Moss-Draped Trees Create a Fairy Tale Forest in Washington’s Rainiest Corner

Hoh Rainforest, Washington

Most people think rainforests only exist in hot, tropical places. But we have our very own right in Washington.

The state’s Olympic National Park hides one of the most lush forests on Earth, where ancient trees grow to massive sizes thanks to constant rain and fog.

Here’s what you need to know about the Hoh rainforest.

Where Glaciers Carved a River Valley

Huge ice sheets dug out the wide Hoh Valley ages ago. The 3-mile Hoh Glacier sits on Mount Olympus and melts to start the Hoh River. From there, the river runs 56 miles to the ocean, gathering water from 299 square miles of land.

Why It Rains So Much Here

While Seattle gets just 36 inches of rain yearly, the Hoh gets a whopping 12-14 feet. This happens because the Olympic Mountains block clouds from the Pacific, forcing them to dump rain.

The wettest year ever saw 190 inches of rainfall here. Winter brings the heaviest downpours, but it rains year-round, feeding all the greenery that grows everywhere.

The Giant Trees

Sitka spruce and western hemlock grow taller than 300 feet with trunks 23 feet around at the Hoh, and many are over 1,000 years old.

Red cedars stand beside Douglas firs with their tough, fire-proof bark. Under these giants, bigleaf maples spread wide branches to catch whatever sunlight filters down.

Plants That Live on Other Plants

Plants called epiphytes cover everything in the Hoh without hurting what they grow on. Licorice ferns also root in moss on branches instead of digging into the bark.

Lungwort, which looks like lettuce, hangs from trees and sometimes drops to feed hungry deer and elk. These plants get everything they need from rain, fog, and air.

The Nurse Logs

When trees topple in the Hoh, they become “nurse logs.” Seeds land on these fallen giants and grow into new trees, getting nutrients and sunlight above the shady forest floor.

As these logs rot away, new trees grow stilted roots around the decaying wood. That’s why you’ll see trees in straight lines, since they all grew up on the same long-gone log.

The Elk That Saved the Forest

Big Roosevelt elk wander the Hoh in North America’s largest wild herd. These hefty animals weigh up to 1,100 pounds, as heavy as a small car.

President Teddy Roosevelt set up Olympic National Monument in 1909 just to save these elk. Scientists even named them after him: Cervus canadensis roosevelti.

As the elk eat, they also clear paths through the thick forest.

Critters That Love the Rain

Many animals thrive in the wet Hoh. Tiny tree frogs change color to match what’s around them, and rare spotted owls hunt from the old trees they need to survive.

Olympic black bears, found nowhere else on Earth, search for berries throughout the forest. Yellow banana slugs stretch up to seven inches long while cleaning the forest floor.

The First People of the Hoh

The Hoh people who call themselves Chalá·at or “People of the Hoh River” lived in this valley for countless years. They became experts at fishing, hunting, and gathering food.

After signing the Quinault Treaty in 1855, they refused orders to move in 1863. Their stubborn resistance paid off when President Cleveland finally created their own reservation in 1893.

Walking Through a Green Cathedral

The Hall of Mosses Trail loops just 0.8 miles through the heart of the Hoh. The path crosses a stream before reaching maple groves draped with moss curtains.

Visiting Hoh Rainforest

You can reach Hoh Rainforest via Upper Hoh Road (18 miles from Highway 101), which reopened in May 2025 after storm damage.

Olympic National Park charges $30 for vehicles (valid 7 days) and is open 24/7.

Park at the trailhead near the visitor center to access three main trails: Hall of Mosses Trail, Spruce Nature Trail, and Hoh River Trail.

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