Hi Hoh, It’s Off to the Forest We Go

The Olympic rain forest presents an uncommon alchemy of prodigious rainfall, glacier-carved valleys, a never-felled forest of Douglas fir and red cedar cradled between the Pacific Ocean and snows that never melt. The combination creates an awesome growing power normally associated with warmer forests.

As endangered as they are, tropical rain forests are many. Temperate rain forests, however, number only three: in Patagonia, New Zealand and on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. The Olympic rain forest is protected by its national park status.

The remaining rain forest is concentrated along the Queets, Quinault and Hoh rivers. The Hoh River area is the only part of the rain forest where the National Park Service has a public presence: a small visitors center, an interpretive nature trail that leads through the Gothic Hall of Mosses, and friendly rangers who greet refugees from U.S. 101 or the mountaineers bound for Mt. Olympus.

Along the Hoh Trail ferns grow taller than a hiker. Fallen logs are upholstered with moss. The best day hike is the 5 3/4-mile jaunt up the Hoh River to Happy Four Camp. Three more miles of rambling brings you to Olympus Ranger Station, perched between the ancient forest and glaciers on Mt. Olympus. From here, mountaineers continue to Blue Glacier, about halfway up Olympus, then trek over fields of ice and snow to the summit.

To reach the Hoh Rain Forest trail head: From U.S. 101 in the town of Forks, head south 12 miles. Turn east on Hoh River Road and proceed 19 miles to the trail head at Rain Forest Visitors Center.

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Hoh Trail WHERE: Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park in Washington state. DISTANCE: To Happy Four Camp is 11 miles round trip with 200-foot elevation gain; to Olympus Ranger Station is 18 miles round trip. TERRAIN: Rain forest of gigantic spruce, cedar hemlock, fir. HIGHLIGHTS: Continent’s only temperate rain forest. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate to strenuous. PRECAUTIONS: Always prepare for rain. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Olympic National Park, 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angels, WA 98362; tel (206) 452-4501.