; the remainder of the day and throughout the night, the rain was pretty steady and my tent rainfly was pretty drenched in the morning - I recommend trying to find some tree coverage to limit the rainfall reaching you.

At this point, I decided to drop my gear, pitch my tent, and carry the bare essentials to the final climb towards the glacier. Upon the return trip, I can confirm that the distance from Elk Lake to the trailhead is 17 miles (nearly 2 miles off from the signage posting). The trail becomes even more steep for the climb of ~2.5 miles to Glacier Meadows. Just before reaching the final campsite, there is the infamous ladder which navigates a rockslide which wiped out the trail some years ago. I knew about the ladder, but it is more unnerving in person; you pretty much need to descend the slope a bit using a rope before navigating towards the 60 step ladder. Talk about a combination of terrifying and exhilarating! Doing this with a full backpack would be something I wouldn't try. In fact, the final Glacier Meadows campsite is really only appropriate for those who plan on going on to the glacier itself; for those just hiking to it, I think you either should try to get to Elk Lake the first day, rest well, and tackle the final ascent the next day or day hike from Lewis Meadows (admittedly, that's a very long day).

Reaching Glacier Meadows is kind of bittersweet since you then realize it's nearly another mile of steep climb to Blue Glacier, but eventually, it comes up kind of by surprise and provides a "wow" moment you'll never forget the rest of your life.

The Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier was a great experience and adventure, though the Hoh Rain Forest lost some of its enchantment after awhile to me due to how repetitive the scenery became. This actually is a tale of two trails: an easy, flat trail for the first 12.4 miles that serves as an easy intro to beginner backpackers, and the "not to be underestimated" ascent to the glacier itself for the final 6-7 miles. The first few miles of the trail are suitable for just about any age, though I feel now the Hoh Rain Forest is very similar to nearby ones like Quinault and Sol Duc, so it's biggest advantage is the easy accessibility and visitor center resource. The rest of the trail is a good backpacker trail that provides a variety of terrain and (eventually) vantage points which can be appreciated if it's clear or cloudy.

I expected to see Big Foot at any moment! Visiting in September allowed us to miss the crowds. There were times when it was just the two of us on the trail - so quiet and beautiful and a real thrill when I heard elk bugling nearby. We brought rain jackets but didn’t wear them because we didn’t want to sweat in them. However, the trade off was we got soaked to the skin by the rain that fell during our 5-mile hike. One thing of interest was the occasional spots where the canopy was so thick that the ground underneath was DRY because no rain could get through - good places to make a rest stop!

My sister and I came to the Pacific Northwest just to hike and this didn't disappoint. We took it easy in the Hall of Mosses for the first half hour, but then we booked it down the Hoh River Trail. Due to a time crunch, we went to Tom Creek (2.9 miles in) and then headed back. The trail was easy enough to run at times, and we wish we could have kept going. Beautiful!

We spent two days in Hoh park just enjoying the beautiful green vista all around. On one walk we encountered two young deer who seemed totally underwhelmed by us. A great start to our Highway 101 trip.

Barely waited twenty minutes to get past gate. Weekend they say it can be two hours! We sadly went during the 100 degree heat wave and I think it made things slightly less green and rainforest. We actually liked Spruce Tail a bit better than Hall of Mosses. The trees were bigger on Spruce trail. Still a wonderful visit to an unique place.

This is one of the more unique parks in America, but totally off the beaten path, which, I suppose adds to its appeal. There are a variety of hikes, but even a short one will give you the haunting impression of a rain forest. The day we visited, it was surprisingly sunny and the green moss was unbelievable in color brilliance. Allocate a few days to navigate your way around the Olympic Peninsula - it is one of my favorite National Parks.

This is tough, because we had just been on a rainforest hike in Alaska. This short path - we did the hall of mosses and the creek loop for a total of 2 miles - was definitely better. The visuals were amazing.

But we went at 730 am. We started driving at 530 from Port Angeles, and we did so to beat the crowds which had formed a line to get in by the time we left at 930. That's ridiculous, but worth it. I would not wait in line in a car for an hour+ to see this, but I will happily wake up super early. Still, when attractions get popular enough that you need to plan your day around crowds to see them, those attractions need to be even more awesome to deserve a 5/5

Our visit was accompanied by a steady rainfall, which was perfect! A rainforest without rain wouldn’t seem right.

Going in, the thought of everything being covered in moss was a bit off-putting, but seeing it in person creates a true sense of awe. Yes, there is a lot of moss, and that is a good thing! There is a green lushness to everything that is hard to put into words. This forest is very much alive, and that can be seen and felt everywhere!

About 45 minutes from Forks, this unique temperate rainforest features centuries old forests. Guides leave from the small visitor center for walks thru the nature trails, including the famed Hall of Moses Trail. We arrived early afternoon and the parking lot was packed. We started off with a ranger, but it was a large group with lots of antsy kids, so we just went off on our own. The trails are only a few miles long, so they are quite easy to do. While with the guide, we did see a banana slug, an ugly slug that was the color of a banana. Th annual rainfall is like 140 inches, so the vegetation is always very lush and verdant. You can easily do the two trails within an hour or so.

We got in early on a mid-September Wednesday, and the parking lot was surprisingly full. After a stop at the very nice visitor center, we hiked the Spruce Nature Trail and the Hall of Mosses Trail. In addition to the beauty of the rain forest, we also paused for a bit along the equally beautiful Hoh River. The only issue is crowds. It wasn't too bad when we arrived, but by the time we left the trailhead was a bit congested. I'm glad we went on a weekday in September.

Really cool hike on Hall of Moss trail, highly suggest, great photos opps and totally unique hike. Must do!

It is worth the time and energy to hike both the Hall of Mosses and Spruce trails, both of which begin near the Hoh Raiin Forest Visitor Center. Both trails are relatively flat and both are loop trails. The Hall of Mosses is 0.8 mile and the Spruce trail is 1.2 miles for a total of 2 miles. The trails are magical and mystical and should not be missed by any nature / hiking lover. Restrooms are available at the Hoh Visitor Center. Both hikes can be accomplished within 1 to 1.5 hours but allow more time to savor the beauty. The popular trails can be crowded.

Wonderful place for a hike! It is definitely a popular place and we passed people coming and going, but it was small inconvenience to experience such a beautiful landscape. It felt like being transported back a millennium to days of dinosaurs.

I enjoyed the challenges on the hike, getting around small pools of water, up and down hills, enough to make it interesting but not difficult. Definitely have hiking shoes or something you don't mind getting dirty.

It's a gift to have our national parks and to be able to experience the diversity of our country!

We had been delayed in Forks most of the day but went after 5pm to the Hoh rain forest. We had been told that was a good time to get in to park and it was. But neither of us was feeling well so opted for a short loop trail there starting right at the visitor center. There were huge old trees with lots of moss but the trail was not that much different from trails to water falls we took previous days (Marymere falls and Sul Duc falls) that had huge trees as well. Of course even these trees while very old and large do not hold a candle to the sequoias and giant redwoods in the California national parks that may be perhaps 5 times larger. Still these are large and covered with moss that is cool.

It is a very popular place. We were there before 9:30 am and the parking lot was almost full. There is a visitor center, public washrooms and water fountain for filling water bottle. The trail is beautiful.

OM gosh. this forrest is spectacular. Hall of Moss and Spruce trail loop provide a morning of fairly easy hiking and amazing trees and moss. We went in eary April and the colors were so vivid. I will never forget these two excursions. Walked past an elk on the Hall trail and passed by two deer grazing about thirty feet from us. This is truely a must see. Anyone who says this is poor or terrible must hate nature (LOL, just my humble opinion).

Our weather for the Hoh excursion was sunny and mild. I loved the area. There are many very large trees, many moss covered which adds to the mystique. The river is beautiful. Many hiking options of different lengths available. Limited parking, so try to arrive early. Nearby Kalaloch Lodge is great for lunch.

Loved visiting Olympic. I spent too much time at Ruby Beach so I only had time to hike through The Hall of Mosses, but it was amazing, the different shades of green against each other was incredible. Had originally planned to do HOH trail, but it was so crowded I didn’t even bother. Maybe next time!

Wasn’t expecting the long drive (18 miles) from the main road. Twisting roads and heavy tree cover, but beautiful. We loved the Hoh River and the views provided. We got into the park late, so hiking wasn’t an option. After going to Crater Lake and Mt. Ranier, this park wasn’t for us.

So I read the hype and had been looking forward to visiting the Hoh for a number of years; honestly after hiking for several days further in the Olympic national Park it didn’t seem too much different than further East. Quite a drive to get to. But it was on the way out. The hall of misses trail disappointed but the spruce nature trail was better.

Loved the HOH rainforest! We arrived by 8:30am, so no lines of traffic. It was summer, so there was some road construction to contend with, but it did not hinder our travels significantly.
We stayed at Kalaloche Lodge and Sol Duc Springs Resort. Both were wonderful properties. Clean. Friendly staff. Lovely grounds.
Forks was a great stop for groceries.

Ancient trees covered with moss and lichen makes this feel like Jurassic Park. We took both hikes and they are well worth it.

I'm sure that all the reviews mention that this is either "the" or "one of the few" rain forests in the continental United States. For that reason alone it is worth visiting. Green everywhere is amazing. A very well marked and easy to walk trail takes you through the forest highlights. The visitor center does a good job of informing you before or after, the hike.

We visited in late September and virtually no line to get in. The visitor center was fabulous highlighting the different animals and plants in the forest.
It was very dry so not as lush but still beautiful. Lots of beautiful old growth trees.

Amazing experience. This was the highlight of our trip. The hall of mosses is beautiful but crowded. Take the longer hike for some quiet. The air smelled so fresh and the forest sounds were a nice break from people and traffic noise.

The hall of mosses is a must see in this beautiful rainforest. The views of the mountains and the stream are gorgeous on the drive in. It's a small rise in elevation to do the hall of mosses loop. We arrived close to closing but next time I'll allow more time to hike further.

The Visitor Center is roughly 6.5 miles inside the park entrance. Parking can be a bit of a challenge on weekends. The walks around are very easy, except for the hike up Olympus. Lots of critters and fauna to be experienced. Be sure to dress appropriately (i.e. rain coat),

Arrive early as this is a popular place to visit. If you arrive early, there is a pull off where elk like to gather by the river. At the visitor center rangers can recommend hikes. There is also a cancellation station for those with NP Passport books. We hiked part of the Hoh River Trail and both the Hall of Mosses and Spruce trails. The Hoh River trail has a lot of backpacker traffic. There are flush toilets at the visitor center.

...when you can visit a place like Hoh? Even the drive into the parking area was fantastic. I have always wanted to visit a pacific NW rain forest and there was no disappointment. The trail loop system offered nice education and poetry along the way. Not all the many hikes lend actual useable knowledge along the way. I wish the loops would be more extensive. 2 miles wasn’t enough although we could have chosen to do an out and back with more flat mileage. I would recommend this experience to anyone. April was a great time for our visit too.

Just a beautiful park of the park to visit. I would get there as early as you can, otherwise, parking will
Be a problem. We hiked the Hoh river trail to just past the falls and it was awesome. Took time to sit along the river and take in the flowing river and beauty of nature. Just such a peaceful place to be.

WOW...WOW...WOW is all I can say! I have never seen such beauty in my life as in the Hoh Rain Forest. So many HUGE trees...tons of moss dangling from their limbs & trunks. Elk grazing on the side of the trail...waterfalls coming down the hills were an added surprise to this hike. A must see place to enjoy all the natural beauty 🥰

The Hoh Rain Forest is a must see. The Hall of Mosses is a great short hike for kids to see some ancient forests. It's a peaceful place and even though there was a wait at the gate to limit the number of people in, we still enjoyed our visit under the giant old growth trees.

We stopped in here so we could explore part of the hot River Trail and walk among the rain forest. The trail gives you a great experience of the many features of the rain forest. You can choose a short relatively flat walk if you like. Simply Beautiful!

Probably the greenest place I've ever seen in my entire life, yes simultaneously the most colorful, with so many shades of green. Insanely peaceful and relaxing hike. Take in the trees and mosses and enjoy.

The kids said Hoh Rainforest was like walking through Endor, without Ewoks. Massive trees, moss everywhere, hanging vine like branches, ferns, and bright shades of green. We went during the dry season, but I bet it's even more vibrant after a good long rain.

We really enjoyed the Hoh Rain Forest. The trails were fairly easy. The age and size of the trees was impressive, with some being over 1000 years old and over 250 feet tall. The Quinault Lake Lodge was a great basecamp for our hikes. It was beautiful and well situated.

In the Pacific Northwest it is possible to become blase about big trees after seeing them day after day so I wasn't prepared for the joys of the Hoh Rain Forest. Though others may prefer the "authentic" experience of walking its trails in the rain, we were blessed by a marvelously sunny and dry day that provided intensely contrasting light and shade and easy conditions underfoot. Throughout this section of the park Friends of the Forest have placed signs hosting a dozen or so extracts of poetry that celebrates trees in different ways. This adds to the experience by showing the varied emotions that can be evoked - from Whitman's elegiac commentary on the wisdom of trees to Shel Silverstein's whimsy about tree houses. One particularly memorable glade was followed by an invitation to pace the length of a felled giant that was more than 300 feet long. Meanwhile, at lower altitudes there are clear streams with lily pads and the spoor of elk. And great draperies of hanging moss at every hand. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Olympic park is incredibly beautiful but make sure you go to the Hoh Rain Forest! The trails are all very easy to walk, wildlife is living naturally throughout the forest. The visitor's center opens at 9 but you can walk the trails anytime.

We stopped on our trip up the Olympic Forest way to see these giant trees. Unbelievable how big and old they are.

We came mid day & though we'd been warned about long wait times, we got right in. The parking lot was teeming with people and we passed several on the trails, but not uncomfortably so. We hiked the two shorter trails - Hall of Mosses & the Spruce Nature Trail. Although we enjoyed the trails, they lacked the rainforest feel we were expecting. We visited the week after the heat wave that scorched Washington, so everything looked dry & many ferns were actually brown. It was still beautiful, but I'd love to come back when it's not abnormally dry.

Good hiking, the rain forest was OK. The longer trials are worthwhile. Nice picnicking tables near the visitors center.

Hoh Rain Forest was excellent. September weather was ideal. Hall of Mosses was spectacular!! Trail was easy to navigate.

Gorgeous and well kept trails. We did the Hall of Mosses trail, which was too crowded for our taste. We also went down the Hoh River Trail for a few hours (would be better as a longer hike, not a quick day hike). Bring bug spray.

The Hoh Rain Forest is a beautiful area in Olympic National Park. There are many hiking trails for hikers of all abilities. There are also several lovely lakes, and a number of different accommodations. I would like to return and spend more time in the area! See lostintherightdirectiontravel.com for more information about our trip.

It took me three visits to Olympic National Park to get to see the Hoh Rainforest. The first two times we were stuck in the long lines to get in, and eventually gave up. The third time, I left very early in the morning and arrived at the entrance at 8:00 am. There was no line and I got to spend a great deal of time. By the time I left (10:00 am), the line to get in was starting to form.

This is one of the most lush and beautiful areas I have ever witnessed. It was definitely worth getting up early for.

This is a wonderful time to head to the Hoh River Valley. The mosses and lichens are beautiful. Families can enjoy the visitor's center and maNY trails. The Trail of Mosses is child friendly. Highly recommended!

Hiked the trail about seven or eight yeas ago and went back to do again. Did an out and back for about eight miles stopping occasionally to take in the scenery; amazing Hoh river views, incredible lush plants, and HUGE trees.

It was so beautiful, surreal! Easy walk. You won't regret it! It was under a mile, and one of the options you can choose when starting your hike. Do the loop and you can come back and start on one of the longer hikes.

Great for both couples and families. Parking was easy at the visitor center. After walking around the visitor center, we walked a couple of the easy/moderate trails. Very relaxing and fun. A rain forest in the state of Washington is just amazing.

My family (kids ages 15 & 12) and I visited this destination and it was amazing. One of the most amazing sites to see for not only nature lovers but anyone who want to see a unique place in the world. The trails are not long and strenuous so they can be done by people of all ages and physical capabilities. The place evokes the wonder of nature and is peaceful and calming while inspiring awe.

Definitely must see and unique to a visit to the Pacific Northwest.

Recommend it to all travelers including nature lovers, families with kids and of all ages. A must see to a visit to the Seattle region and the Pacific Northwest.

We traveled with our 4 adult children and our oldest proposed to his girlfriend right in the lookout point on mosses trail. Only one person in our group knew it was going to happen. Others nearby clapped and celebrated with our family.
This Forrest was unlike any I have explored and why we chose this section of the park to explore. We had to wait in line 45 min to get into the park but it was a holiday week. We visited on a Thursday and arrived to the park around 10 am. The park is so vast we felt like we only were able to see a fraction in one day. If you want to see more of it you need to stay nearby. We were staying on Whidby island and were constrained by the ferry schedule. The weather on July 3 was perfect.

Do the Hall of Mosses trail. It was a very easy trail, maybe .8 miles, fun for families with kids of all ages. It was a spectacular place.

We got there at 1pm on June 22nd. After 1 hour of waiting in line, which was fine and expected, we found parking easily and headed to the Hall of Mosses for some magical views. There’s a lot to see here, and it’s definitely worth it for the magically fuzzy redwood trees. Take any detours along the trail that you see, they do have an end to them shortly and usually it’s something amazing.

For those worried about how to tell how long their wait will be, we found the estimated time markers that you pass along the road to be very accurate. I’ll include a photo for reference. There is also a toilet up ahead of the 30 minute wait marker for anyone who needs to go while waiting in line (if going with someone else, you can take turns).

Many views reminded me of scenes from the Lord of the Rings; the trees were ents, the mossy views were just another part of the shire, and the Hoh River (viewed on the Spruce Trail) was the River that Aragorn fell into… not literally but that’s what it felt and looked like!

Pictures don’t do this justice, bring a DSLR camera or prepare to be disappointed that you can’t capture the beauty you’re seeing IRL!

I was very excited to go here but to be honest there are better spots around the Olympic National Forest to see more and have fewer people. we waited in line to enter the park for more than an hour. so can you imagine the crowds.... kids walking on the trees, people climbing past signs to go off the trail despite all the warnings, to take pics, it was a disappointment. rather go to the Quinalt or hike to the Marymere falls at Lake Crescent to see the same but fewer people!

Just don’t. Absolutely not worth it. No info about inadequate parking and they wait until 15 miles in to tell you that you have an hour wait for parking with no way to turn around. Awful.

Visited for an afternoon whilst in National Park. Fortunately we have annual NP pass so got free entry. If you are just going for a short visit 30 dollar entry may be expensive. Due to dry weather the mosses on trees were vey dry which detracted slightly. However a very impressive place to visit.

This has been a bucket list hike for me. It did not disappoint! It’s an amazing place to hike and explore nature. Can’t wait to come back.

We enjoyed the Hall of Mosses and Spruce nature trails. However, other than a couple areas, we felt that we saw mostly the same scenery elsewhere. If we returned, we probably wouldn’t go back here.

It is a place one must visit and spend times understanding nature. It is about 18 miles odd the 101 South, with winding roads. The drive is worth every penny to be one with nature. There are trails to walk around and very clean restrooms.

Hall of mosses : arrived around 3:30 pm on a Monday and there was a long line of cars backed up about 6 miles before the visitor center. There were notices posted saying there was 1 hour wait from that point on because the parking lot was full and they were letting in cars only when cars exited. We waited and found that the line was backed up because there was 1 ranger at the station checking passes and issuing them. As soon as we got past that check point the 6 mile road was wide open until the visitor center and there was plenty of parking. It did take 50 minutes for the place we saw the original wait sign until we reached the check post. What is sad is that many cars exited the line and drove off because because like us they may have thought that it would be a much longer wait given that there were 6 miles before the visitor center.

Tip: there is an outhouse 1/2 way between the first sign that says 1 hour wait times and the check post. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, enough snacks for the kids and patience.

The Hall of mosses it’s self was lovely and one should visit.

The walk is family-friendly for all ages. I would totally recommend everybody to take this walk.❤️❤️

Being here in February, it was not very busy at this site in the Olympic National Park. You do have to pay a fee to get into the park and the road to the rainforest off the main highway is windy so you cannot go that fast once you get off the highway. With no traffic, it probably took us 30 - 40 minutes to get to the rainforest. We only did the loop around the Hall of Mosses while we were there. It was interesting to see, but nothing that spectacular. It was a nice walk in the forest, though.

We tried to go to Hurricane ridge first but the road was closed so we drove to the Hoh rainforest & did our itinerary backwards. It took about 2 hours to get there from hurricane ridge. There were at least 3 spots where the road was closed & each direction had to take turns. The road to Hoh is 1 lane each way & a car flipped over on our way out. I was surprised how many deer we saw on the roads. Plan more time for the roadwork! There are a few gas stations (unlike a lot of national parks) before you start down the main road to get there. We got there around 8:00 am. There were already quite a few people/cars but people were doing various hikes so it was not crowded. We walked through the hall of mosses and did the spruce trail. It was beautiful with easy, clear paths to walk. Photos don’t do this place justice - such a cool experience! It was cold in the morning and I recommend wearing layers. The visitor center is very small but there are bathrooms.

This was a fantastic 4 day 3 night backpack trip up to Quinalt River to the beautiful Enchanted Valley. It was mostly sunny and beautiful all 4 days, but because we were in the old growth forest, the sun didn't cook us to death. Our guide, Ruthie, was very experienced with the trail and found some perfect camping spots by the river. Very few mosquitos and bugs so it was very pleasant. The hiking was up and down along the river as we gradually climbed up about 12 miles to the valley. There was a herd of elk and lots of bear scat, but no visible bears, although we were prepared with our bear cannisters. Ruthie cooked up great meals and my two fellow travellers, Sydney and Shiela were wonderful. I would do this one again, but there are a lot of trails in the Olympic NP so I'll probably do some of them first. Another great time with Wildland!

They need to improve the capacity of this site or do a better job providing wait times. I had heard you need to get there early to avoid long waits so we got there at 9 AM. We drove 10-15 miles and then come to a stop. Cars are backed up and no indication of wait time. We moved 2 car lengths in 15 minutes and the line was endless. We probably would have waited 5 hours if we stayed in line. So many cars turning around. Do better National Park!

If you just want to see the rain forest you don’t need to drive 18 miles each way to the visitor center. The first 5 miles are what the rain forest looks like. The visitor center is very small with a few exhibits and a few items in a gift shop. There are restrooms but they were very dirty. It was late on a Saturday afternoon and it was very busy. Parking was hard to find. There are some very short hikes (less than .25 miles) and some longer. It is cool but I think I bit over rated - it is a mossy forest.

The Hoh Rain Forest is an amazing place. What you will see is breathtaking and hard to believe is in the US. It is an easy walk and make sure you are prepared to take a lot of photos.

My family (husband, 4 year old daughter, me) decided to make the drive for a day trip to Olympic NP from Seattle and Hoh was #1 on our list. It did not disappoint! We did the Hall of Mosses loop and spent about 90 minutes enjoying the stunning natural beauty. It rained the whole time but this did not detract from the experience at all. The biggest drawback is due to parking vs. amount of people trying to visit. We went on a Tuesday in September and had to wait in line about 30 minutes for a parking spot, so keep that in mind. We did get there around noon so that might be peak time, but coming from Seattle in the morning snd making a few coastal stops first, it was the earliest we could get there.

A long drive out there but well worth it! Road is very good and scenic as it follows the Hot river and goes thru lots of very "squatchy" woods.
Not a lot of parking so get there before the rush.
Visitor center is small and very basic. Rangers are talkative.
One path leads you to the hiking opportunities. Don't miss the short Hall of Mosses loop trail- lots of photo ops. Never have I seen that much moss dangling off trees.
How river trail is nice too- won't see the river for first mile or so but this is a nice trail for day hiking or heading to the back country.
They had bear and elk warning signs during the time we were there. Make a little noise while on the river trail just to help warn hitters you are coming- there are a lot of spots on this trail where it would be easy for a quite hiker to surprise an animal.
Well-shaded and as far as forest hikes go- fairly level but still need to mind your feet as there are trip hazards (roots, rocks) on the trail. An alert kid or adult will have no problems though.

We hiked the two shorter trails called Hall of Mosses Trail and Spruce Trail. Both were easy walks providing beautiful, lush, green surroundings. We were able to take many photos of unusual tree growths, ferns, moss, and other amazing sights. The trail was not overly busy when we visited in early June. It was magical.

I’ve visited in various months, but in October there are nearly twenty inches of rain. It was a beautiful experience to walk in the Hoh Rain Forest in the rain. The river was higher and more moving than I’d ever seen. Be sure to get your National Passports stamped in the great educational forest ranger station.

It was a rainy day, but there were still a good number of people there. The scale of the trees is humbling. The lushness of the growth and the freshness of the air are all rejuvenating. A very worthwhile trip.

I had read so much about the Hall of Mosses that I think I had hyped it up a little too much in my head. Don't get me wrong - it was gorgeous! - but there were A LOT of people and it's fairly short and there were only a few spots that were actually really magical.

When you walk from the parking lot, there's an obvious sign that points towards the trails, all of which kinda start from this main trail. Part way down, Hall of Mosses goes to the left and Hoh River Trail (the other trail we did) was straight on. We chose to do Hoh River Trail based upon the extremely helpful person in the Visitor Center. You would tell them your fitness level (if you wanted) and/or how much time you had and they could recommend a trail for you. Based upon how much time we had, we were recommended to go on part of the Hoh River Trail, as far as the waterfall, and turn around. The elevation gain was minimal so we had a nice easy walk and really enjoyed the scenery. There's a stretch where you can walk right next to the river and if the clouds agree, get a peak of some fantastic mountains (when my husband saw those, he said it made his heart happy and it completed his weekend). On the way back, it started misting so it might be smart to check with the visitor's center for incoming weather (as our weather apps totally missed it).

Hoh Rain Forest is not dog friendly as a heads up!

When we were there the sky was gloomy, so it added another layer of effect to the forest. It was like walking in a dream.. magically!

A beautiful walk among huge Hemlock, Douglas For, and Sitka Spruce. maple trees were draped with moss. We saw sword ferns, licorice ferns, lettuce lichen, skunk cabbage, various birds, and more. It was raining which was to be expected in a rain forest. Wear good shoes. It gets muddy.

So it's definitely a haul to get out here, and we had to sit still in traffic for > 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 been 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. The Hall of Mosses trail is very flat, easy to walk, very popular there will be lots of people on it with you, but so unique it's a must do. Recommend to also do the Spruce Trail right next to it, it's longer, but still really easy and nearly as beautiful as Hall of Mosses. 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.

We spent the better part of the day hiking along the Hoh River in the rain forest. It is a unique setting of old growth forest.

Great place - very unique environment all around. I recommend doing the Hoh River Trail if you want to spread out from the tourists. You can build your own hike by doing the Hoh River Trail - the farther you hike, the less tourists you will see. The entire trail is 17+ miles, but just hike out as far as you want, then turn around and come back. It's a out/back trail anyway.

3 hour stopped wait to get into the park. Ended up leaving after an hour. This was at 2 pm. There were no rangers or traffic control in sight (thanks to DOGE for cutting funding) so we had to stop cars on their way out to ask them. Disappointed that we traveled over 700 miles

While the rain forest is a must see for Olympic National Park visitors, its really crowded so its important to get there early if you want to hike. We arrived at the parking lot at about 6:30 am (we are birders so used to that) and there was no one there, except lots of Elk all over the place!) and by the time we finished our Hoh river trail hike in late morning it was packed. The rainforest environment is probably most accessible at this point, but we round other areas of the park had as many giant trees, but not as many crowds.

Easy hike for families if you do the loop which is 3/4 m round trip. Cool to see such huge trees both standing and those that had fallen. We didn’t really notice a chance in temp or humidity like you would in tropically-located rainforests which is to be expected. Very cool place to see though if you enjoy nature.

Amazing place , beautiful wild life , beautiful views and just absolutely amazing energy ! Really peaceful and rejuvenating. I wish I could live here. No bad things to say , and the price of admission is worth it to keep places like this sacred .

This place is amazing! We wanted to do 3 different things in one day so we only did the Hall of Mosses trail which was about a mile long but took us an hour just cause we kept stopping to look at everything. Definitely bring good gripping shoes; It can be slippery. But it’s SO beautiful and if you can, plan to visit for a whole day if not more. It’s so worth it and I cannot wait to go back when I can be there longer. There is a pass you need to pay which was $30; you can buy it on the day you arrive as you drive to the visitor center. Bring your own lunch if you can, it’s a lot of walking and you will get hungry and thirsty but don’t forget to dispose of trash properly. We went in Oct. 2 so it was not busy. The parking did spill over to the extended lot but we still found parking and didn’t have to wait.

2 main trials that are about 2 miles total. Worth a visit. This was an almost 2 hour drive from Port Angeles. Go early to beat the crowds. We got there after 10 am and were stuck in an hour wait line due to limited parking availability.

We were excited to visit the rainforest, but being from Florida I was none too impressed. The trees are huge to be sure, but the actual hiking area looks like a Florida trail. Lots of moss and ferns and relatively flat. If you have limited time in ONP this would be an area to skip as it is so remote from everything else. Additionally there were only a few (3?) short trails and one long trail here. All in all we spent maybe 2 hrs here.

This place is pure magic. We took the Hall of Mosses trail and also did a bit of hiking along the Hoh River. I've never been any place so green. Photo ops at every turn and nature everywhere - Roosevelt elk, deer, and banana slugs were some of our favorite sightings. The Hall of Mosses trail is a very easy hike through this beautiful rainforest - appropriate for almost anyone of any age. Do not pass the Hoh Rainforest up if you are in Olympic National Park!

Go very very early or you will end up in a long line. We got there at 7:15 and had to wait about 15 min for our turn to go in. I heard the wait that day was 3 to 4 hours average. GO EARLY. So amazing

The Hoh rain forest was amazing… one of the highlights of the Washington National parks. It rained while we were there, making it really magical! Highly highly highly recommend going!

There are 3 trails available. One highlights the forest. One leads to a glacier fed river. The third is a backpacking trail that goes 20 miles up to a glacier. It's also possible to hike from Sol Duc hot springs to the rainforest and to the glacier.

We visited the Hoh rainforest area, did the short mossy trail. Very hot, not nearly as scenic and scenic as the grounds where we stayed, Lake Cresent Lodge. I think to experience the rainforest one must hike deep into the trails, which we were not able to do. We were in car line 45 minutes to enter parking area.

If you are visiting Olympic National Park, you must stop by the Hoh Rain Forest. The trails are beginner to moderate, and the scenery is a must-see. We came across a herd of elk and got some amazing photos of our time there.

There are two short interpretive hikes near the ranger station. Do at least one of those to better understand what you are seeing. Then go on the Hoh River trail as far as comfortable. Even a mile in will give you a serious distance from the folks that stick to the pavement and it's well worth. Just be aware it is not a loop trail and you should turn around before you get tired or overchallenged.

Our family loves visiting National Parks so we were very excited to visit the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park. We stayed in Port Angeles and it took 2 full hours for us to arrive. I had read about the crowds and was relieved to be able to go right in and get a spot when we arrived at 9 am. It was very close to capacity then and when we came out around 12 there were at least 60 cars in line so planning is very important.

We hiked all of the Hall of Mosses and the Spruce trail and a small bit of the Hoh River trail. The trails are very easy and doable for just about anyone. Even though the area around the visitor center is very crowded it thins out once you are on the trail. We loved seeing the giant trees, huge ferns hiking by the river on the Spruce trail. This was a highlight of our trip and one place you don’t want to miss in Olympic National Park.

There are two short but beautiful walks there. That being said, make sure you realize that it takes about 1.5 hours to get to them from Lake Crescent. The trails are nice but not remarkable and if you aren't there early then be prepared to wait in line just to enter the area.

Several good trails. The fern trail is OK for most at 0.8 miles from an accessibility perspective. Summer probably better as Oct colors were muted greens.

The most unique were the decaying nursing trees from which new trees sprung. Also many trees seem to be standing on their roots. The Spruce Nature Trail, though longer at 1.2 miles, was actually the easier trail as the path was mostly flat. Some of the tree configurations were intriguing. Though the Hall of Mosses Trail was only 0.8 miles, it had more of a gradient, more steps, and rocky places. I had seen rainforests before but this trail had it's own beauty, especially the Maple Grove. The creek was crystal clear.

Lush- intense green- humid as you'd expect- feels more alive than almost anywhere you can imagine. Moss drapery hanging everywhere. Trees that are growing out of other falling trees. Vast open space and towering forest. Plenty of great hiking and wildlife. We had no issue finding a parking spot or the drive out. One of my favorite parts of Olympic National Park without a doubt.

The Hoh Rain Forest is a really cool area of the park. From the visitor center, there are 3 trails. The Hall of Mosses and Spruce trails are both under a mile and half and are fairly easy trails. We carried our one year old the entire time and we’re fine. Unfortunately, we did not see any elk, but the scenery is beautiful.

This is one of the most incredible places i have ever visited. the green is SO calming, the air is SO refreshing and clean, and if you are luck enough to spot an elk heard youll be amazed at how large these animals are. from the rear the are wider than a VW.

This is a spectacular place! We did the Hall of Mosses trail and the trees were dripping in moss, there were ginormous trees downed on the ground, and there were massive root systems uplifted that we could literally stand in and still were so mall compared! This is a must-see and when we planned our trip we knew we had to do this as a #1 in this area.

This place was just amazing. We heard it gets busy between 10 am and 3 pm, so we showed up before 10 am at about 9:15 am or so on a Sunday. Perhaps we were lucky, but the line of cars was only 6 deep. When we left at about noon, the line was 47 cars. It's because of the small parking lots. The trails themselves did not feel crowded to us. The Hall of Mosses trail is the showcase trail, and most popular and we saw most people on it, but it was worth it. The Spruce Nature trail was much less busy, as I assume most of the other trails were. Both of these hikes were easy and enjoyable, offering amazing sights. I don't believe I've ever seen green like I saw at Hoh. It was just so magical and relaxing. As one of the finest remaining examples of a temperate rainforest, it really is a "must do" when in the area.

ARRIVE EARLY. I cannot emphasize this enough. The line to get in when we left the park at 11AM was miles long. Aside from that the trails are as amazing as others have mentioned. We took the easy ones as we’re senior citizens.
Did I mention arrive early?

It is majestic.Like an enchanted forest where you expect fairies to hide behind the secular trees.The trees and differnt types of moss everywhere makes it very unique.Very nice hikes.

The Hoh Rainforest was something that looked like it was out of a movie. It reminded me of Yosemite National Park’s Mariposa Grove. This site was found at many miles into the rainforest after a person turned off of U.S. Route-101. There were many ferns and other conifers which were adapted to grow within this very wet environment. Some of these trees were so tall and very thick! Mosses lined many of these trees. I saw some massive downed tree logs. It would be wise to take bug-spray. The Hall of Moses Trail and the Spruce Bottom River Trail were each about a mile long. I spent about seventy-five (75) minutes at this site. There was also a visitor‘s center, and next to it were some restrooms. The Hoh River was absolutely breathtaking, and the mountains were also very nice to view. My only criticism was that it took me two and-a-half (2.5) hours to enter this facility due to a serious traffic jam at about 11 A.M.-1 P.M. There needed to be more parking or this park should have implemented a reservation system like at Mount Rainier National Park. This park should really get a bus system which would be similar to Rocky Mountain National Park or to Banff National Park. I have been to thirty-one (31) national parks, and I never experienced any sort of weight like I did at this attraction.

Wonderful place to visit. Huge trees lots of fauna. Well marked paths and trails. It is off the beaten path but worth the drive was not very crowded when we were there

We visited Hoh Rain Forest on Sunday, July 2nd. We arrived at 9:30 a.m. and had a 3 hour wait to get into the park. I realize that it was a holiday weekend, but this wait seemed a bit excessive, especially when we arrived early. Perhaps the park should consider instituting a reservation system during exceptionally busy times as other parks have. Once we finally got through to the rain forest, we hiked the Spruce Nature Trail and Hall of Mosses Trail. This area was so different from other areas of the park and I'm glad that we visited.

We spent about 2 hours taking in the beautiful sights on the "Hall of Mosses Trail". The beautiful trees must be over 100 ft high. Many of the trees are about 6 feet in diameter or more. The beautiful moss growing on the trees adds to the beauty. Make sure you have a lot of space on your camera because there are a lot of wonderful photo opportunities. The trail can be walked in about 30-45 minutes, but it is easy to spend an hour or more there.

We enjoyed our visit to both Quinault and Hoh rain forest. Its so green covered with ferns and lichen heavy trees. We enjoyed our visit to the visitor center. My son got his jr ranger badge and patch. They were very helpful. We got trail maps and did hall of mosses and spruce trail that goes down to the hoh river. We enjoyed looking at the ferns and trees. There was some sun so it helped!

Wow…amazing! Take the advice of the NPS and go early (before 10 AM). You can get into the park 24 hours a day. The ticketed entrance opens at 9AM, prior to that the parking is metered and park payment is at the visitors center after 9 AM. We arrived by 8:20 AM and the parking was almost full. We left 2 hours later and the line waiting at the gate was over a mile long with a constant stream of vehicles coming in the entire distance back to US 101. The road is very narrow and not many places to turn around. If you have handicap parking, you may want to walk to the booth and ask. There were several open spots when we left. Considering how long of a wait to get in, it is worth it. We walked the hall of mosses trail and except for a few tourons who let their children run wild and climb on the trees to take pictures, it was ethereal. Being from the desert center part of Texas, we enjoyed it. Heard a woodpecker that echoed through the forest and saw many species of birds. The bugs (gnats) were annoying. Highly recommend making the trip and taking the time to visit.

We did the Spruce trail. it was quiet. A bit longer than some of the others closer to the visitors center and MUCH quieter - no screaming children. It was a fascinating trail with beautiful trees and sign to explain what you are looking at. We even say a bob cat in the brush. It was just sitting and watching. This is worth the 18 mile drive in. The visitors center is not open right now due to Covid-19 but there is a ranger behind plexi-glass to answer questions. He confirmed we saw a bob cat.

This is an amazing place! We got up super early so that we could get to the park early and hopefully get a parking spot. We got there around 8:30 am, but when we came out, the line to get in was very long.There are different trails you can take. The spruce trail is longer, but more accessible. The hike through the rainforest is amazing. It is fairly easy for most anybody. I am not in great shape and I was able to make it. There is one spot where you can get on the bank of the creek/river on the spruce trail. Be sure to stick your hand in the water and feel how cold it is. The trees and vegetation are beautiful throughout the hike.

What a great area to hike around. The rain Forrest is the greenest green I’ve ever seen. The 2 paths are clearly marked and are easy hikes.

Beautiful area and loved the Hall of Moss hike through the rainforest! Beautiful and lived up to the hype!

We did the Hall of Mosses Nature Trail 0.8 mile loop. It was a very easy and very beautiful hike. We were there in late September in a drought year and it was still fantastically beautiful. You can imagine in a forest with everything covered with moss. Check out the attached photo.

Outstanding day trip out of Forks. There is riverbank restoration and road construction projects that stop you in a few places, but you're in the rain forest, be chill.

We stayed in Forks and drove here (less than a half hour). Dogs aren't allowed so we left them in our RV. Recommend coming late afternoon as it is not near as busy. It was also very nice weather and less people on the trails. We did the 2 shortest trails by the center and completed them in an hour's time. Highly recommend.

This was so beautiful and serene. There was rain the day we went, but honestly that just added to the overall ambiance of it. We went on a Saturday so there were a couple of groups of kids but we let them pass us by and we had total quiet. Really need to just stroll and take it all in.
The visitor center was helpful, and facilities right next to it. Lots of parking for cars and campers.

The Hoh Rain Forest is a magical place. The moss, ferns and gigantic trees are mesmerizing. We enjoyed walking the trails here. Go early before the crowds arrive.

It will probably rain here, which is quite fitting and ads to the experience. Lovely hikes that are relatively short bring you through huge trees, many with hollows or twisted limbs forming arches and other cool configurations. It is worth the drive to this side of the park and you can combine it with a visit to Rialto or Ruby Beach.

I started my day at Hurricane Ridge, and getting to Hoh was quite the drive, including sitting in a long line at the entrance station. However, the ordeal was well worth the stunning and unique scenery of the rainforest.

The Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trails are beautiful and easy, but also a bit crowded. For a more peaceful experience, take a hike on the Hoh River Trail, where there are far fewer visitors and gorgeous views of the river.

We did this as part of our Olympic NP journey with our four boys, 9 to 15. We did Hall of Mosses and Spruce. When we got to the gate at 1 p.m., there was a line of about 15 cars, It took about 15 to 20 minutes to get past the guard gate. The parking lot was full, so there were only letting cars in as other cars left. The ranger said that this only happens on weekends in summer, as there lot is not full and that it usually fills by 11:00 a.m.

We wanted to see the rain forest and enjoyed the Mosses walk from the visitor center after reading about the forest and history of the area.
The forest was stunning and my husband was in awe of everything he saw. I'd been to Vancouver Island Cathedral Forest and lived in among the Temperate Rainforest on Van Island so it wasn't as impressive but if I was from Arizona or somewhere, this forest would be unique and beautiful. The trail was even with little incline. We found parking right at the visitor center. The 12 miles to the center is twisty, turny and pretty. It cost us $20 to get in because I am 62 so I bought an annual pass for cheaper than a day pass for our car.

Awesome, awesome place. The hall of mosses trail was outstanding. Huge trees. The nurse trees and the huge roots as a result were really cool. We did see one bull elk in a pond on the way into the parking lot. Easy hike for the most part. Get here early. Lot fills up fast.

The rain forest is truly beautiful but we really wished we had sunk half the day elsewhere? We got there at noon and waited a solid 2 hours in line. Our family would recommend driving out to Cape Flattery for a half day versus coming to the Hoh Rainforest.

We decided to do the trail of moss. It is about 1.5 round trip on the trail. The moss is pretty much everywhere but gets heavily dense about half way into the trail. It was a nice walk but a bit disappointed . Really thought there would be a lot more moss throughout the entire trail

We enjoyed walking through the Hoh Rain Forest and observing what I called 'creepy trees' whose branches are covered in moss. It was a tranquil way to spend some quality time together.

Hike as much as you want! It's amazing. Not much elevation so easy to hike longer distances. I arrived at 10 and there was plenty of parking, full 2hrs later.

The Hoh Rain Forest seemed to be presented as a must-see part of Olympic National Park. The drive to get in was long and due to crowding, they required one vehicle to leave before another was let in. Because of this, we waited about 50 minutes to get into the park. When we finally got in, the visitor’s center was small and overcrowded. We hiked one of the trails, which was extremely crowded, and had the same flora and fauna that the drive in had. There is not much to see and take pictures of unless you are really into ferns and trees. It was very hot and humid, but then again, it is a rainforest. If checking off your bucket list is your thing, go ahead and go but prepare to be underwhelmed, unless you are big on ferns and trees.

We had a great time. Wonderful tour guided by Carolyn Wilcox. You may think that you don't need a tour guide to hike a path in a rain forest, but I beg to differ. We learned so much about the different trees, plants and critters that I would never have known. So in addition to being super informative, Carolyn is wonderful. She makes sure you are comfortable in what is planned, she is charming and knows her stuff. I highly recommend hiring Experience Olympic Tours with Carolyn Wilcox.

We did the two small trails, got there early and set off.

The hall of mosses was great, really eerie with all the club moss covering these massive trees.

We then did the Spruce Trail which was the favourite of the two. We got to see the Hoh River which was beautiful and were then lucky to have a female deer cross our path

We visited Hoh Rainforest on a working day afternoon. Mabye we were lucky because there was no delay on arrival to the park and we got a parking place without any problems. We walked on Hall of Mosses which is a beautiful short walk with excellent views on trees and nature.

Olympic National Park has so many diverse offerings between coast and mountains. However, one of its most unique ecosystems is the temperate rainforest that is best experienced at Hoh. I was not able to visit the rainforest as a teen when I last visited the Olympic Peninsula, so this stop it was a top priority for me.

We only had enough time to hike the Hall of Mosses, but it is truly the best example of this ecosystem. We happened to visit on a day where morning cloud cover along the ocean was giving way to sunshine in the interior which made for a great day in the forest. While the skies were blue, much of the hike on the forest floor was dark in shade and there was still a moistness even in the patches of sun.

What amazed me was the diversity of flora, both deciduous and conifer as well as the tallest firs in the canopy to beautiful ferns on the floor. Everywhere the color of green was dominate. I have been lucky to visit some of the best forest in the National Park system from Redwood and Sequoria to Congaree and the Great Smokey Mountains and even the hammocks of Everglades, and this is an amazing, premier forest to visit. The one thing you will see here that is not a part of those is the mosses which grow on everything, especially the deciduous trees. There are some highlights. Be sure to take the spur in the middle of the trail loop as it will lead you to a beautiful scene of ferns under a grove of deciduous trees covered in mosses. The second thing to see is a tunnel tree that completes a loop from one side of the trail to the other that you walk under, made for pictures.

I will say the popularity will mean you will see many people here and thus little fauna. However, the flora is so incredible that it is the highlight of the visit. There is a lot to see when you come to Olympic but do not cheat yourself from this experience. It is one of the best in the park. The drive is not bad or long from the main highway, but you will need to get into the park early as parking does fill up.

HoH Rainforest was like stepping into a fair tail land. Coming in the winter there aren't waits for even admission fees it seems. Drove in not much open but the restrooms. Trails are well maintained and exploring is a breeze. The drive in is filled with beautiful rivers and mountains and of course the magic moss dripping trees. I highly recommend a visit.

We visited on Monday(27th) & although it was pretty warm that day it was still a really nice place to visit, the only issue we had was all of the bugs that kept landing on us!
I wished that I hadn't forgotten to bring bug spray!!!

Absolutely amazing place. We got to the visitor center around 9:30 AM which was very good timing. There was no problem parking at the visitor center. It did not open until 10 AM so we went ahead and hiked the Hall of Mosses trail. By the time we were done the center was open. It’s on the smaller side for a visitor center, but still had plenty of stuff to look at. They did have the Olympic National Park stamp and one for the Banana Slug. Next, we hiked the Spruce Nature Trail. There is an area where you can get river access to the HOH river, so if you do not want to hike the longer trail to go to the river access just do the Spruce. There are a few picnic tables near the visitor center. The bathrooms are descent. There are so many picture opportunities. The trails were not crowded when we got there,but by the time we were leaving at Noon the parking lots were full and people were having to park along the road.

Loved visiting here after Hurricane Ridge and the valleys. Neat to see how all the ecosystems work together. Several trails are available to appreciate the area - both easy and challenging. So many shades of green! Well worth the drive!

Wear the right shoes & bring a raincoat but hiking in the rainforest when its actually raining is spectacular! Restrooms are available with a ranger station at the start of the Hall of Mosses hike. This hike is great for young kids & our 4 year old happily skipped through the puddles & up the small elevations in this hike. Such a fun experience with stunning scenery.

The Hoh Rain Forest offers a variety of trails for different individuals. From the short mini trail to the longer 17.5 trail. Stop and take in the views.

If you are lucky enough to have a sunny day on your visit, you will be treated to a place more bright and green than anything you have likely ever seen before. Towering giant trees, some several hundred years old, with lush under story and moss create sights unlike anything outside of the Olympic Peninsula. This is a must see part of Olympic National Park.

On our first day in Olympic National park, we visited the Hoh Rain Forest. Make sure to get there early as we arrived at 8am and got the last parking spot. We enjoyed our hike through the mossy covered trees in the rainforest. The path took us to the river where we saw a bald eagle flying overhead and a moose across the river having a drink. We did run across a Roosevelt Elk during our hike. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours here. We grabbed lunch outside the gates at Hard Rain Cafe and had a Mount Olympus burger

My wife and I visited the rain forest during September - go figure, it was raining. We bundled up in our rain-gear, packed our backpack with our needed and just in-case items, and got walking. We did the loop in the Hall of Mosses, and then got onto the river trail and walked out to 5 Mile Island. There is a lot of cool stuff to see here, and would recommend a trip to the Hoh Rain Forest. The Hall of Mosses is beautiful, but would encourage that those who are physically able, to walk down the river trail to the waterfall that is about 3 miles from the trail head. Unfortunately for us, 5 mile Island was covered in clouds the day we went, but would imagine that the hike is totally worth it on a clearer day.

Hoh Rain Forest was interesting although it’s not a rain forest like you would find in South America it was another good place to check out along the Scenic highway 101.

Great place to go for a hike. Really really nice scenery and nicely kept nature trails. Its great even if you're not into hiking

We were visiting in August and the wait to get in was four hours. All the cars were just stopped on the road, and the only movement was from people giving up and turning around. I never though to research this, and that is why I am putting it here. If you are going in the summer, find out how to get there and avoid this traffic jam. Not sure what the NPS can do about it, but it was a mess. We took a few photos by the road, which was still part of the rain forest and called it a day.

An absolutely beautiful walk in the woods. Magical old trees covered in moss at every turn. Highly recommend hiking at the Hoh.

The most beautiful forest we ever saw.
We followed the Hall of Mosses, Spruce Nature Trail and a part of Hoh River Trail. True beauty and mystery!
Take your capes and boots and see for yourselves. And don't bother to take an umbrella, you will get wet anyway.

The Hoh rain forest is beautiful. Moss, ferns, plants. But you will see all of these on the trail at Sol Duc falls AND you get an amazing waterfall. We did see 3 elk at Hoh but I enjoyed the trail much more at Sol Duc.

Do not miss out on a chance to visit if you're in the area. We walked the "Hall of mosses" trail. It rained!! Get cheap $1 ponchos at the hardware store at Forks Outfitters! You'll need them! It was such a nice walk and it's very rainforest like with all the moss growing and unique roots! & foggy mountains! A must see for sure!

This was a beautiful rain forest. It’s not as tropical as what you might find in South America but the trees are huge & coveted in moss. The river is a pretty teal! The pics don’t do this place justice.
We did the easy Hall of Mosses & Spruce Nature which were really pretty but somewhat crowded. We enjoyed the Hoh River trail, just 3 mi up & back of the 17 mi out & back trail. This trail had less people & ran along the river with a couple small falls to the point we reached. It did rain for a bit while there. It was a dreary day but the parking lots were overflowing.
There is a small nature center & gift shop but you will want to be prepared to bring your own drinks/snacks. There are restrooms at the trail head.

We spent the morning hiking several of the well-marked trails. Although we did not see a bear, we did find a huge cake as evidence that he/she was around. The welcome center has many interesting exhibits and rangers lead informational hikes every day. The Hoh is a jewel in our national park system.

We visited this area of the park on a Friday afternoon. There was an hour wait just to get to the ranger station. Since the parking lot was full, they would allow one vehicle into the park after one vehicle left. I was somewhat disappointed by the Hall of Mosses hike, as I envisioned that the rain forest would be wet with lush greenery. While there were tons of trees and ferns along the path, the ground was bone dry and many of the plants were crispy brown. I’m thinking this was not typical, but maybe due to the record high temperatures that they had earlier in the summer, the rain forest dried out.

One of the most beautiful places I have visited. Hopefully you are well enough to walk the trails, because oh my god it is to worth it. Beauty at after twist and turn. Trees towering so high above your head you can't see the tops. Literally brought tears to my eyes, it is so beautiful. Words can't do it justice, you will have to go and see for yourself!

The nature and beauty are amazing, no doubt about it. It's a gift to have such a beautiful location right here in WA! The downside is the popularity. The summertime brings TONS of tourist traffic into the forest and while we tried to make this an annual visit, we've left due to the amount of card piled up to enter the park. Not sure there is a way around that, but it's definitely worth a visit. Perhaps on "off" times or days to help alleviate the crowds.

There are a few hikes from the visitor center, so pick which length you want. The Hall of Mosses trail is fairly short and easy, leading to a magnificent clearing covered on all sides with ancient fir trees.

We lucked out and found parking, a picnic table and a mostly rain free hike around the old growth and hanging moss loop trail. Definitely be prepared for drenching rain, we got a dose on the last leg of the hike. A mike down the road it was clear again.

I'm not sure it would be worth $30 for a National Park pass to visit this location, but if you have an annual pass it might be worth a stop. They have two famous trails ("Hall of Moss" and the "Spruce Trail") that are right by the visitor's center. The Hall of Moss trail was quite the scene, with the huge trees covered in moss. Very unique. We were visiting in August, and it was very hot and humid in thr rain forest.

Not too be missed. A truly outstanding ecosystem and unique trails. Within Olympic National Park, there are such a variety of beautiful locations, what ever you do, find time to visit the Hoh Rain Forest. Even if you are not a big hiker, there is something for everyone.

The untouched beauty of the moss on the trees, the waterfall and the rushing river can't be beat. Just know - the trails are rugged. On the driest days, they can be challenging. If it's raining? Choose another day.

I have never seen anything like this & I have been to several National Parks. the rain forest and mosses were spectacular. It was a busy area so I suggest an early arrival. The parking is limited. They had a small but well appointed visitors center & the park ranger was very knowledgeable. Note that dogs are not allowed on the trails.

Normally I am not one to complain about plenty of sunshine and bluebird skies. But when you want go take photos in a rainforest, you expect a little rain. . .or at least a cloud in the sky.

When I visited last Thursday the weather sunny and clear. The different trails are easy to walk through and the signs along the way were very informative. It is definitely a place I would go back to again.

What a spectacular place to visit. The visitor centre has very interesting information available and it is worth visiting this before you venture around the Hall of Mosses walk. The walk itself is a steady one with little difficulty offering many different views of ancient trees and mosses. The little cafe half way along the road serves basic food and offers a few local souvenirs.

Great place to view the Olympic Park rain forest. The trails are easy to navigate and don't require any specific physical condition. A good number of great view points. Definitely worth a stop.

An enchanted forest. Simply gorgeous throughout the entire hike. The trails were relatively flat and easy. We were not disappointed.

An absolute must if you're in the area. The beauty of the trees and ferns and water is majestic and definitely something everyone should experience.

We absolutely loved it here! The short trails are easy walking (for most) and have nice informative signs. I can't even tell you how many times we said "Wow!!". I didn't know what to expect from the rainforest but it did not disappoint!
We only walked a couple miles of the 18 mile trail, what we saw we enjoyed. The walked the short trails a few times.
We were fortunate to see a large bull elk eating long side the trail. Other that that we didn't see much wild life, but heard many birds.
This park is very well maintained. So glad we made it part of our vacation to the Pacific Northwest. Would absolutely visit again.

Our trip to the Olympic National Park in early July of 2019 was marked by many days of rain and overcast skies which diminished views and our enjoyment. In spite of the rain the Hoh Rain Forest was a delight! So if your in the area and it is raining this is the place to visit!

We spent a day in the Hoh Rainforest, definitely a must-see if visiting Olympic National Park. It is one of the most popular areas, so parking can be difficult, but we arrived early and there were plenty of spots. We first hiked Hall of Mosses Trail, which leads past some gigantic trees, ferns of every size and tons of moss covering everything. The stairstep moss is really pretty. After warming up, we hiked several miles down Hoh River Trail. There were a few spots to go out for a view of the river. In about 2.5 miles, we passed Mineral Creek Falls, a tributary waterfall. There was a lot of downfall on it. The next tributary over also had a nice waterfall. We went a total of about 4 miles and then turned around. It was much more crowded on the hike back. Great hike with gorgeous scenery but try to arrive early to beat the crowds.

After reading everyone's reviews of the Rain Forest, we did not want to miss it. However it fell short of our expectations. The only trail we did was Hall of Mosses, but having hiked the Marymere Falls trail in Lake Crescent the day before, it looked pretty much the same. We went on a Saturday afternoon and the line to get into the entrance moved very slowly. There's really nothing much at the Visitors Center.

This place is beautiful and well kept. We took the Hall of Mosses trail and there were beautiful moments but overall was not as heavily impressed as I thought I would be. We did come across bear feces though... extra excitement I did not need! Haha, but the trail itself was easy to get along (there are steep inclines but very short) and the creek you have to go across has the most clear and beautiful water! Still worth doing.

I got to the rain forest around 9:00 am and there were a lot of parking places and additional parking too it was rain like a rain forest should the visitor center was closed the whole day (Friday) I don’t know why though. And the trail had some puddles and was really muddy I got my shoes really dirty but it was easy to get off for me on the trail all we saw was a few slugs and farther into the trail there are a few short river crossing and driving back we saw elk next to the road so be careful driving the road is also next to a river that you can see driving there and back.

Gorgeous Rain Forest. Different trail choices for families to the more ambitious. If you don't have as much time, make sure you check out the beautiful Moss Trail. We also took the Hoh River Trail to the footbridge (almost 3 miles) and then turned around. Most backpackers go the whole way. Tom's Creek at the footbridge is a stunning setting to eat your lunch or snack. The drive to the visitor center was also pretty.

Absolutely beautiful, but so crowded it was difficult to enjoy the trails. Parking was a mess and the trails were so crowded it was like walking down a crowded city street. We did enjoy stopping along the entrance road to explore the river along the road. Much less crowded!

This is the first time visiting this place and the overall experience was excellent! Based on the reviews on TripAdvisor we decided to visit the Hoh Rain Forest and it was just beautiful and worth the drive! Several trails were available and easy to follow! Bring water and camera! The drive to Hoh Rain Forest is beautiful! The drive from Olympia is approximately two hours and thirty minutes.

My family arrived at the visitor center on a Saturday around 11 am and we found the parking lot full. Most people would then park on the side of the road at the entrance of the parking lot. 

From the visitor center there are 3 trails you can hike. The "Hall of Moss" is the most popular at 0.8 miles round trip and the Spruce Trail is 1.2 miles round trip. The 3rd trail is 18 miles to the base of Mt Olympus. My family hiked the two shorter trails which were nice and easy to walk. We did find a downed tree that fell across the Spruce Trail and we had to climb over it to continue down the trail.

As we drove away from the visitor center, we saw a large herd of elk grazing on the side of the road (really cool).

One of the most amazing places we have ever hiked! Limited parking so you can expect delays waiting for parking.

Gods creation . Natures best! Beautiful is the word … really awesome visit . Only issue is getting in . Takes a longggggggfgg time to get into the national park area. Especially on weekends and summer times .. took us almost 2 hours to get in .. they don’t have enough parking inside , and you have to wait till someone leaves ! If not for this , it’s a sure 5/5 place .

Once we got in, it was just peaceful . The rain forest was awesome to walk through . Perfect for kids and elders . There are multiple trails and depending on your comfort, you can choose one .. amazing. Some of the greeneries and trees were like , watching in movies and fairytales . Loved it . Restoom facilities available . Parking is tough to get . Overall a very good experience once we got in the forest . 👍👍👍

Absolutely gorgeous, I loved the trails we did in the rainforest. It is so beautiful here, if you are thinking of visiting, do!
The drive down to the visitor centre from highway 101 is long and slow, but it is worth it! The toilets at the visitor centre were much nicer and cleaner than I was expecting and there is a separate room for wheelchair/buggy/family access. A few souvenirs are for sale in the visitor centre, and they have the national park stamp for anyone collecting those.
We did the hall of mosses and the spruce trail, both were wonderful and easy going, just follow the signs and stay on the trail.
This was the first national park site we visited on this holiday so we needed to buy our pass, you can do this at a little cabin which is on the long road down to the visitor centre. You then keep the ticket/receipt on your person.

We planned for a longish day, though I am somewhat disabled (limited walking) I loved this area, and was able to view lots. It is lush, diverse, pristine, amazingly beautiful, from the multiplicity of mosses to the gurgling of waters. Sights up, down and around. Come very early, by 9 am, to avoid the wait for parking. Bring a picnic and choose a table under moss-coated trees, in the shade, with aggressive cries as company. Bring cash; the credit machine at gift shop is dead. I bought Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. Friendly volunteers and knowledgeable Rangers.

A place like no other, if green is your favorite color, this is the place for you. I just did the hall of mosses trail due to time, but was fulfilling enough. This is a magical place, the fir trees , the moss, and the rivers flowing through are greenery on steroids. You feel like you're in a science fiction movie. Very tranquil place

This was one of our favorite hikes while in Olympic National Park. We took the Hall of Mosses and were not disappointed. We even had a good laugh that it rained the entire time we were in the rainforest. Everything is so lush and green and covered in moss and the trees are so big. We were excited to see a banana slug, too. We visited in late August and the visitor center was closed, although the restrooms were open. The rangers were outside and we had a nice chat with them before our hike. The Hoh is a bit of a drive to get to, but we thought it was definitely worthwhile. Parking was a bit of a challenge, as it was fairly crowded the day we visited--we had to circle the lot a couple of times to get a spot.

We got in line on a Saturday around 9am. Wait was near 3 hours. We only did the 1 mile walk. It was pretty, but not worth wasting that much time. Side note, we came into the Olympic peninsula from the south and planned to drive 101 around to Port Angeles area. 101 has a detour, road closure that’s 60 miles from Forks and only 3 miles from the other end. The detour is long, slow, poorly marked and had us questioning multiple side roads. We missed the Sol Duc area because of this. Maybe better planning on our part could have avoided this.

The old growth trees are huge and quite beautiful. The moss covered forest is so old, damp and beautiful. The streams along the trails are also beautiful. This is a true rain forest.

I did two hikes in the Hoh rainforest. One is the spruce nature trail and the other is the Hall of Mosses. We had a tour guide who was amazing and helped us identify the different species of trees and plants! I had an amazing time hiking up in the Hoh rainforest. The hikes were both easy to complete without much elevation gain. The path was also well maintained and easy to navigate. There were a few small sections that were a bit muddy and slippery but otherwise the trail conditions were great when I visited! We saw a black slug while hiking. Identified different trees: spruce, fir, and hemlock.

Hoh visitor center: here you can find exhibits about the Hoh rainforest - super informational. They also have passport to your national park stamps here, in case you’re into collecting them.

Restrooms and drinking water: there’s the Hoh visitor center where you can find restrooms and drinking water

Parking: there’s parking around the visitor center but gets super crowded in there. Someone suggested to me that if you want to avoid crowds, visit Hoh around 7 AM or after 4:30 PM. Otherwise you’ll be stuck in waiting lines and have a very hard time trying to find parking.

Weather: the weather was good when I visited and did not rain or get too cold. It was a perfect day for hiking.

Absolutely beautiful area to explore. It is one of the largest temperate rainforestsin the U.S. The Hoh River valley was formed thousands of years ago by glaciers.
It took my breath away. A must if you are in the area

We did both the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trails and they're both easy trails. We did this in June and there were few people around. We were mostly hiking by ourselves through the trails. I can imagine how busy it gets in the summer. I don't understand the negative reviews. I guess it's all about expectations. We loved walking through the giant trees. There were warnings about an aggressive elk with an offspring. We encountered one behind the bushes at one point but we just stayed away from it and it was fine. There was also a warning about a bear frequenting the area but luckily, we didn't encounter it.

We just left ( July 3 ). There was 1.5 hr wait at 1015 am to get into park as there is limited parking available. They let one car in for every car out once the lots are full. It was worth it however. The beauty of the trees on these trails is stunning. If you have more than one person, you can take turns getting out of the car as you wait and walk around, stretch, say hi to the other people waiting to go into the park. The time passes quickly that way.

Worth doing if you go early! if you are going to Hoh be there by 9 am at the latest. We got right in and it was totally worth it — even after the heat waves — enjoyed both the moss and spruce hikes. Don’t miss the visitor center. $30 entrance fee gets you into any national park for 5 days. When we left the forest at 11:30 am and 75 cars were waiting and another 20 arriving!

Pro tip #2: there is a coffee shop in the Forks Thriftway that opens at 6 am and they have OK breakfast sandwiches. There is also a drive through coffee place there. A neighborhood grocery store just re-opened vat the entrance to Julie’s neighborhood (there is a post office there too) but they were not yet outfitted with drip coffee and all the accoutrements, but said they will be doing so.

Pro tip #3: Drive the speed limit on Hwy 101. We witnessed a tragic fatal accident much further south that day :(. Someone had a medical event and went off the road, killing a 10 year old Native American girl who was there in a turnout with her sister and Dad. 101 appears to be dangerous all around the west coast, so consider taking your time and going slowly to see the sights and be safe. You just never know, be careful out there ❤️

This was my #1 place that I wanted to visit and it was incredible. A cold, rainy day but the Hall of Mosses was so surreal, otherworldly and sometimes spooky looking that trees took the appearance of reaching out to grab us. It was so spectacular that we did the loop twice

We arrived at the rainforest around 9am, driving straight through the check-in and parking easily. We walked the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail, each around a mile long, and left by 11am, I suppose. We were shocked to see carloads lined up along the road waiting to get in! We'd noticed the sign that said "1 hour wait from here" but couldn't believe cars were backed up for probably a 2 hour wait! It was hot and there are NO facilities or amenities. We'd read to go early or late to it, and they aren't kidding! We also visited Quinault Rain Forest, and it's just as good, so if you can't get in to Hoh, go there instead.

Exquisite beauty. Trails for everyone. Limited hours for visitor center and no food services. Not pet- friendly. Keep dogs off trails!

There is some road work being done, but it’s handled fairly well. The drive in is beautiful. We arrived around 1pm to be greeted with a line. There is s bathroom almost to check point. It took a while, but about an hour later we were on our way for the last 5-6 miles & to park. Trails were easy, except for the starting points, but they do level out fairly soon. Many unique trees & roots. Both hikes were great. Loved walking in this forest. No issues with people on the Spruce Trail. We had problems 40-50 feet between groups of people. It worked out well for all. On the Hall of Mosses was a bit more crowded. People also need to realized it not time to take numerous poses in front of certain locations others are waiting to snap a shot of. This happened a few times with different groups leaving a few of us standing & waiting.
Also …. please don’t stand in the parking lot eating. There are numerous pull offs along the road you could stop to eat if needed. So many were taking up parking spots after their walk. Some are very inconsiderate. They saw people looking for spots … or the one we waited on all but washed her car after she ate then got on the phone knowing we were waiting. There is no cell service or wifi so who knows what she was doing. After a good 10+ mins I did go ask if she was leaving. I am dumbfounded by people sometimes. They clearly see people are trying to find spots to park. Lots were full and we had circled & looked for a while prior.

Beautiful rainforest but long wait to get inside as it’s most visited park. Either get there early in the morning by 8am or around 3pm. Wonderful trials to explore on your own as they are very well marked. . There are guided tours but look at the website ahead of time on their timings. Bring your own food as there are not restaurants inside. Best to stay around Forks to avoid long drive from DuPont or Seattle

The trail is relatively flat and accessible with some steep areas. It is quiet and peaceful with glimpses of the blue-hued Hoh River along the way. It seems most people do the shorter loops...if you go out just a bit on the River Trail you may get some time by yourself to experience this magical place. Even on a holiday weekend it was not overly crowded.

Do you like fairies and trolls and other mystical creatures? I'm sure you can find them here. The rainforest is huge. Don't miss the Hall of Mosses! Also, Sol Duc Falls. These are both short, not-too-hard hikes. There are longer hikes with even more magic.

This rainforest is like a land that time forgot. I was expecting elves, fairies, or even dinosaurs to come popping up at every corner! It was raining when we first entered the forest and then suddenly sunshine! it was wonderful seeing the forest in both types of weather. It look completely different! This is certainly a must do hike on your journey to Olympic National Park!

I have to say, I just was not impressed with the HOH rain forest. If I had know, I would have skipped this part of our trip as it is a drive in and out off the main loop road.

You definitely need to arrive early because the parking lots fill up quickly and you have to wait in a line of cars to enter when another car exits. We arrived at 8:20am and the lots were about 3/4 full. By the time we left at 11:00 there was a line of 150+ cars waiting.
Spruce Trail: this trail was definitely less crowded than the Hall of Mosses Trail so if you are looking for a more peaceful experience surrounded by massive trees and song birds, I would recommend this trail. This trail offers a look at nurse trees that develop in a less stable rainforest. This trail is short, easy, with little elevation gains; about 1.25 miles long.
Hall of Mosses: this trail was more crowded than the Spruce Trail, but offered a look into a more mature, developed forest. This trail is shorter and also has very little elevation gains.

Highly recommend these amazing natures trails! Make sure to arrive earlier to avoid waiting in a huge line of cars. I would say to arrive at 8am to guarantee a parking spot.

We had been wanting to visit here for years and it was everything we had hoped for. We went on a couple of the short hikes. No place like this anywhere else in the US. It is a long drive to get to the visitor center where the hikes originate. But the drive is partially through the rain forest, so appreciate the surroundings.

We came here at about 2:30 one day. We had to wait approximately 45 minute to an hour to get in to park. From there it was a nice hike through the rain forest. Lots of gorgeous sites, trees and old tree growth.

Stupendous! the drive ia slow and on a good road. Its so lush and full of quiet. It is a $30 entrance fee (oct2019).

We stayed a little east of Port Angeles so driving to Hoh Rain Forest for us was 3 hours each way (2.5 advertised, but sat in road work traffic for 40 minutes each way). We did the Spruce Trail first and then tried a small amount (2 miles round trip) of the Hoh River 17 mile trail. We thought the Spruce Trail offered the best - more luscious and more views of the river. Overall, glad to have gone despite the long drive.

Hoh Rainforest is one of the longest detours from route 101 in the national park, but is well worth it. I got there early in the morning, so parking was not an issue, but it appears parking can be a nightmare during busy times. I'd suggest shooting for an early arrival. I did the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trails on my visit. The Hall of Mosses is a hike through some of the older growth forest. I saw some elk near the path during the early hours. The Spruce Nature Trail is definitely worth doing as well and shows folks some of the newer growth by the river. This was my second favorite area of the park behind Rialto Beach and should be on any Olympic itinerary. You don't have to stay too long as you can get those two hikes done in a pretty short amount of time. There are some longer hikes, but I didn't have the time to venture out.

One of the highlights of our visit to ONP! Hoh Rain Forest is a lush, magical place filled with ferns and draped in moss. The amount of green is surreal and the perfect setting for fairies and hobbits. We explored the Hall of Mosses first which is a quick and easy hike. After a quick stop at the Visitor Center (small, no gift shop), we had a nice picnic lunch and hiked the Hoh River Trail as far as we could through this enchanting place. We saw several backpackers as we went deeper in the forest. The path can be bumpy with tree roots and rocks, so wear good hiking shoes. Happy to report that we didn't encounter any mosquitoes in early June!

We are seven couples on motorcycles doing a tour of the Pacific Northwest. We decided to stop and see the rain forest, and the road in is spectacular. You see sights you’ve never seen elsewhere in the lower 48. It’s a definite must see.

It’s actually a temperate rain forest. The trees are not as large or tall as those in the Quinault rain forest. We took the hike that went to the river. Short and easy. Quite crowded at the time we were there. There was no fee.

Olympic National Park is beautiful, but it is not accessible. My wheel chair bound grandfather could barely go on most of the trails labeled as accessible and a lot of the time he could only go on the first .2 miles of it. The parking situation was terrible all over the park. We'd get lucky if a parking lot had two accessible spots and if tehy did they were taken up. Disappointing.

Camped and hiked for 2 days. Two short nature trails which just about anyone can walk, but walk you must. I also walked up to 5 mile island camp along the Hoh River trail. This is a backpackers camp with pit toilet.

I was excited to visit the Hoh Rain Forest due to all of the hype but the experience was a bit disappointing. I had gone the day before to Marymere Falls by Lake Crescent which I liked and the Hall of Mosses trail didn't feel too different from that so it was a bit disappointing to drive all the way to the Hoh Rain Forest for a more crowded version of a similar thing. I wouldn't go out of your way to visit.

Depending on where you are staying, it's a little tough to get to. We were in Sequim, so a 2.5 hour drive , but it was worth it. The drive up is beautiful as you go on the Olympic Highway and pass the great town of Forks.

This is a temperate rain forest, so it's not super hot here. We did a couple of short hikes (because we had old people with us, and old people are slow) but even on those hikes, we saw a bunch of amazing sights (Hall of Moss is not to be missed).

Highly recommended. Make sure you come prepared for the rain, cause it is wet!

This is the most green and lush place I have ever visited. The scenery is a visual pleasure with trees draped in moss and lichen. It is a must when visiting this national park.

Amazingly green! Hoh Rainforest has huge trees and moss everywhere. The hikes by the visitors center were nice, but the primitive trail by the entrance gate was the best! Did not see another human for 3 hours! Unheard of in a National Park.

Unfortunately it was a three hour drive from hurricane ridge and with construction it was closer to 4 hours. We made it and we’re not disappointed. We took the spruce trail. It was an easy 1.8 mile loop. The signs throughout explained the forest. The river was a slice of heaven. I don’t want to leave. I could have spend hours. You need at least a day to explore this area fully. Just beautiful. I’ve never seen the kind of beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Plan to spend some time here. 2 hours just wasn’t enough.

I thought this was such an enchanting area in Olympic National Park. A highlight of my vacation. Get there early or stay overnight close by and explore when the crowds leave.

I was here on a Sunday, so there were a lot people. I took the Spruce Nature Walk trail first. It was an easy 1.2 mile loop walk. When I managed to get ahead of people with noisy kids or busy videoing every step they took, it was a nice peaceful stroll enjoying the wonders/beauty of God's universe. Also took the Hall of Mosses trail, but did not think as good as Spruce Trail, plus it was it uphill walk at the start.

Got here late in the afternoon, so didn't have time for a long hike. Did go on the Moss loop trail and saw some amazing trees and moss, sometimes as large as a queen size blanket, hanging from the trees. Worth the drive to get there, and if you're a rainforest fan, definitely allow several hours to explore farther up the trails

Absolutely a “must see” in Olympic National Park! Vibrate greens, lush forests with ferns blanketing the forest floor and monster trees! A must for any age! Celebrate our national parks!!

Beautiful hiking trails...so lush and green even in the dry season ! Amazing peninsula with so may different ecosystems to explore !

It takes an hour to drive here from Forks. road work makes delays bringing it to one lane two times.
You must get here early am before 10am if you want a parking spot. Otherwise, long lines to get in taking hours will be your fate. Not worth that.
trees are cool to see. We enjoyed the Hoh River trail more than the patriarch trail. The ferns were healthier and still cool trees, walking 1.5 hours there and then back.
If you want to see better ferns and more wildflowers, do Mink Lake trail. We really liked that one.

The Hall of Mosses Trail was a definitive highlight of my travels in the region. Short walk and most beautiful forest with mosses everywhere.

We visited the Hoh Rainforest later in the day — only about a 20-minute wait to get in, which felt like a small miracle. The Hall of Mosses was stunning, like stepping into a fairytale… that you’re sharing with several dozen strangers and their selfie sticks. At times, it felt less like a walk in the woods and more like queueing for a ride at Disneyland — just with more ferns and fewer churros.

If you’re planning a visit, go early in the morning or catch that golden hour in the early evening. That way, the forest feels a little more enchanted and a little less like a mossy mosh pit.

Went to the HOH Rain Forest while visiting the area and was blown away. This place is gorgeous! We did a short hike through some amazing scenery and beautiful moss covered trees, I believe it was called the Hall of Mosses, just breathtaking. We saw a lot of different colored banana slugs on our hike, very cool. This is a must do if in the area!

The Hoh Rain Forest is an example of a temperate rainforest and is well worth seeing. We walked the Hall of Mosses Trail (.8 mile) which was very doable for the children and Grandma. The vegetation is so beautiful with lots of mosses and maples among other species.

The wait to get past the NPS gate is one to three hours! The NPS should be ashamed encouraging cars to idle for such a long time polluting the area!

Very nice drive with mossy trees to the actual visitor center and trail to the forest. Forest itself nice trail but a little open due to fallen tress.

My first experience to see and feel the rain forest. Since we were early, we did not wait. Hiked both paths.

My mother and sibling went back in the 90s at high summer. It was unbelievably magical. It was also perfectly dry, and we set up camp. During the night, it downpoured on us, and we had to race to Eastern WA to dry out. Hilarious and unexpected detour and highly recommended for DAY trips and anyone with a camper van. We brought a tent instead of the van and LESSON LEARNED. Beautiful, mysterious, and innocent-looking. The rain comes AT NIGHT. hahahaha

As I approached the entrance, I was stopped by a line of vehicles that stretched further than I could see. After an hour, I flagged down a car coming the other way. The driver told me that the park was only letting in one car when another car left. He also said I was a long way from getting in. So, I left.

We had a great experience hiking the Hoh river trail and the Hall of mosses loop. When we arrived at 9 the parking was nearly full and when we left in the early afternoon people were lined up for a 2+ hour wait. As beautiful as it is, if you cannot get there before 10am, I would suggest going to the quinault rainforest instead, another beautiful temperate rainforest on the Olympic peninsula with cool nature trails but no lines and no crowds.

LOVED THIS SO MUCH!! We did the Hall of Mosses hike. Very easy. It is supposedly the quietest place in the US and I would agree. We saw a couple of other folks on the hike, but very much felt like we were alone in the forest. I can not even comprehend the size of these trees. One of my very favorite places on the whole trip.

This place is amazing, we've never been to a Rain Forest before, so lovely to see everything green. Amazing trees with so much beautiful moss hanging. And we were lucky enough to see a female Elk. There are short trails that really are easy to walk around, if you don't want to walk too far.