The next morning found us heading inland to the Hoh Rainforest, located at the end of Upper Hoh Road off Highway 101. The road follows the Hoh River and also passes a big Sitka spruce tree. Though not the largest, it’s one of many giant nearly 1000-year-old trees in the park!
From the Hoh Visitor Center, we hike two trails; Hall of the Mosses (0.8 mile/1.3 km loop) and Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 mile/1.9 km loop). Both trails featured old-growth rain forest, maple trees, and views of the Hoh River.
There wasn’t a lot else to do at the Hoh area without heading into the backcountry or spending a night at one of the many primitive front-country campgrounds in the area. We opted to stay at the main campground near the visitor center for a night before heading back out to the coast.
To be continued…
The Important Stuff:
- Getting there: head east on Upper Hoh Road from Highway 101
- Fees & passes: $25 per car for a 7-day pass; Interagency Annual Pass accepted
- Camping: $22 per night, first-come first-serve only
- Hiking: 2 short walks and 1 backcountry trail depart from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
- Other: this section of the park is fairly isolated from most amenities – make sure to gas up and stock up on food and supplies before heading in
Handstands Around the World 