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Hoh River Trail
Hoh River Trail – 10mi / 16.2km
The exquisite trail through the Hoh Rain Forest delights with a lush rain forest, a wide river, and a bonus waterfall on this popular, mostly level hike. Follow the signs for the Hoh River Trail as you bypass the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature trails.
You’ll cross the stream and climb onto the bench through Olympic’s most famous rain forest. This trail is wide and popular with both backpackers and day hikers, but solitude can be reached often as you travel past halls of moss-covered maples, giant spruces, powerful cedars, and delicate ferns.
It doesn’t take long to come alongside the Hoh River with its glacially fed, cloudy waters tumbling by. This opening in the canopy reveals wooded ridges and peeks at distant rocky ridges. The trail heads back into the rain forest, but revisits the river repeatedly either directly or through short spur trails at campsites. After 2.7mi/4.3km, the crossing of Mineral Creek includes a waterfall visible from the trail.
After hiking about 5mi/8km, the trail passes through a flat, grassy meadow dotted with trees followed by a trail junction for 5 Mile Island. Take the junction to the river with impressive views as well as perfect shady spots to enjoy a snack before heading back.
Trailhead: Turn onto the Upper Hoh Road from Hwy 101 (13 miles south of Forks). Follow the road to the visitor center at the end of the road. The trail begins behind the visitor center.
Elevation Gain: 200ft / 60m – Elevation Loss: 200ft / 60m
