Olympic Peninsula Day 1: Hoh Rainforest

Tacoma was still as we left it for a place on my US bucket list: the Olympic Peninsula. I’d seen pictures once and was fascinated by the verdant green, temperate rainforest. I’d hoped to visit on my last visit to Seattle but was unsuccessful; thanks to awesome coworkers this was becoming a reality. Margot picked me up and we drove straight to the Hoh Rainforest, where we met up with Adrienne for our hike after putting on more rain gear. We hiked the Hall of Mosses, stopping to admire the variety of mushrooms and the “mossy beards” on the trees (NPS sign, not our words). It wasn’t grand vistas, but the whole place had an enchanted feel to it.

Hall of Mosses trail, Hoh Rainforest NP

Hoh Rainforest National Park

old-growth trees in Hoh Rainforest National Park

Standing next to a tree trunk for scale in Hoh Rainforest National Park

Hoh Rainforest National Park

Hall of Mosses trail

We continued on to a waterfall, hiking along the Hoh River for much of it. The whole trail was mostly squishy with some good-sized puddles, and I was grateful for the rocks and logs that poked above them. And while it did live up to its reputation as a rainforest, that hike was also (ironically) the first time I’d seen the sun on this trip! The afternoon sun made the wet forest sparkle. The waterfall was lovely, and the hike back didn’t feel as long.

some of the fungi in the Hoh Rainforest

Hoh River

Waterfall in Hoh Rainforest National Park

My hiking buddies Adrienne and Margot

The trail in Hoh Rainforest National Park

We drove to La Push, where Adrienne had found us cabins on the Quileute Reservation just off the beach. The cabin was a true tiny house, and once we and all our gear were inside we walked to the beach to watch the sunset. It was far too cold and windy for me to even stick my toe in the water, but just the sound and smell of the beach felt good. Not to mention some of the most impressive driftwood I’ve ever seen!

Sunset at La Push

This trunk was so cool to climb on! Some parts were worn smooth; other areas had dimples. No idea where it came from or how big of a storm it took to wash it up there.

The food and the company were both excellent, and the wood burning stove made me grateful for our collective fire building skills. The storm overnight also made me grateful we’d abandoned any thought of camping.