Hoh Rain Forest Campground

Hoh Rain Forest Campground is a developed campground in Olympic National Park’s old-growth rainforest, beside the Hoh River at the end of Upper Hoh Road. Come for an overnight under the mossy canopy and as a base for the Hoh’s short nature walks; some campsites sit right along the river. The campground is open year-round, with temporary closures possible in severe weather.

The sites don’t all feel alike: some are riverside, while others sit close to a road or a neighbor. Space and privacy vary, so this suits you better if you’re happy with a simple forest campsite than if you need a roomy, secluded RV spot.

Hall of Mosses is a 0.8-mile loop and Spruce Nature Trail is a 1.2-mile loop in the nearby Hoh visitor area. Hall winds through old-growth forest; Spruce reaches Taft Creek and the Hoh River. The longer Hoh River Trail heads farther up the valley, with shorter turnarounds if you don’t want a big hike.

The Hoh runs about 50 miles from glacier-capped Mount Olympus toward the Pacific, dropping about 7,000 feet. Glacial sediment gives it a milky slate-blue color. Logjams and pools support salmon, and salmon carcasses carry marine nutrients back into the forest.

The Hoh can receive up to 12 feet of precipitation a year. Mild winters and cool summers help giant spruce, cedar, maple and Douglas-fir thrive, while mosses and ferns cover branches and the forest floor. Fallen trees become nurse logs, giving new plants a place to start above the wet ground.

You’ll find flush toilets and potable water, with picnic tables, fire pits with grates and animal-proof food lockers. There’s no food service in the Hoh, so sort out meals before you drive up. Roosevelt elk, black bears and river otters are commonly seen in the area.