Miles: 1.2 mile loop (Hall of Mosses), 1.3 miles loop (Spruce Trail)
Elevation Gain/Highest: 126ft/597ft (Hall of Mosses), 64ft/600ft (Spruce Trail)
Map: Green Trails Seven Lakes Basin 133s, Custom Correct Seven Lakes Basin-Hoh
Favorite Eats After Hike: Pacific Pizza, Turnip The Beet, Yodelin, Nourish Sequim, Sunsets West Co-op, Kalaloch Lodge, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
My hike:
11/23/2018
We had some fun doing the whole #OptOutside thing on the peninsula (our usual) and I wanted to take the time to drive up to the Hoh Rainforest visitor center in the Olympic National Park since I had never been. We had first taken a walk on Rialto Beach near our campground and then we were on our way to visit the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail of the Hoh Rainforest.
The drive in alone was worth it, with the views of the Hoh River from the road, bald eagles perched on freshly caught fish and a herd of elk at the side of the road. Didn’t get out to take pictures but had to slow down for everyone else who was getting out and standing just yards away, so I snapped a picture from the car window. Loved reading in visitor center in multiple places about how the elk charge so to keep back at least 100 feet back, I was glad to not be that guy.
The Hall Of Mosses Trail
The Hall of Mosses was a beautiful wander right from the visitor’s center. I was glad we wore our rubber boots from the beach as there were a few muddy spots. The sun made an appearance for us in the maple grove and the trees lit up with the glistening mosses. So lovely. My track says the loop was 1.1 miles RT from the visitor center.
Spruce Nature Trail
After walking the Hall of Mosses, we did another loop on the neighboring Spruce Nature Trail to get a glimpse of the Hoh River and the tall regal spruce trees in this area. The most amazing feature of this walk was seeing the various ways the trees grew up from the nurse logs, whether they were still present under the standing spruce or not. All the contortions they make growing up from stumps or downed logs was fascinating! How nature finds a way…
The river was running well and the low clouds obscured our view into the valley but I could imagine snowy peaks rising off in the distance. There were quite a few muddy spots on the trail, I was glad to have my rubber boots on.
My favorite part of hiking the trail was that we only shared it with two other people, this young couple in matching rainsuits singing, giggling and having such a fun time. I was enjoying the hike from my perspective but kept smiling as I watched it from theirs.
This loop came in at 1.28 miles RT from the visitor center. For being just a couple short “touristy” trails in the national park, The Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail of The Hoh Rainforest were definitely worth the drive in off 101 while we were out exploring the coast. On the way out and north, we stopped at the Bogachiel River State Park for a pit stop and lunch.
Directions: From Port Angeles, head west on Highway 101 and after about 68 miles, turn left on Upper Hoh Road, which turns into Hoh Valley Road. Proceed to the trailhead, near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center at the end of this road. You will need a National Park Pass or America The Beautiful Pass.
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