Moss-covered trees and ferns in the Hoh Rain Forest
Moss, ferns & ancient trees

Hoh Rain Forest: trails, tours & where to stay

Walk beneath moss-draped trees, follow the river and pair the forest with a Pacific beach. The Hoh is the rainforest day worth heading west for.

Hoh Rain Forest · Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson / Unsplash
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On this page
Choose it forMossy rainforest loops and longer forest walks
Time to allowA full outing from Port Angeles
Your baseForks for repeated western visits
Pairs well withRialto Beach with enough travel time
Plan the visit

Getting there and choosing a loop

From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west through Forks, then Upper Hoh Road to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Allow around 2 hours 15 minutes using the NPS driving reference, plus entrance queues and stops. The road ends at the visitor-center parking area, where the short loops begin.

Hall of Mosses is a 0.8-mile loop; Spruce Nature Trail is a 1.2-mile loop with river and forest scenery. Those are trail-loop distances, before walks from your parking space. Choose one for a short forest visit or both for more time outside. For repeated rainforest and coastal outings, a Forks overnight saves retracing US 101. Check access and trail notices before the drive.

01 · Moss, ferns & ancient trees

Choose the forest experience you want

Hall of Mosses is the classic short loop for moss-covered branches and towering trees. Spruce Nature Trail adds river scenery, while the Hoh River Trail gives you a longer out-and-back from the same visitor area.

For a first visit, combine the two short loops and leave time to stop. Choose the river trail when a longer walk is the main reason for coming.

03 · Moss, ferns & ancient trees

Pair the forest with the Pacific coast

Rialto Beach makes a striking second stop after the forest: open Pacific views, driftwood and sea stacks. The guided Hoh-and-Rialto day connects both from Port Angeles; a Forks overnight gives independent travelers more time on each.

Pack a rain layer for the forest and use the tide window for your chosen beach walk. Keep food and walking time in the schedule alongside the drives.

04 · Moss, ferns & ancient trees

Compare a guided day with a western overnight

Book the Hoh and Rialto tour to explore with a naturalist and return to the same Port Angeles hotel. The full-day route takes care of the forest-to-coast connection.

For repeated western outings, split your stay between Port Angeles and Forks. That gives you more freedom over the rainforest start and beach timing, especially during busy summer periods.

Go with a local guide

Make this part of your park day.

Choose your next night

Find your northern starting point.

Stay in Port Angeles before the westward journey, or for a guided day returning to town.

Compare overnight areas ↗
Build on this part of the trip

A few more useful ideas.