A friend of mine recently asked me what recommendations I had for Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park. I had to admit that…I haven’t even been there! I’ve been to ONP twice but only really to Hurricane Ridge, and a quick trip out to the beaches.
As luck would have it, though, I’ve been trying to plan out a staycation in Washington sometime soon and had looked at visiting Olympic National Park again. It seems silly to have the links I sent her live only in Messenger, so voila! A post.
Like any good blogger, I begin planning trips on Pinterest. I know. I KNOW. There’s nothing like slogging through heavily ad optimized, pop-up video laden posts. Yet it is a good way to glance through quickly to get highlights.
The next thing I do is look at the National Park website, especially the “Plan Your Visit” section. While many NPs are technically “open” during the year, Washington is basically a state full of mountains. Which mean snow. Lots of snow. (Check out this how it started/how it’s going tweet from Mt. Rainier NP!)
A comparison of a typical mid summer scene versus the current one at the visitor center at Paradise at Rainier. #wawx pic.twitter.com/dJ6vwqkbTg
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 26, 2021
With that intro, here’s my quick and dirty roundup of what to see, do and stay in ONP, near Hoh Rainforest.
About the Rainforest
The Hoh Rainforest is a temperate rainforest on the western side of Olympic National Park in Washington state. The rainforest receives on average 140 inches of rain a year, so be sure to pack your raincoat. There’s no getting around it (literally) – Olympic National Park is HUGE so sites will be far away from each other. From Hoh to:
- Seattle: 4.5 hours drive (whether you take the ferry or through Olympia)
- Port Angeles (main entrance to ONP): 2 hours
- Forks: 1 hour
- Lake Quinault: 1.5 hours
Pets are not allowed in most National Parks, except on roads or paved areas. The same is true for Olympic National Park…except so much of the surrounding area IS pet-friendly Olympic National Forest! This excellent map from the Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau lays it out clearly. Leashed dogs are allowed on a few trails near Lake Quinault and the beaches.
What to see
Based on my *extensive* research, there are only 3 trails in the Hoh Rainforest. The Hall of Mosses Trail is perhaps the most famous, and is a cool 0.8 miles. This is the trail you see all of the amazing IGs of. The Spruce Nature Trail is 1.2 miles (both seem kid friendly, though not pup friendly). The Hoh River Trail is the primary hiking trail, at over 17 miles one-way. Pinterest tells me a lot of people hike out a few miles, then hike back.
Hoh ALSO has a Visitor’s Center, so don’t forget to get that passport stamped. Open daily in the summer, Friday-Sunday in the off season. Closed Jan/Feb. (Like I mentioned, you have to check ahead in Wash.)
How much time do you need? You could do Hoh on a weekend – drive out Saturday morning with the throngs of tourists, hike out and back, and drive back Sunday. I’d recommend adding on other parts of ONP to your trip, especially the coast by Rialto Beach.
Can’t mention the Olympic Peninsula without mentioning Forks, and the book series that made it famous. I’m talking, of course, about The Final Forest: The Battle for the Last Great Trees of the PNW by William Dietrich.
Just kidding. I’m talking about the Twilight Series, set in Forks, WA (seriously, check out that link. It’s a time machine!). Having already been to Forks, well, let’s say this: I know you can be overwhelmed, and I know you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed? Forks is whelming. Yet it’s also the closest town with services to the Hoh, so stay there you shall.
Forks has been very vampire-ized, with murals and Twilight-themed stores. If you are a Twi-hard, then you might enjoy it. Us thirty-somethings came prepared to be dazzled and left let down. Also, Team Jacob.
Where to stay: pet friendly!
Lake Quinault Lodge:
ONP has three lodges inside the national park, and the gem appears to be Lake Quinault Lodge. Lake Quinault Lodge is a 90 minute drive from the Hoh Visitor Center, and veers near the coastline for some views part of the time. LQL is also in the Olympic National Forest, so nearby pet-friendly trails aboutn.
Boathouse rooms are dog-friendly. Beware – you only get a half hour of internet per day!
Kalaloch Lodge:
Situated RIGHT on the coast, Kalaloch Lodge (pronounced Clay-lock according to teh googs) has pet-friendly cabins, and it looks like a pet-friendly beach. This hotel will truly take you back in time because it does NOT have internet. Download those episodes of House of the Dragon before you hit the coast. Worth it to be only minutes from the water and only an hour from Hoh Rainforest.
Forks:
If you decide to stay in Forks, the options looks like primarily motel-style hotels, or AirBnBs. I can’t speak for any in particular, but these little pet-friendly cabins at Three Rivers Resort (also AirBnB) look charming.
The Miller Tree Inn is apparently the unofficial Cullen House (again, according to teh googs). It looks charming, with a nice to-go breakfast. Some rooms are pet-friendly.
Helpful Sites for Trip Planning:
- Olympic Peninsula Tourism Board Pet Friendly Map and Resources
- Two Wandering Soles: Olympic Guide, incl camping and driving sites
- Adventures of A+K: Olympic itinerary
- Park Ranger John: includes driving distances, maps, and other sights
- One Day in the City: includes other sights nearby
- 2 Travel Dads: kid friendliness if that is important to you
- WTA Hoh River Trail: Hiking guide with detailed directions
I acknowledge Olympic National Park is on the ancestral lands of the Southwestern Coast Salish peoples, including the Quileute, Hoh, Quinault, Makah, Chehalis, Chinook, Cowlitz, Lower Elwha Klallam and Jamestown Klallam tribes.
If you visit Hoh Rainforest or find this information helpful, please let me know. Follow me on IG: @HiFriendsItsLaura
