Situated in the far Northwest corner of Washington state lays the Hoh Rainforest. Part of the Olympic National park and the Olympics mountain range, the Hoh Rainforest is arguably one of the most magical places on earth!
If you are asking yourself which is better to visit, the Hoh Rainforest or the Quinault Rainforest that is a tough call as both rival one another with access and being the most beautiful rainforests in America! The Quinault rainforest is often overlooked though, simply because it is dwarfed by the magnitude of the neighboring Hoh rainforest, which happens to be one of the most popular destinations in the Olympic National Park! Both parks are conveniently located relatively close to one another, so if you are not on a time crunch it is a good idea to try to visit both parks and explore some of the beaches as well.
There is lodging nearby to each of these parks along Lake Quinault or in Forks, WA. From either of these areas, you can expect your drives to either of these parks to be under two hours easily and there is plenty to see in between.
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I personally really enjoy spending time getting myself lost in the tangles of vine maples, sorrel clover, sword ferns and old growth rainforest most often found draped in green moss! These forests are literally some of the most magical and enchanting forests that I have ever seen in my life!
A quick stop by the Hoh rainforest visitor center will equip you with trail maps and a little book shop. During the busier summer months, they offer guided forest walks with a ranger, however, be aware that there are no food or drinks offered here, so it is important to bring any food or drink with you before you arrive and be sure to pack everything out leaving nothing but your footsteps.
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HALL OF MOSES
By far one of the highlights of your visit to the Hoh Rainforest should be to the Hall of Moses. This short trail is less than a mile and will have you walking slowly admiring some of the oldest growth forest in North America! I often find myself walking back and forth here, coming back again and again to experience it in different lighting conditions, as I often find that I see things differently given the quality of the light in the forest at different times of the day and atmospheric conditions.
The way the trees here drape over one another is simply enchanting and I am guessing they will leave you just as speechless as they did for me! There’s a resounding beauty here, from the sounds of the deep woods, to the birds singing and echoing through the forest, even to the smallest details like the small wafts of wind that gently over the woody scent through the air right down to the gentle murmur of one of many nearby creeks.
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SOL DUC FALLS – ONE OF MANY
A pleasant walk-through old growth forests within the Olympic National Park will have you surrounded with sword ferns and the most beautiful forest you can imagine will have you hiking the short 1.5 miles in no time. For those who are quicker, 30 minutes should do the trick, however if you want to take your time and hour and a half will be nice for those looking to take their time and soak everything in. There are also a few other waterfalls of note in the Hoh Rainforest including Marymere Falls, Rocky Brook Falls, Murhut Falls, Madison Creek Falls just to name a few. None of these waterfalls are very far from the road systems with most hikes being less than a mile or two away.
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While you are out in this area, I highly advise a quick trip to Cape Flattery along with Second beach and if you search a little, there are plenty more to explore! This stretch of coastline is simply incredible with Sea stacks, arches and secret, hidden coves that stretch for dozens of miles! A word of caution along these shorelines is to carefully watch the tides and weather, as the tide can leave you stranded in a hurry and weather can turn averse quickly. So, make sure to let people you care about know where you are going and when to expect you back as there is very little cell phone reception in this area and be absolutely certain of what to expect for tides. You will need to have a set route planned and time your beach exploration according to these tides for the best experience here.
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Most importantly in my opinion is your connection with nature in these places. Beckon to question yourself about life, nature and the connection that we all share with the elaborate tapestry of life. The sights and sounds here will more than make up for the drive and the serenity and quiet ethos of the forest will have you breathing noticeably calmer within only a short time spent here. Our interactions with old forests like these are almost like convening with elders and hearing their stories. Within these stories, I believe that we can learn much more about ourselves and our own personal journeys than my words here might be able to express, so with that I truly recommend a road trip up to the Olympic Peninsula for a few days or a week if possible. Go out and explore the Olympic Mountain Range, Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rainforest, the Quinault and so many more other iconic places in this beautiful corner of Northwestern Washington state!
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