Parking
Park at Hoh River Trailhead beside the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center at the end of Upper Hoh Road. This is the Hoh River approach; the separate Sol Duc approach begins elsewhere.
Overview
About Hoh Lake Trail
Why go
- Old-growth rainforest and river scenery lead to a remote subalpine lake.
- A dramatic change from mossy lowland forest to open mountain terrain.
Heads up
- Nearly 30 miles round trip with a steep, exposed climb of more than 3,500 feet.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation696–4,524 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
6 active Olympic alerts
- CautionUS 101 Hoh River Bridge reduced to one laneUS 101 at the Hoh River Bridge is restricted to one lane of alternating traffic; obey the signals and 25 mph speed limit.Official details
- ClosureStaircase wilderness trails and campsites remain closedWilderness trails and campsites around Staircase remain closed during recovery from the Bear Gulch Fire; the developed Staircase area, including the Rapids Loop, campground, and ranger station, is…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Your drive to Hoh Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Olympic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Olympic audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Hoh Rain Forest: Under the Moss0:00 / 0:36
“Up ahead is the Hoh Rain Forest visitor area, where I'd give most of your time to the trees. The Hall of Mosses loop takes you beneath huge conifers and bigleaf maples hung with moss.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Olympic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Why Glacier Ice Looks Blue
- The Wren Behind the Song
- A Jay’s Hidden Pantry
- Ferns Above Your Head
- 204 audio storiesacross Olympic’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Olympic Marmot, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 148 trails, 94 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Hoh Lake Trail
Route and effortThis out-and-back starts at Hoh River Trailhead, follows the Hoh River Trail to the Hoh Lake…
This out-and-back starts at Hoh River Trailhead, follows the Hoh River Trail to the Hoh Lake junction, climbs to the lake, and returns the same way. Hoh Lake is listed 14.7 miles from the Hoh trailhead, so plan for 29.4 miles round trip. The lake is the turnaround for this itinerary; the named trail continues beyond it toward Bogachiel Peak and the High Divide. Allow about 15 hours for the full hike, or consider an overnight with the required wilderness permit.
Rainforest approachThe first roughly 10 miles follow the Hoh River through old-growth rainforest.
The first roughly 10 miles follow the Hoh River through old-growth rainforest. Expect moss-covered trees, nurse logs, and river views, with 5-Mile Island and Happy 4 among the landmarks. Olympus Guard Station is a little over nine miles from the trailhead. This approach is much gentler than the climb ahead, but its distance makes the return trip substantial before you even reach the lake.
Climb to Hoh LakeAt the Hoh River junction, turn onto the Hoh Lake Trail. The route climbs steeply for about 4.
At the Hoh River junction, turn onto the Hoh Lake Trail. The route climbs steeply for about 4.7 miles to the basin, gaining roughly 3,500 to 3,800 feet on a series of switchbacks. It leaves the valley and crosses the sparse-canopy footprint of the 1978 Hoh Fire, with little shade and no water along the climb until C.B. Flats. The exposed grade makes heat, rain, and snow more consequential than on the lower river trail.
At the lakeHoh Lake sits in a rocky subalpine basin.
Hoh Lake sits in a rocky subalpine basin. In season, avalanche lilies and other alpine flowers brighten the meadows, and the surrounding ridges open toward Olympic's interior mountains. Elk and bears are often seen in summer and early fall, though sightings are never assured. The High Divide trail continues beyond the lake; this route turns around at the basin rather than making that longer continuation.
Water, weather, and campingThe best season is generally mid-July through September, but snow can cover high sections in…
The best season is generally mid-July through September, but snow can cover high sections in any season. Travel over snow requires an ice axe and self-arrest skills, and map-and-compass navigation may be needed. Treat water before drinking. Overnight hikers need a wilderness permit and must use designated sites; the lake has a composting toilet, and the C.B. Flats group site is about half a mile south. Follow current bear-canister rules and do not build campfires. Check current trail conditions before setting out because recent reports describe a washout and rough reroute above the Hoh River junction.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Olympic
710 sightingsOlympic MarmotMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
30 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
42 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
71 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
306 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Olympic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
