Hoh Rain Forest

Parent Category: Hiking

in Coast

Created: 25 July 2014

Address:

Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center

Hoh Rain Forest, approximately 31 miles south of Forks off Highway 101

Phone:

(360) 374-6925

Hours:

Open Daily in summer; open Friday-Sunday remainder of year. Hours vary according to season.

GPS COORDINATES:

N 47 51.625 W 123 56.063

The pictures below will help you to take a virtual tour through this unusual forest!

Enjoy it!

Description:

The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S. It’ is situated on the Olympic Peninsula in the western part of Washington State. This is the most spectacular place which is worth while visiting.

The Hoh Rain Forest is only the one fabulous place of the Olympic National Park that stretches from the mountains to the shore. Usually Pacific Ocean air brings a lot of rainfall to this part of the peninsula that result in the great conditions for temperate rain forests.

The park was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. After visiting this area, the president was so impressed with the beauty of nature of the old trees and the magnificent wildlife within the forest that he decided to declare this area a national park.

The Hoh Rain Forest is located beside the Hoh River, which was formed by glaciers many years ago. The Hoh Rain Forest as every rainforest receives quite a lot of rain each year. Rainfall accumulates in the region between 140 to 170 inches per year.

What is special about the Hoh Rain Forest is that trees there may be more than 1000 years old, and every tree is covered with its own plant life. This fact makes it an individual small microcosm. The most predominant species of the Hoh Rain Forest are: Sitka Spruce, Coast Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar, Vine Maple, Red Alder and Black Cottonwood. As for the species of the fauna, the most dominant are: Olympic Black Bears, Raccoons, Northern Spotted Owls, Cougars, Bobcats and Black-tailed Deer.

The best way to explore the Hoh Rain Forest is by hiking a forest’s trail. There are two trails: the Hall of Mosses Trail and Spruce nature Trail, which go through the most beautiful rainforest. There is the third trail for the experienced bikers; this path leads to Glacier Meadows. This trail goes through spectacular meadows, lush canopies and at the end of this path you’ll find the most stunning landscapes and the view Mount Olympus and Blue Glacier.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://beautifulwashington.com/olympic-peninsula/hiking/coast/234-hoh-rain-forest.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=#sigProIdf01d610157

These pictures were taken on June 25, 2014

Directions:

Take U.S. 101 from Port Townsend - State Route 20, Kingston - State Route 104, or Bainbridge Island - State Routes 305 and 104. Keep in mind that State Route 104 crosses the Hood Canal Bridge which closes periodically for boat traffic.

Map:

Photo: Roman Khomlyak

Photo Editing: Pavlo Petryshyn

Information: Marina Petrova

Olympic Peninsula Coast Hikes