The Hoh Rain Forest lies on the west side of Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rain Forest is accessed by the Upper Hoh Road, off of Highway 101
Throughout the winter season, rain falls frequently in the Hoh Rain Forest, contributing to the yearly total of 140 to 170 inches (or 12 to 14 feet!) of precipitation each year. The result is a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. Mosses and ferns that blanket the surfaces add another dimension to the enchantment of the rainforest.
Hoh Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest is located in the stretch of the Pacific Northwest rainforest which once spanned the Pacific Remove Tagcoast from southeastern Alaska to the central coast of California. The Hoh is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States and is one of the park’s most popular destinations.
Throughout the winter season, rain falls frequently in the Hoh Rain Forest, contributing to the yearly total of 140 to 170 inches (or 12 to 14 feet!) of precipitation each year. The result is a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. Mosses and ferns that blanket the surfaces add another dimension to the enchantment of the rainforest.
The Hoh Rain Forest is a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and the ecosystem have not changed in thousands of years making it one of the best preserved rain forests in the northern hemisphere.
Admission & Hours
Olympic National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, although some roads, campgrounds and facilities are open seasonally.
The park entrance fee is $20 for a private, non-commercial vehicle, $10 for individuals entering on a motorcycle, or $7 for individuals entering on foot or bicycle. Entrance fees are good for seven consecutive days. Annual, interagency, military, senior and access passes are also available. Additional fees are charged for camping, wilderness overnight use, and commercial use.
The visitor center is open daily during the summer, closed December through early March, and generally open Friday through Sunday during the spring and fall seasons (hours may vary according to season.)
What to Photograph:
The majority of the rainforest is lined with nurse logs, ferns, moss, and other temperate plant species.
Near the visitor center is the Hall of Mosses Trail, a short trail—0.8 miles which gives visitors a feel for the local ecosystem and views of maples draped with large growths of spikemoss.
Olympic National Park is home to the largest un-managed herd of Roosevelt elk in the Pacific Northwest.
Best Time for Photographers:
Anytime is a good time here, there is enough variety and different angles to be able to shoot all day long. With the area receiving over 12 feet of rain per year, chances are it will be raining or at least misting. This is a good thing when photographing the rain forest, as it will provide a soft light and the moss will be very lush and green.
Getting There:
Driving Directions
The Hoh lies on the west side of Olympic National Park, about a two-hour drive from Port Angeles and under an hour from Forks. The Hoh Rain Forest is accessed by the Upper Hoh Road, off of Highway 101
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Facilities
Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
Rest rooms
Open Daily in summer; open Friday-Sunday remainder of year. Hours vary according to season.
Visitor information, exhibits about Olympic’s temperate rain forests. Self-guided nature trails; one accessible with some assistance. Wilderness use permits and animal resistant food containers available.
The Hoh Rain Forest has a campground that is open year round, with 88 sites located in the old growth forest along the river.
Location Contact Information:
| Visitor Information (360) 565-3130 |
Road & Weather Hotline (360) 565-3131 |
| Olympic National Park Visitor Center 3002 Mount Angeles Road Port Angeles, WA 98362 |
Mailing Address 600 East Park Avenue Port Angeles, WA 98362 |
Nearest City or Town:
Forks
Hoh Rain Forest Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Washington:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance.
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