Emerald Exploration: Hall of Mosses Trail in Olympic National Park

Immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty of the Hall of Mosses Trail, where every step reveals the vibrant greens of the ancient Hoh Rainforest.

Last updated: May 2024

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$30 National Park entrance fee
More than 500 Miles from you
World Class: Exceptional experiences that are among the best things to do in the world
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Description

Explore the emerald heart of Olympic National Park on the Hall of Mosses Trail, a serene journey through lush, moss-covered forests. Immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty of the Hall of Mosses Trail, where every step reveals the vibrant greens of the ancient Hoh Rainforest. The Hall of Mosses Trail offers a rare glimpse into the heart of the Hoh Rainforest, part of Olympic National Park's diverse ecosystem. This 0.8-mile loop trail, with an elevation gain of around 100 feet, is a journey through a verdant landscape teeming with western hemlocks, bigleaf maples, and Sitka spruces that tower up to 250 feet. The forest floor is a soft tapestry of mosses and ferns, creating a scene so lush it feels otherworldly. The trail is accessible to all, promising an easy yet rewarding adventure into one of the United States' largest temperate rainforests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.

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Itinerary

Begin at the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center
Follow the well-maintained, 0.8-mile loop trail
Take time to observe the towering trees, mosses, and potentially wildlife
Complete the trail at a leisurely pace, enjoying the unique ecosystem

Location

Hoh Valley Rd, Forks, WA 98331

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Packing List

Waterproof hiking boots
Rain jacket
Camera
Water bottle
Snacks (to enjoy after the hike, keeping the forest clean)

4.8 ● Google reviews

The best trail ever! We saw a herd of elk right on the trail. Since I didn’t have much time in Olympic National Park, I chose this trail as it’s easy to hike, not too long—just 30-40 minutes max. The nature was absolutely stunning! It’s a loop trail, making it convenient and enjoyable. The parking lot was empty, but we visited in mid-November. You definitely need to hike here!

Beautiful and serene place, even in the late fall. Located in Olympic National Park, this spot has been on my go to list for a while. Crossed another spot off my bucket list though was a bit rushed since people travelling with us didnt want to do the short trek👎 Ample parking, restrooms and an informative visitor center located at the start of the trail. Very quiet and beautiful place, didnt see any elk while on the trail but saw some on the road on the way out. Definitely going to return and experience more of this beautiful park. 5 stars🤙

Beautiful trailhead and trails! I will say if you’re already from Western Washington you might find it a bit underwhelming, but still beautiful! The trail layout of also quite great, you see a lot of cool flora! Warning to photographers- there’s a lot of people so be prepared to either photoshop them out for shoot in between hoards.

It was a nice and easy “hike” 1.6 mile loop and 85 feet elevation gain. Leave super early or just come late in the day if you don’t want to wait 1-2 hours to get in. It was pretty but would have been even better I think on a rainy day instead of a sunny day. Worth the stop.

The views are simply stunning. Make sure to get a picture clicked of the trail from the visitor center. It is a simple trail but having the map on your hand makes it easy to be sure that you follow the path. Most of the trail is semi-paved. Make sure to read the small information snippets provided along the trail on how the forest is formed, how the flora and fauna affects the germination of new plants on the forest ground. Great experience! It was a 30 minute trail but spent close to 2 hours exploring the same

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