Not all rainforests are tropical, and perhaps the greatest example of this lies in Olympic National Park in Washington: the Hoh Rainforest. Receiving over 100 inches of rain per year, this forest is truly wet and soggy! However, all of that moisture makes for a pretty incredible ecosystem. Named for the mosses that drape many of the trees here, the most famous section of this forest is known as the Hall of Mosses.
This area of forest is old, and because it is old, the trees are huge, and there has been plenty of time for all sorts of other stuff to grow too. Namely in this case, the moss! This short trail loops through one of the most spectacular sections of this forest, and at just over a mile long and mostly flat, it’s doable for pretty much anyone!
Miles/Elevation:
1.1 miles
78 feet vertical gain
About Olympic National Park:
Situated along Washington’s Pacific Coast, Olympic National Park contains some of the nation’s most diverse environments all in one epic national park! From rock strewn beaches, to glaciated peaks, to temperate rainforest, Olympic has something for everyone!
Olympic National Park largely owes its diversity to the Pacific Ocean. Despite being located quite far north, the oceans’ moderating influence means temperatures never really get that cold here (at low elevations at least). On the beach it could be 50 degrees and foggy. In the forest and the hills it might be 40 degrees and raining. And in the alpine it may be 20 degrees and snowing!
A land of many diverse landscapes, Olympic has numerous awesome destinations. The Hoh Rainforest is the most famous of the park’s forests and contains the revered Hall of Mosses. Mt Olympus deep in the park’s backcountry is a sought after alpine summit. Hurricane Ridge is a must see spot in the park reached via a winding mountain road. And Rialto Beach is the most famous of all the parks’ beaches!
All these awesome spots are quite spread out though. Despite being located in the same park, it takes hours to drive from one side of the park to the other. This is largely due to the fact that there are no roads that pass straight through the park. Olympic largely consists of wilderness, and Highway 101 wraps its way all the way around the outside. It’s not a quick route, but it’s the only way to get from one side of the park to another.
Getting To The Trailhead:
Once on the Olympic Peninsula, follow Highway 101 to the northwest portion of the peninsula. From the town of Forks and the northern peninsula, follow 101 south for 13 miles from Forks and then turn right onto Upper Hoh Road. From the south, follow 101 north for 26 miles past the town of Queets. Then turn right onto Upper Hoh Road.
Once on Upper Hoh Road, continue for 18 miles until you reach the visitor center and parking area at the end of the road. There is a large parking area adjacent to the visitor center, and from there the trail begins alongside the visitor center.
Tips:
- Parking here can fill up early. If it’s a summer weekend or holiday, arrive early.
- Continue on and hike the Spruce Nature Trail or the Hoh River Trail.
The Hall of Mosses:
From the parking lot, begin hiking past the visitor center and a gigantic tree, and then begin on the actual trail. Once you reach the first intersection shortly after, turn left to head towards the Hall of Mosses.
Soon after turning towards the Hall of Mosses, you will cross Taft Creek. Taft Creek is absolutely packed with life, and from a distance it hardly looks like a creek at all. The stream is filled with weeds and other plants, but the water itself is crystal clear, a symbol of just how fertile this environment is!
After crossing the creek, the trail takes a right and heads up an incline away from the creek. Atop the incline, the trail splits. The trail from here is a loop, so it doesn’t really matter if you take a right or a left, but I went left!
Think about purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass if you’re visiting Olympic!
Once you are on the loop, you are in the Hall of Mosses itself! This is an old section of forest, and if you explore the area more, you will notice most areas don’t have nearly as much growth, especially moss. Plaques posted in the area explain that because the Hoh River’s channel has moved around quite a bit, large areas of forest are destroyed while new areas grow. This section of forest therefore has been here a lot longer than the surrounding woods!
The age of this place is evident. It honestly feels like you’ve stepped back in time! Looking around, I felt like I was somewhere between Jurassic Park and Lord of the Rings! The trees are massive and have clearly stood for centuries. The moss covers just about everything. Even the air is thick!
Here’s the crazy thing: the air literally is thick. The air here is so laden with moisture and nutrients, the moss is able to get everything it needs directly from the air! When I read that I was stunned. I never imagined air could be rich enough to support extensive plant life!
As you explore the loop, you’ll continually find something interesting to look at. One moment it’s a new giant chunk of hanging moss. The next it’s a group of trees growing out of a fallen trunk. Then a ray of sun penetrates the canopy and lights up something new!
About a third of the way through the loop, you’ll come across a turn off that leads to what I think is the most beautiful area of the forest. At the end of this turn off is a stand of Maple Trees that are totally coated with moss. It hangs from the branches in great sheets, and when the sunshine broke through the trees, it was honestly stunning!
This hike is short, only about a mile, so there isn’t a ton to say about the actual hiking. The trail is smooth packed dirt. It’s mostly flat. There aren’t any viewpoints of panoramic views, but the forest will keep you occupied!
Help keep this place beautiful. Follow Leave No Trace!
After a quick mile of hiking, you’ll be back at the trailhead! How long that mile takes you though could vary considerably. I know I hiked far slower than I usually do!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 10/10
Generally speaking, trails that simply wind their way through a forest and never provide panoramic views aren’t really my thing, but in this case, the forest is just so incredible I found myself appreciating all of the fine little details. The plants here are just so cool! This is certainly one of the most unique forests I’ve ever seen. While the trees don’t have the size and grandeur of the Redwoods or Sequoias, the novelty of the temperate rainforest is something everyone should see at least once!
Pros:
- Incredible forest
- Smooth, well made trail
Cons:
- No panoramic views
- Busy
Alternative Hikes:
Hoh River Trail to Mineral Creek Falls
When To Hike The Hall Of Mosses:
Olympic National Park gets 4 strong seasons, and while the park can be visited all year, summer definitely has the best weather for being outdoors. The high elevation regions of the park receive huge snowfall totals during winter which makes for great skiing, but not so great hiking! Winter at low elevations means lots and lots of rain.
While you certainly can hike in the rain, the warmest, sunniest, weather of the year occurs during July and August. June and September can also have excellent conditions, but the risk of adverse weather and lingering snow at elevation are much higher.
I would personally recommend late July or August for a trip to Olympic, but if you want to avoid the worst of the crowds and aren’t interested in exploring the higher elevation backcountry, the shoulder months of June and September could be pretty nice. I personally would not visit here October through May because of the weather, but if you’re ok with tons of moisture and just don’t want to run into other people, by all means go for it. Be aware though the backcountry and high elevation reaches of the park will likely be snowed in.
Links For Further Reading:
Hall of Mosses Trail | Map, Guide – Washington | AllTrails
Hall of Mosses — Washington Trails Association
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