The Hoh Rain Forest
Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest
Everybody knows about the Amazon, the world's largest tropical rain forest. However there are several lesser-known temperate rain forests, such as the Hoh Rain Forest on the Olympic Peninsula. Everybody also knows Seattle's reputation for being rainy all the time. Seattle gets around 36 inches of rain a year. By comparison, the Hoh Rain Forest gets as much as 14 feet of rain a year. Wow! The prevalent fog and mist contributes the equivalent of another 30 inches of rain, resulting in one of the world's lushest rain forests, hence its designation as one of the wonders of Washington State. The western slopes of the Olympic Mountains are the first area to get hit with the moisture-laden wind and rain storms that come in from the Pacific Ocean. As the air rises along the windward slopes of the mountains it cools and yields precipitation, and lots of it.
Moss, ferns and other plants in the Hall of Mosses
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of four rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula. However, it is the only one that has been awarded the distinction of being a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Its unique ecosystem has remained unchanged for thousands of years and it is now the most carefully preserved rain forest in the northern hemisphere. The most common types of trees that grow in the Hoh Rain Forest are Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock (Washington's official state tree), which can reach over 300 feet high and seven feet in diameter. Most of them are covered with huge clumps of hanging moss and ferns. Moss is an epiphyte, which is a plant that grows on another plant without harming it (as opposed to a parasite). Epiphytes get their moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, fog, and debris that accumulates around them.
Moss grows everywhere in the Hoh Rain Forest
The best place to start your exploration of the Hoh Rain Forest is at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. From there you can walk two short nature trails: the Hall of Mosses Trail, 0.8 miles long, and the Spruce Nature Trail, 1.2 miles long. My personal favorite is the Hall of Mosses trail - it's like walking through a living green cathedral. For a hike deeper into the wilderness try the 5 Mile Island hike. It follows the Hoh River, is relatively flat, and is lined with giant 100 year old cedars, spruce, and fir trees. If you go there on a day when there are not a lot of other visitors, you cannot help but notice how quiet it is. The moss is very effective at absorbing sounds.
Hanging moss in the Hall of Mosses
Most of the seven wonders of Washington are best visited on a warm sunny day. Not this one. The best time to visit is when it is damp and raining because that is when the moss is the most lush and green. Another reason to visit during the rainy season is that you are more likely to see an Ariolimax columbianus (a banana slug), which is the second largest species of land slug in the world. This is their kingdom, and here they can grow up to 10 inches long and weigh a quarter of a pound. The rainy winter and spring seasons are also the best times to see Roosevelt elk that live in the area since they move to the higher elevations in the summer.
The photographs and information about the Hoh Rain Forest shown here are just a sample from the book, The Seven Wonders of Washington State, which is available for purchase via the Buy Now link at the bottom of the page.
The photographs and information about the Hoh Rain Forest shown here are just a sample from the book, The Seven Wonders of Washington State, which is available for purchase via the Buy Now link at the bottom of the page.
Experiencing the Hoh Rain Forest
Hoh Rain Forest Entrance Cost: none
State Parks near the Hoh Rain Forest: Bogachiel
State Parks Admission: Discover Pass is required, $10 for one day, $30 for one year
When to Visit: The Hoh Rain Forest is open daily April - November, weekends only December - March, camping and hiking is accessible year round
Access: Road to the Hoh Rain Forest is open year round
Hoh Rain Forest Entrance Cost: none
State Parks near the Hoh Rain Forest: Bogachiel
State Parks Admission: Discover Pass is required, $10 for one day, $30 for one year
When to Visit: The Hoh Rain Forest is open daily April - November, weekends only December - March, camping and hiking is accessible year round
Access: Road to the Hoh Rain Forest is open year round
The marker on the map shows the location of the Hoh Rain Forest.
You can see additional photographs and purchase fine art prints of the Hoh Rain Forest at WashingtonPhotographs.com.
Hoh Rain Forest Online Resources
Hoh Rain Forest Photographs
Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Park
National Park Service - Temperate Rain Forests
National Park Service - Visiting the Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forests of the Northern Pacific Coast
Washington Trails Association - Hoh River Five Mile Island
Hoh Rain Forest Online Resources
Hoh Rain Forest Photographs
Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Park
National Park Service - Temperate Rain Forests
National Park Service - Visiting the Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forests of the Northern Pacific Coast
Washington Trails Association - Hoh River Five Mile Island
Photographer Howard Frisk and musician Larry Merritt have teamed up to create a unique offer. Larry has created a special edition of his music CD, The Seven Wonders of Washington State, as a companion CD to Howard's book by the same title. The CD includes seven original instrumental songs written and performed by Larry, one for each of the seven wonders of Washington State. You can listen to the first track of the CD below and purchase the book with or without the CD via the Buy Now link below.