Visit The Hoh Rainforest - Olympic National Park

I have lived in the Pacific Northwest, USA for over 20 years now. We finally took a day trip to the Hoh Rainforest in the Olympic National Park in 2007.

It was a beautiful and serene place that I will return to many times I am sure. Nothing gives me a lift like taking a hike through some of Mother Nature's finest handy work.

Join me as I share some of the beautiful photos we captured that lovely summer's day during our visit to the Hoh Rainforest, some interesting facts, things to do while visiting, and local lore with you.

***All Images Unless Stated Otherwise Are Copyright by ItayasDesigns.***

Not Far From Forks, WA

About an hour from Forks, Washington where the famed 'Twilight' book and movie series by Stephanie Myers was set, lies the entrance of the Hoh Rainforest.

Just off Highway 101 on the west side of Olympic National Park and about a two-hour drive from Port Angeles lies the very popular destination for hikers and campers.

At one time, the rainforest stretched from southeastern Alaska to the central coast of California.

Check here for Maps and Directions.

A Green Wonderland

The Hoh Rainforest is the only rainforest in the United States and I happen to live just a few hours from this amazing place.

If you are fortunate enough to visit the Hoh Rainforest when it is not raining, you will notice it is a bit more humid under the canopy of trees. The temperatures are still fairly cool in the summertime and the winters are mild.

We went in the later part of summer and it was not raining that day. The mosquitoes however were out in full force. Make sure you take insect repellent with you and slather it on when needed.

The Hoh Rainforest gets over 12 feet of annual precipitation which helps the giant evergreens to grow to enormous heights.

Bigleaf and vine maple trees are also very prevalent in the rainforest and it is very common to see other plants growing on top of them. This gives the rainforest that ethereal rainforesty quality.

Many of the giant conifers will be lying about on the ground and as they decay you can see other plants and trees growing from their midst.

Elk graze throughout the forest and help keep the forest floor clean. It is common to see them strolling and munching throughout the rainforest. We saw lots of fresh hoof prints but they managed to stay hidden that day. You are cautioned to not approach them. I'm sure they don't mind having their pictures taken from a distance though.

Giant ferns and moss cover everything in the Hoh Rainforest. Green is everywhere! You will see greenery growing in the quiet streams and draping from the giant conifers. It is truly a green and magical place.

For more facts and info, go to Visiting The Hoh Rainforest

Visit the Hoh Rainforest

If you love camping, then you will love camping in the Olympic National Park.

There are 16 campgrounds in the park with a total of 910 sites that are open at various times of the year. The Hoh Rainforest itself has 88 sites to choose from and is open year round.

The Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center is open daily in the summer and Friday through Sunday the rest of the year. Picnic tables and restrooms are located near the Visitor Center. No pets are allowed on the hiking trails.

You are repeatedly cautioned to not approach the Elk which can become quite aggressive especially during mating season. Swimming and boating in the rainforest area can be dangerous and are not advised.

Many of the campgrounds accommodate RVs and trailers and are wheelchair accessible. The campgrounds are first-come first-served unless noted on the link below. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit and there are wheelchair accessible bathrooms available. There are no showers or hookups.

Group campsites are also available.

Image Courtesy Of nps.gov

We came across the above unusual tree on the trail we were hiking and promptly dubbed it 'Bat Tree'. It was quite spooky looking actually.

Miles And Miles Of Green

We loved the trails that we walked in the Hoh Rainforest. We were not in hiking shape and we still found it very easy going on the trails in the rainforest. Most of the trails are very clean and clearly marked.

I'm sure there are steeper and more rigorous trails to hike but we were pleased with the ones we explored. We took hundreds of photos and never grew bored with all that we saw.

There are two primary trails in the rainforest. You can hike all the way to 5 Mile Island which would be about a 10 mile trek or take some shorter loops.

The birds are everywhere and singing their happy songs. The mosquitoes are also everywhere and it is advised to wear protective clothing and wear insect repellent.

For an easy and very scenic hike, the Hoh Rainforest has it all.

Remember to have appropriate hiking shoes to cover all the miles you will be walking on the trails in the Hoh Rainforest and surrounding areas.

You can always click one of the links below and find more size and style options!

This video is filled with lovely photos taken by some folks as they walked one of the trails through the Hoh Rainforest.

Everywhere we walked the trees seemed to tower to the sky!

Near The Hoh Rainforest

If you are a fan of the Stephanie Myers 'Twilight' series of books and movies, you will definitely want to take a trip into nearby Forks, Washington. There you can find more ocean shores, hiking, and shopping in the local shops. A few of the shops even feature merchandise from the 'Twilight' series!

If you are a hearty backpacker, you may want to visit the Enchanted Valley and hike the trail to see some of the waterfalls that are most visible in the spring and early summer. There are several trails listed on this link that you can hike to visit different waterfalls.

"http://www.olympicpeninsulawaterfalltrail.com/mine..." target="_blank">Mineral Creek Falls Information

Here is a list of several places and things to do near the Hoh Rainforest and Forks, Washington.

Places To Visit Near Forks

Image Courtesy Of Ewen and Donabel

Don't see what you need? Click on any item below for more options!

This is as close as I can get Google Maps to pull up the Hoh Rainforest on the map. The big blank area in the middle and towards the bottom of the map is the rainforest.

I would love to hear your thoughts about the Hoh Rainforest or getting out in nature in general!