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Hoh Rain Forest Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Easy Easy
 4.5 (34)
  1. Areas
  2. WA
  3. …Olympic Peninsula
  4. Olympic National Park
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“An enjoyable hike to learn about a temperate rainforest as you revel in its magnificence. ”

Brian Smith
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Map Key

1.4

Miles

2.3

KM

Loop

723' 220 m

High

640' 195 m

Low

144' 44 m

Up

146' 44 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

11%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly This loop's short length and mystical rainforest will captivate children as they explore the trail.

Overview

This is a short, family-friendly loop through magnificent old-growth temperate rainforest. The loop takes hikers along the paved Mini Trail before looping onto the Spruce Nature Trail. The Spruce Nature Trail heads through the amazingly lush woods before following along the Hoh River and looping back to the Mini Trail.

Need to Know

In summer there can be very long waits at the entrance gate. Peak visitation is 10-5pm with waits up to 2 hours. Visiting Olympic National Park's website can provide more information on best times to visit the Hoh Rainforest. Olympic National Park entrance fee or Interagency Pass required for entry. Visitor Center (open April-December), campground and bathrooms at trailhead. No food service.

Description

Start on Mini Trail from the main car park. This is a flat, paved path making the old-growth forest accessible to handicapped visitors. Stay right to complete the first portion of the loop, taking the time to read some of the informational placards as you go. At a junction, stay right onto Spruce Nature Trail and hike the loop in either direction.

This short loop, similar to the Hall of Mosses Trail, winds through old growth temperate rain forest with minimal elevation gain. This is a great option for families looking to take a quick stroll through the rainforest. The Spruce Nature Trail sees slightly less elevation change over a longer distance than the Hall of Mosses Trail, making it an easier alternative.

Back at the junction with Mini Trail, complete the portion of the loop that you bypassed at the beginning and follow the trail back to the parking lot.

Throughout the winter season, rain falls frequently in the Hoh Rain Forest, contributing to the yearly total of 140 to 170 inches (or 12 to 14 feet!) of precipitation each year. The result is a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. Mosses and ferns that blanket the surfaces add another dimension to the enchantment of the rainforest.

The Hoh Rain Forest is located in the stretch of the Pacific Northwest rainforest which once spanned the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to the central coast of California. The Hoh is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States and is one of the park's most popular destinations.

Flora & Fauna

The 50-mile long wild Hoh River is born high on glacier-capped Mount Olympus and descends 7,000 feet to the Pacific Ocean, fed by snowmelt and rain along the way. The glaciers of its birth grind rock into glacial flour, coloring the river a milky, slate blue. On its descent the river meanders, creating gravel bars and cutting into the lush rainforest along its banks.

Immense fallen conifers are swept downriver and create logjams and quiet pools for salmon. Their spawned-out carcasses feed dozens of aquatic and forest animals and fertilize the soil, bringing riches from the ocean to the forest. In turn, the forest lends stability to the river by preventing massive sediment flushing. Mountain, river, forest, ocean—each part of this ecosystem depends on the other, a tapestry woven together as one naturally functioning unit.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Olympic National Park

Shared By:

Brian Smith with improvements by Maura Treaccar
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 34 votes

#8

in Olympic National Park

#377

Overall
  4.5 from 34 votes
5 Star
62%
4 Star
24%
3 Star
15%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#8

in Olympic National Park

#35

in Washington

#377

Overall
29 Views Last Month
6,317 Since Feb 26, 2015
Easy Easy
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Photos

View from the trail.
Jun 13, 2023 near Forks, WA
View from the trail.
Jun 13, 2023 near Forks, WA
Hoh Obsolete Phone Home
Feb 25, 2015 near Forks, WA
Hanging mosses in the Hoh
May 17, 2019 near Forks, WA
Beautiful day on the trail.
Apr 13, 2019 near Forks, WA
Hoh Rainforest Loop
Jul 15, 2019 near Forks, WA

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Check-Ins

Sep 23, 2024
Tessa Vande Velden
With Carter
Aug 11, 2024
Adriana Tomeu
Jul 28, 2024
Olga Norwood
Jul 26, 2024
Dale Hilgendorf
Jun 19, 2024
Stephen Pack
Jun 14, 2024
Steve Wiemeler
Moss trail, nature trail, and Hoh River out and back 4.3mi — 2h 25m
Dec 28, 2023
Jessica Schell
Christmas Trip to Seattle
Aug 31, 2023
Karen McWee

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