The Hall of Mosses trail is such a beautiful and unique trail found in the Western portion of Olympic National Park. The trail guides you through the Hoh Rainforest as you view gorgeous and one-of-a-kind trees covered in moss.
You also view a crystal-clear stream as you make your way further into the forest along with massive nurse longs along the trail. This is one of the most popular trails in Olympic National Park and attracts people of all ages and all different areas, so don’t be afraid to bring your family. You don’t want to miss these views!
Hall of Mosses Trail - Olympic National Park
Time: 1 hour – 2 hours depending on the skill of the hiker and the amount of photography done.
Difficulty: Easy to medium difficulty Could be more difficult for people with knee, back, and other health problems.
Elevation Gain: 78 feet, The elevation gain is spread out over the trail.
Restrooms: There is a restroom right by the trailhead.
Accessibility: Not ADA Accessible
Pets: Pets are not allowed on this trail.
Parking: It has a small parking lot for the popularity of the trail. Plan to get there early or be prepared to wait for a parking spot.
Picnic Area: There is a great shaded picnic area right off of the main parking area.
Where is the Hall of Mosses Trail?
Seattle to the Hoh Rainforest
You can expect the drive from Seattle to the Hoh Rainforest to take a minimum of 4 hours and 30 minutes not counting stops. It really depends on if you take the ferry from Seattle or drive south via I-5.
Both of these routes are amazing and provide great scenery.
It is worth noting that just doing a day trip to the Hoh and other parts of the park is not easy and will mean a really LONG DAY! It is better to plan to stay at one of the amazing Olympic National Park lodges or campgrounds for a night or two.
Forks - Under 1-hour drive
Port Angeles - 2-hour drive
Hiking the Hall of Mosses Trail
The Hall of Mosses Trail is incredibly fun to hike. It is a loop trail that goes through the rainforest with many amazing sights. It is a fairly easy hike that is mostly flat except the walk up into the forest after the stream.
The trail is made of dirt so it is easy to walk on, but be prepared because the trail has exposed roots in some areas. Overall it is a very good trail especially with all of the cool views!
Trail Safety
Be alert for Roosevelt Elk and other wildlife on this trail. They can all be dangerous, but especially know your bear safety.
The Banana Slugs are not necessarily dangerous but they can be sticky and slimy if you accidentally step on one.
What to Bring
Water: Hall of Mosses is a short hike but be prepared with water so you can prevent getting dehydrated.
Camera Gear we use
We are big fans of using great camera gear to get amazing photos while traveling.
Canon R5 - We recently upgraded to the R5 after using a Mark 5 for years. We are loving the camera shutter speed and quality of images.
Canon 100 - 500mm - We use the Canon 100-500 for wildlife photography.
Camera Rain Cover - A rain cover will help protect your camera during rain showers but also when photographing waterfalls.
Camera Cleaning Kit - Cameras can get dirty, beat up, and dusty while in the parks. We like having a cleaning kit with us so we can do on the spot touch ups.
Extra Camera Batteries - We suggest always having one or two extra camera batteries with you. There is nothing worse than going to take a shot and the battery dies.
Extra Memory Cards - We use Extreme PRO SanDisk cards
Closest Attractions: Kalaloch Beach, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc Hot Springs, Sol Duc Falls
Closest Campground: The Hoh Campground
Closest Lodging: Kalaloch Cabins, Lake Crescent Lodge, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Closest Visitor Center: The Hoh Rain forest visitor center is located next to the trailhead.
Distances to other Olympic National Park Attractions
One thing to know about traveling within Olympic National Park is many destinations are a fair distance away from each other. This is not a park you are going to see everything in one or two days.
It can take a lot longer than you expect to reach many destinations within the park. Plan extra time for driving!
Hoh Rainforest to -
Crescent Lake -Storm King Ranger Station - 65 miles, 1 hour and 45 minutes
Sol Duc - 72 miles, 2 hours and 30 minutes
Kalaloch - 40 miles, 1 hour
Hurricane Ridge - 83 miles, 2 hours
Mora - 47 miles, 1 hour and 30 minutes
Lake Ozette - 85 miles, 2 hours and 20 minutes
Quinault Rain Forest - 70 miles, 1 hour and 45 minutes
Staircase Ranger Station - 191 miles, 4 hours and 15 minutes
Olympic National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$75.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$100.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Where to stay when visiting Olympic National Park
There are multiple National Park Lodges within the park. Deciding on which lodge to stay in will largely depend on what part of the park you plan to explore because it certainly is one of those National Parks that you'll visit multiple times and still have something new to see (like we do!)
Kalaloch Lodge
Season: Year-round
Location: Along Highway 101 on the Pacific Ocean
The Kalaloch Lodge is a perfect place to stay while exploring the Olympic Peninsula and was indeed one of our favorite National Park Lodges we've ever stayed at. With well-equipped rooms and unbeatable views of Kalaloch Beach, you're sure to fall in love with this lodge.
Lake Crescent Lodge
Season: May to January
Location: Beside Lake Crescent, approximately 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington
The Lake Crescent Lodge boasts phenomenal views of Lake Crescent and offers a variety of accommodating options like cottages, lodge rooms, single tavern cottages, and more for you to choose from. If you end up deciding on a cottage (like we did), you'll get a chance to catch the gorgeous sunsets over the lake from your front porch. You can also rent kayaks from the property to go kayaking on the lake.
Log Cabin Resort
Season: May to September
Location: On the shore of Lake Crescent, 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington
The Log Cabin Resort includes chalets, camper cabins, RV/tent-camping sites, and more with stellar views of Lake Crescent. We stayed in a 2 Bedroom Kitchenette Cabin and had a great time at the place, which was spacious, had all the essentials, and a picnic table with a view, right outside the room.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Season: Mid-April to the end of October
Location: Right by the Sol Duc Hot Springs
The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is a rustic, serene property located by the hot springs. With a reservation at this resort, you'll also get access to swim in the hot springs, which was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay there. The property's prime location in the forested region also gives you easy access to the nearby trails, the Sol Duc Falls, River, and Valley.
Lodging near Olympic NP
Olympic NP borders multiple gateway communities including Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, La Push, Olympia, Forks, and Shelton.
Lake Quinault Lodge - At Lake Quinault Lodge, you can look forward to golfing on site, a terrace, and shopping on site. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. The onsite family restaurant, Roosevelt Room, features American cuisine. In addition to a firepit and mini golf, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi. Available to book on Expedia
Tree house at Twilight Beach - Stunning Tree house looking over the Strait of Juan De Fuca is a total North-West Washington experience. It is made of cedar with rustic touches. Once you are inside you will never want to leave as the floor to ceiling window looks onto the straight and with constant moving landscape of cruise ships, wildlife, and bald eagles soaring across your window.
Olympic Inn & Suites - located in Port Angeles. Olympic Inn & Suites provides everything you need. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor - Take advantage of dry cleaning/laundry services, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar at Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location. Be sure to enjoy a meal at 48° North, the onsite restaurant. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.
Quality Inn & Suites - Located in Sequim. Take advantage of a free breakfast buffet, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a gym at Quality Inn & Suites at Olympic NP. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a business center, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Olympic Railway Inn - located in Sequim. Stay in converted Caboose Train cars!!! Each caboose has a different theme!
Click on the map below to see additional hotel and vacation rental rates in the area.
Additional Olympic National Park Resources
Check out all of the Olympic National Park Camping options. There are 14 campgrounds within the park
Olympic National Park Lodging - Check out our complete guide of all the places to stay within the park
Things to do in Olympic NP - Find out all of the top things to do in this great park.
Free National Park Days - Check out the 5 days a year the National Park Service waives entrance fees.
Most visited National Parks - Check out all of the top-visited parks in the United States
Check out all of the National Parks in Washington along with neighboring National Parks in Idaho, National Parks in Oregon, Hawaii National Parks, and Alaska National Parks
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
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