Hall of Mosses: A Short Hoh Forest Loop with a Longer Approach

Hall of Mosses makes the Hoh’s old-growth forest the whole purpose of a short walk. Moss hangs from bigleaf maples, ferns fill the lower layers and young trees grow from decaying logs. Choose this named loop if you want time among the trees without committing to the long Hoh River Trail.

Count the approach as well as the loop

Start by the information boards near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Follow signs to Hall of Mosses, cross Taft Creek, climb to the loop, then return along the approach after completing it.

The trailhead page advertises a roughly 1.3 km (0.8 mi) loop, but its detailed assessment counts about 1.7 km (1.04 mi) from the parking area and back. Use the latter scale for the whole outing. Gravel, roots, steps and short steep grades make this more than a level stroll. A short distance alone does not establish an easy fit for every walker.

Leave time to stop at the moss-covered maples rather than attaching a longer river-trail target to this visit. Pets are not allowed on the Hoh trails.

The drive deserves its own plan

Turn from US 101 onto Upper Hoh Road and follow it to the visitor area at the end; return by that same road. The October road report lists Upper Hoh Road open, about 29 km (18 mi) from US 101. Check it again before traveling because storm damage can change access.

If your onward or return drive crosses the US 101 Hoh River Bridge, also read WSDOT’s separate closure notice. Its final scheduled overnight closure runs from 7 pm October 18 to 5:30 am October 19. A finished forest walk does not make that road connection available. After the work, the notice anticipates alternating single-lane traffic; use WSDOT’s live travel information for the actual journey.