Hoh River Trail Olympic National Park, Washington
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most otherworldly places in the United States — a temperate rainforest receiving over 140 inches of rain per year, where ancient Sitka spruce and western hemlock rise out of a floor carpeted entirely in thick green moss, and every surface of every tree is draped in hanging lichen and fern. Walking into it feels like stepping into a world that existed before humans did. The Hoh River Trail begins here and runs 17.3 miles to Glacier Meadows at the foot of Mount Olympus, passing through one of the best-preserved temperate rainforests in the Northern Hemisphere before climbing into dramatic alpine terrain. It's one of the great wilderness corridors in the American West.
Cost Covered by the Olympic National Park entrance fee — $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. America the Beautiful Pass accepted. Wilderness permits are required for overnight camping but not for day hiking.
Permits Day hiking requires no permit. Overnight camping along the Hoh River Trail requires a wilderness permit through Recreation.gov. The first five campsites along the trail (Mt. Tom Creek, Five Mile Island, Happy Four, Olympus Guard Station, and Lewis Meadow) have no overnight quota — permits are available but don't sell out. The upper three sites (Martin Creek, Elk Lake, and Glacier Meadows) have limited quotas and sell out, especially in summer. Book through Recreation.gov as early as possible for upper trail sites. Self-serve permits can also be obtained at the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center for lower trail sites on a walk-up basis.
Getting There From Highway 101, turn east onto Upper Hoh Road and follow it 18 miles to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center — about 30 minutes of driving on a paved but pothole-prone road. From Forks (the closest town, about 13 miles south of the turnoff on 101), it's roughly 40 minutes total. From Port Angeles it's a longer drive around the park. The visitor center is where the trail begins.
Parking This is the main logistical challenge in summer. The parking lot at the Hoh Visitor Center fills fast, and on busy summer weekends rangers hold vehicles at the entrance until spaces open — waits of 30 to 60 minutes or more are common. Arrive before 8 AM to avoid the backup. Additional lots exist near the campground if the main lot is full.
Best Times to Visit The lower rainforest trail is accessible and beautiful year-round — and visiting in the rain, which is frequent, is genuinely part of the experience rather than a drawback. Summer offers the driest conditions but draws the most crowds. Spring and fall offer remarkable solitude and a moody, atmospheric forest. Snow closes the upper trail (above Lewis Meadow) roughly November through May, depending on the year.
Cell Service None along the trail. The Olympic Peninsula is one of the least connected areas in the Pacific Northwest. Download maps and trail information before you leave your last town with signal.
Day Hiking Options The trail can be as short or long as you want. Most day hikers head to Five Mile Island, a 10-mile round trip through the heart of the rainforest where the trees open into maple flats and the glacial-blue Hoh River comes into view. This is flat, well-maintained trail with minimal elevation gain and is appropriate for most fitness levels. Roosevelt elk are frequently spotted near the trailhead and along the first few miles — keep your distance and carry binoculars.
The Full Trail For backpackers, the trail continues 17.3 miles one-way to Glacier Meadows, where a short additional climb leads to a viewpoint over Blue Glacier on the flanks of Mount Olympus. Most people plan two to four days for the full trip. The lower 12 miles are mostly flat through the rainforest; the final five miles climb steeply through alpine terrain. This is a genuinely remote wilderness experience — come prepared with rain gear, a bear canister (rentable from the visitor center), and respect for the weather, which can change dramatically at any time of year.
