Visit the Hoh Rain Forest

NorthBeachVacation.com

HOH RAIN FOREST

The Hoh Rain Forest is about the farthest practical day trip
from the North Beach area at about 100 miles - a 2 1/2 hour
drive each way. However, there are lots of interesting stops
that can be made along the way to break up the drive: the
Quinault Fish Hatchery on the Moclips Highway, Lake
Quinault, the Kalaloch beaches, and Ruby Beach.

About 10 miles south of Forks you leave Highway 101 and
drive 18 miles to the National Park visitor center. The road
follow the Hoh River valley, which is very beautiful with the
rushing waters, sand banks, forest, and distant hills. You
also pass some pretty farmland backed by forested hills.
The signature moss-draped trees actually begin before the
park entrance.

Trails of varying lengths begin at the visitor center. We
chose the short, 3/4 mile, Hall of Mosses trail. The trail first
crosses a crystal clear stream, where the ranger said we
might see some silver fish (we didn't). Everything in the park
is covered in moss: the visitor center, the phone booth, every
fallen branch, and all the trees. Some of the most beautiful
trees are the moss-draped maples. The other astonishing
sight along the trail are the gigantic Spruce trees, which
grow up to 300 feet tall in this forest. One fallen log follows
the trail for 191 feet, and the sign says it was even taller in
life. Down on the Kalaloch coastline you find these trees as
massive driftwood logs.

Local expert's description of the trail:
http://www.kaleberg.com/portangeles/hoh.html

Hoh River Trust:
http://www.hohrivertrust.org/

by Bob Kelly
bobkelly1964@yahoo.com
http://www.BobsPacificBeachHouse.com

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