Hoh River Trail

Go beyond the visitor-center loops to Five Mile Island for a full rainforest day beside a glacial river. Check current creek crossings after heavy rain.

Why choose this trail

A deeper rainforest day beyond the nature loops. The Hoh River Trail is an out-and-back with many possible turnarounds. This guide uses Five Mile Island for a roughly ten-mile forest day rather than the 18.5-mile one-way approach to Blue Glacier moraine.

Landscape & habitat

The trail follows a glacial river through temperate rainforest, with enormous spruce and hemlock, nurse logs, elk habitat and frequent side channels.

Access, passes & rules

Olympic entrance fees apply. Overnight travel requires a wilderness permit and some upper camps are quota-controlled; a day hike to Five Mile Island does not require an overnight permit.

Conditions & hazards

Heavy rain raises creeks and can make fords dangerous. Current NPS condition reports list blowdowns and changing crossings farther upriver, so verify the exact segment planned.