WHAT IS IT?
The dense Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park sits in the shadow of Mt. Olympus on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
WHEN TO GO
As long as you’re OK with rain, it’s always a good time to visit the Hoh Rain Forest. The area gets 140 inches of rain each year, largely during winter. In spring, the snow melt from Mount Olympus runs off through the Hoh River.
THE STILL LIFE
About a four-hour trek down the Hoh River Trail, hikers can find a red stone that marks one of America’s quietest spots. “One Square Inch of Silence” was made famous by audio ecologist Gordon Hempton, who seeks to preserve naturally quiet locations—similar to the Dark Sky movement, which preserves natural dark.
WHERE TO STAY
For those looking to spend their entire trip in the park, there are 88 campsites in the Hoh Rain Forest. Visitors can also stay in nearby hotels or in the town of Forks, which is less than an hour drive away and close to the Pacific Coast.
GET A PASS
Passes for Olympic National Park are $30 per vehicle. The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass, which can be used at federal recreation sites nationwide.
MORE INFO
For more information on Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rain Forest, visit www.nps.gov/olym or call 360-565-3130.