Hoh Rainforest, Protected temperate rainforest in Olympic Peninsula, Washington, United States.
The Hoh Rainforest is a protected area within Olympic National Park where Sitka spruce and western hemlock grow up to 95 meters (312 feet) tall. The trunks of these trees can reach diameters of 7 meters (23 feet) and rise through layers of thick green moss.
The valley formed thousands of years ago when glaciers carved through the landscape and created space for this rainforest to grow. Later, the area became part of Olympic National Park, which protects it from logging.
The name comes from the Quileute people, whose term Ohalet describes how fast the nearby river moves through the landscape. This word fits a place where water is always present, flowing through streams, moss, and mist.
The two main trails, Hall of Mosses at 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) and Spruce Nature Trail at 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles), are well marked and wind through the heart of the forest. Sturdy footwear is recommended because paths are often wet and slippery.
More than 3.2 meters (129 inches) of rain fall here each year, making this region the wettest in the contiguous United States. Temperatures swing from minus 11 degrees Celsius (12 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter to 34 degrees Celsius (94 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer.
Location: Washington
GPS coordinates: 47.86140,-123.92500
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03
Washington holds far more than the well-known attractions of Seattle and Mount Rainier. Across the state, dozens of less-visited sites offer insight into the region's geological history, military past, and natural diversity. From waterfalls to ancient forests to historic lighthouses and military fortifications, Washington presents a substantial range of landscapes and cultural sites. Palouse Falls in Franklin County drops 198 feet (60 meters) into a basalt gorge, while Cape Flattery at the northwesternmost point of the continental United States looks out over jagged cliffs and the open Pacific. Ape Caves in Skamania County is one of the longest lava tube systems in the country, and Beacon Rock rises 848 feet (260 meters) above the Columbia River. The Trail of the Patriarchs leads through centuries-old Douglas firs and cedars, and Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to the mainland via a 180-foot (55-meter) steel structure from 1935. Fort Worden in Port Townsend served as a coastal defense installation, and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle documents the Asian American history of the Pacific Northwest. Dry Falls in Grant County shows the remains of an Ice Age waterfall that was once wider than Niagara Falls. Mima Mounds in Thurston County forms a field of hundreds of symmetrical earth mounds whose formation continues to be scientifically debated. These sites offer practical alternatives to the crowded main attractions and allow for deeper engagement with Washington's natural and historical features.
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