If you have time to visit only one of the lush rainforest areas of Washington’s northwest coast, head for the Hoh River Rainforest, 12 miles south of Forks then 18 miles east along a well-signed and well-paved road. Not only is this the most easily accessible of these incredibly lush, old-growth areas, the Hoh River forest is also among the least disturbed, with a thick wet blanket of vibrant green ferns, mosses, and lichens covering every inch of the earth at the foot of massive hemlocks, cedars, and towering Sitka spruce. Displays inside the visitors center tell all about the forest’s flora and fauna. There’s also a wheelchair-accessible nature trail and a wide range of hiking trails, including the quickest access to the icy summit of 7,965-foot Mt. Olympus, 22 miles away in the glacier-packed alpine highlands at the heart of the park.
The closest services to the Hoh River Rainforest are in Forks, but budget travelers may want to take advantage of the $12-a-night bunks at the amiable Rain Forest Hostel (360/374-2270), 23 miles south of Forks along US-101 (between milemarkers 169 and 170), midway between the Hoh River Rainforest and the coast at Ruby Beach.
