Cool Hikes With Kids: Visiting the Hoh Rain Forest

Hoh Rain Forest

In our "Cool Hikes With Kids" series, I share trails that work for families: manageable distances, gentle elevation, and plenty to hold a child's attention. The Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park might be my kids' all-time favorite.

Family on the trail

Getting There

From the Puget Sound area, it's a long drive, so plan for it. We drove to Forks, stayed overnight, and headed into the rain forest first thing the next morning. Early risers could do it as a very long day trip.

Map of the Hoh Rain Forest area

Before you go, check the Olympic National Park website for current conditions. The Upper Hoh Road is sometimes affected by washouts or closures, and summer weekends can bring entrance lines.

Entrance Fees (and How to Visit Free)

The Hoh is inside the national park, so you'll need a park pass. A couple of ways to get in free:

Visit on a National Park Service fee-free day. Check the NPS website for this year's dates.
Have a 4th grader? The Every Kid Outdoors program gives fourth graders and their families a free annual pass to national parks and other federal lands.

Hike 1: Hall of Mosses

Hall of Mosses trail

The Hall of Mosses is a flat loop of under a mile that starts near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Budget 30 minutes to an hour. If your family is like mine, you'll stop every few steps because there's so much to see.

Moss-draped trees

Because this temperate rain forest so rarely burns, it's packed with life. Moss and ferns cover nearly every surface.

Lush rain forest

Towering trees

Everything seems to grow on everything else. New trees sprout from fallen "nurse logs," and some trees grow fused together.

Forest canopy

Moss-covered trees

My camera never went back in the bag. Every turn is a photo op.

Hiking the Hall of Mosses

Many of these fuzzy green giants are bigleaf maples and Sitka spruce draped in club moss.

Fallen log on the trail

My kids didn't want to leave. They both asked for photos of this place for their bedroom walls. It felt magical and remarkably quiet, much less crowded than Hurricane Ridge on our visit.

Exploring the forest

Heron in the rain forest

We even spotted a heron!

Hike 2: Spruce Nature Trail

Spruce Nature Trail

Next, we did the Spruce Nature Trail, another easy, flat loop from the visitor center, a little over a mile long.

Root structure of a fallen tree

My daughter insisted I photograph the huge root ball of this fallen tree (look at the young trees growing on top!). My son, meanwhile, was trying to catch raindrops to drink. Yes, it rained.

Stream along the trail

Little streams cross the trail in several places.

Kids on the Spruce Nature Trail

Tips for Your Visit

Expect rain. It's a rain forest, and the Hoh gets well over 100 inches a year. Raincoats are a must. Sneakers worked for us, but there were muddy spots.
Pack food and water. Services are very limited out here.
Check visitor center hours. It was closed on the weekday we visited, as hours are seasonal.
Want more? Older kids can tackle longer trails from the same trailhead. Overnight trips require wilderness permits.

If you've been to the Hoh, I'd love to hear about your trip!