Hoh Campground, near Forks, Washington, is a fantastic base for exploring the stunning Hoh Rainforest and its lush surroundings. With designated sites nestled among towering moss-covered trees, it offers a unique camping experience right in the heart of [Olympic National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/washington/near/olympic-national-park).

This campground is known for its proximity to numerous hiking trails, making it a favorite for those eager to dive into the rainforest's beauty. Visitors have highlighted the clean facilities, including well-maintained bathrooms and easy access to drinking water. One camper noted, “Loved this campground! Steps away from the rainforest trailhead, so a great one-night stay to hike the trails.”

Wildlife sightings are a common delight here, with elk often wandering through the area, adding to the natural charm. While some campers mentioned the lack of privacy due to foot traffic, many appreciated the vibrant atmosphere, especially families enjoying the great outdoors together. 

For those planning to stay, be sure to bring your own firewood and food, as amenities are limited. The nearest grocery store is a bit of a drive, so stock up before you arrive. Whether you're here for a quick hike or a longer stay, Hoh Campground offers a memorable experience surrounded by nature's wonders.

## Overview

 The reservation season for the 2025 summer season for the Hoh campground is June 13, 2025 - September 8, 2025. Important information about booking windows: To better serve visitors, Hoh Campground will be releasing campsites in a series of three staggered block releases by loop. These block releases will be 6 months in advance, two weeks in advance, and 4 days in advance. A loop campsites will be available for reservation 6 months in advance. C loop campsites will be available for reservations two weeks in advance. B loop campsites will be available for reservations 4 days in advance. Outside the reservation season, Hoh Campground is open for camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Some campsites may be closed during winter. The Hoh Rain Forest, pronounced \"Hoe\", earns its name from the ever-flowing Hoh River that carves its way from Mount Olympus towards the Pacific Coast. However, where the name originates, is up for debate. The word \"Hoh\" undoubtedly comes from Native American languages; possibly the Quileute word \"Ohalet\" which means \"fast moving water\" or \"snow water.\" Since the river itself forms from glacial runoff, that origin seems straightforward. Other explanations state that the Quinault word \"Qu,\" meaning \"boundary,\" could be the root of the name as a river as massive as the Hoh certainly forms a formidable boundary across the landscape. A third consideration claims that the word \"Hoh\" translates to \"man with quarreling wives.\" What the actual history behind the name is, appears to be lost to time. Regardless of the name, there's no question as to the allure that draws visitors back to the rainforest year after year. Throughout the winter season, rain falls frequently in the Hoh Rain Forest, contributing to the yearly average of 140 inches (3.55 meters) of precipitation each year. The result is a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. Mosses and ferns that blanket the surfaces add another dimension to the enchantment of the rainforest. 
## Recreation

 The trailhead for this area is located next to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center, which is a great place for more information. The staff there can give you ideas for your visit and exhibits will help explain what makes this area so special. The visitor center is open daily during the summer, closed January through early March, and generally open Friday through Sunday during the spring and fall seasons (hours may vary according to season). The area offers two short loop trails as well as an out-and-back trail through the forest near the Visitor Center. The Hall of Mosses Trail (.8 miles/ 1.2 km) is an iconic loop that takes you through old growth forest and features a grove of maples trees draped with abundant club moss. The Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles/ 1.9 km) is a diverse trail that loops through both old and new growth forest as you walk alongside Taft Creek and the Hoh River. The Hoh River trail is the area's main hiking trail. This out-and-back trail can be taken as far as one desires. Taken all the way, it leads past multiple camping areas, the last being Glacier Meadows at 17.3 miles (27.8 km), and ultimately ends 18.5 miles/ 30 km out at the Blue Glacier moraine looking up at Mt. Olympus. The Hoh Lake trail branches off from the Hoh River trail just after the ranger station and ascends to Bogachiel Peak between the Hoh and the Sol Duc Valley. For those wanting to explore this area as a day hike, there are additional popular turn-around points along the trail. First River access (0.9 miles/ 2.9 km one way) Mineral Creek Falls (2.7 miles/ 4.3 one way) Cedar Grove (4.0 miles/ 6.4 km one way) 5 mile Island (5.0 miles/ 8.0 km one way) All backcountry permits must be reserved online. To get permits and more information on backpacking along the Hoh River Trail and throughout Olympic National Park, visit the Wilderness (Backcountry) Reservations page: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4098362\_ Pets are not allowed on trails in the Hoh Rain Forest. Pets are allowed on leash in developed areas such as the campground, picnic areas, and parking lots. Visit our Pets page for more information on where you can take your pet in the park: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/pets.htm 
## Natural Features

 The Hoh Rain Forest is located in the stretch of the Pacific Northwest rainforest which once spanned the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to the central coast of California. The Hoh is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States and is one of the park's most popular destinations. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Olympic National Park has much to explore, including temperate rain forests, ocean shores, sub-alpine mountains, lakes and more. Kalaloch, Quinault, and Forks are within a 45 minute to a 90 minute drive.

Hoh Campground — Olympic National Park

Looking for the best campgrounds near Sol Duc Hot Springs, WA? Sol Duc Hot Springs is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Sol Duc Hot Springs. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Sol Duc Hot Springs

The Best Camping Near Sol Duc Hot Springs, Washington

This park offers what you can typically expect from the NPS.  The sites are in good condition but a little too close.  That being said, the other campers were social but respectful of one's privacy and the campground quieted down at a reasonable hour.  The highlight was when a bull elk wandered into the campground and started chowing down on the tall grass.

My visit involved trail running in Olympic NP and there is a stream behind the campground with wonderful cool water that was exactly what my sore legs needed.

I will say, the location is great and I was able to wake up early and tour the Hoh rain forest before anyone else.  With the exception of an owl that was still active int he early morning, I had the trails to myself.

It is what is expected from NPS

After hiking along the beach in relative solitude the NPS campground felt crowded and a little jarring.  Overall very beautiful and a delightful stay.  Nice showers.

Solid but Close In

First time we stayed in a rainforest setting! It’s a wet place to stay, but so unique.  There are a few trails and they are not very busy.  We felt so content in this campground.  There was also water with was a nice perk!

amazing rainforest setting

HOH Rainforest & Campground in Olympic National Forest Washington, super lush, green, misty. Lots to explore and see, very easy hike with water sources and falls. Nice family destination road trip!! 

HOH Rainforest

The Hoh River Trail is a bit of a trek, especially with high water levels in early spring. My favorite place to camp was Lewis Meadow campground about 10 miles in. Beautiful location with places to set up along the river. Primitive toilet available as well as bear wire. 

Plenty of campgrounds once you travel along the river

We did an overnight, clockwise around the High Divide Loop. This campground is a bit over a mile off the loop, and the junction is close to halfway: our first day was 13.5 miles and second 10. Compared to the campsites closer to the trail (the basin, Heart and Deer lakes, etc.), it isn't as close to the main loop but is well situated for a one-nighter, and certainly has the most beautiful lake we encountered.

The campground is on the side of a hill south of the lake and just to the west of the drainage stream. We found three campsites, and then the trail continues up the hill to the composting toilet and past it to the bear wire. We chose the lowest of the campsites (labeled site 3) which also appeared to be the largest, with two tent areas, and put a 2P tent on one and 2P and 1P tents on there other: there wasn't much room for any more tents. The ground was a little sloped and very hard: I left my tent mostly unstaked. There was a convenient trail off to the side of this site leading into the woods for when nature calls.

A main attraction of this campground is the bear wire, which allows you to hang whatever bags you want, avoiding the use of bulky and heavy bear canisters, or even having to bring rope and try to figure out a hang situation of your own. The wire consists of two pulleys hanging from trees, each having two large hooks. Hook up your bag, hoist them up, and then clip the pulley to an anchored ring to keep it from falling. Easy to use and very convenient. The campground also has an composting toilet which has an amazing view of Mt. Olympus from its perch on top of the hill. It also offers zero privacy, being unenclosed and right along the trail to the bear wire and facing down towards the campsites.

The lake is a short walk away and is stunning. In late July, it was the perfect refreshing temperature for a swim after a long hike, and is pretty large. Two of my friends decided to swim around the entire lake before spotting black bears on the far side and coming back. Fortunately this was the closest we saw them getting.

On the other hand, there is a pair of goats, an adult and a kid, who made it clear this is their campground. They walked around the entire grounds using the trails and paying no heed to any humans in the area: we had to jump off the trail for them to rush past us at one point. In the morning, they woke me up at 5:30 when they trampled through our tent area, fortunately ignoring any of our stuff. We mentioned these to a ranger we passed on the next day and she said she was off to Sol Duc Park to help with a goat problem there, so this is not unique to this site.

The mosquitos were fairly bad this time of year (late July), we were swarmed during the evening while cooking, but they died down later at night. We chose to eat breakfast up on the High Divide rather than deal with them again in the morning.

Beautiful lake, run by two bossy goats

Had am amazing hike through the beautiful trees and took lots of pics with my hubby. Serene, quiet,  beautiful. Definitely making another trip with the kids soon. 

The Woodards Trip 

had a few wild elk sightings and had to hike through plenty of mud to get to a camping spot. The trail system is well marked, but theres a lot to see and it's tough to move quickly. 

Know where your campgrounds are and stay dry 

We hiked and found waterfallsand could see the mountains. And some old buildings from decades ago. It was a pretty dry day when we went luckily. I would recommend it to everyone. 

So much fun

You have to stay here. It's beautiful, the hosts are welcoming, and it's in Washington!! What more could you need?

One of my faves!

When we arrived, there were lots of spaces to choose from, some out in a more field-like setting by the river, some in the shade of the forest. We picked a spot with plenty of trees. The sites are spaced out fairly well. We had on good sized tent pad, and a second that was a bit weedy. Our second tent we squeezed in between the picnic table and our car. There was space for a hammock and slackline too! The fire pit was very wet, so starting a fire was difficult. But the campground gets extra points for having a shed of nice, dry cords of wood open all hours. Honor jar $5\. Also included a mix of kindling and bigger pieces. Nice bathrooms, potable water and wash stations. Things were situated so that lights on at night didn't really shine into any sites. Awesome being camped right at the trailhead of some gorgeous trails!

Beautiful rainforest retreat

This is the thick rainforest you picture when you think of the PNW. It is a pretty basic campsite, but they do have some ranger programs. No reservations taken. We stayed one night when our backpacking trip took an extra day. After visiting we read about the salmon run in the area and would love to come back to see that sometime!! There are many more campgrounds in the area if this one is full, most are pretty similar from what we’ve experienced.

PNW beauty in Olympic NP 

Hoh Campground at Olympic National Park has 78 first-come-first-served campsites located deep within the rainforest on the westernsidof the park. There are more shades of green than there are names for them- and the moss that grows everywhere makes you feel like you have entered a fairy tale forest. P The campground has flush toilets and potable water, but no shower facilities.

Mossy Rainforest of other-worldly greens

awesome time hiking and hammocking. Lush Green Everywhere! Woke up surrounded by a herd of Red Elk.

Lush Green

hands down my favorite campground ever. pretty busy, but the sites are huge. lots of wildlife. get there early cause sites fill up quick!

favorites

Rainforest…. lush green moss hanging from the trees.. elk.. fog settling on the ground.. bluest river ever. Fishing is amazing…. campground is clean and spacious. Hiking trails everywhere

Heaven on Earth

This is possibly the most beautiful National Park I have visited. Perfect campground along a river populated with deer, elk, and bears. Use your bear box! This is a rain forest so expect everything to be moist in the morning. There are still working pay phones here and fantastic interpretative center. There is a little town 15-20 minute drive away that has a supermarket, a large general store, and WiFi. The very best spot is Loop C, spot 78.

Pacific Northwest Perfection

One of my absolute favorites. Relatively small and quiet campground. 4-5 sites on the hoh river. Gorgeous. I have seen elk multiple times and exploring the river is tons of fun. The information center next door has a short hike to experience the rain forest, and is the starting point for many backpacking trips. 

Gorgeous 

We enjoyed hiking part of the Hoh River trail from our campsite. This trail is much less busy than the other short loop sites, it’s a nice getaway from the crowds of Thai National Park site. We ended up here since we didn’t realize some smaller first come sites weren’t open yet. We never love paying the price for these larger sites, but the bathrooms were nice and campground well maintained. Access to trails right from sites is always a nice perk too. 

Close to trails 

Well maintained park and trail. 
The Hoh river is a special place regardless of where you on it. This park is popular Tao on the weekends it is usually full during the summer but thins out on the weekdays. 
When I was there it was a first come first served. It was full by early afternoon on Friday so I did a day hike and drove back down the road outside the park and found a spot on the river that was public access. It was a discover pass area. 
I did note that several camp sites where going to be available the next day as you can see when people are going to leave the sites. 
I went back Sunday at 1100hrs and had my pick of riverside sites. 
The trail is popular so expect lots of foot traffic in the summer. I’ve been here in the fall, winter and spring and it’s close to vacant. 
The toilets were clean and a good water source. There are a few other trails to do not listed by the park but on AllTrails. 

Great Park and busy

Pretty much what you'd expect in a national park.  Amazing scenery and a very well kept location.  Lots of site options....from sunny to shady, river front, deep forrest, and everything between.  We drove in around 11am on a very busy weekend and got one of the last available spots (and there are over a 100).....camper turnover seems lower than normal during the pandemic...all of our neighbors were staying longer than I'm used to. Cars were driving around looking for spots as early as 7am with some saying that they had to sleep in their cars on forrest roads the night before as all sites were taken and all nearby options were full.  Sites were very goo sized and bathrooms were relatively clean.  Lots of mask wearing too.  Downside here is the same in most big campgrounds....noise.  RVs running generators and the occasional loud group that were not going to be getting up early.  Good access to all hiking in the Hoh and it's just over an hour and a bit to the ocean beaches.

Rainforest campings on the Olympic Peninsula

We were there on a Tuesday in October and there were lots of spots open at 4pm but it was more crowded than I would have imagined. So I bet weekends are packed. Great camping spots and very close to the trails. Some of the spots get very wet even if it’s not raining due to the humidity of the rainforest so I’d recommend being prepared for that. 

Beautiful!

The trails aren’t stroller friendly but easily walkable with toddlers and a backpack. Feels safe. Busy but not like a mall. Beautiful tree views and a great pit stop at Peak 6 on the way up.

Wonderful. 

We enjoyed staying here. Only stayed one night so we could wake up early and hike out on the Hoh River Trail. You could hear the river from our spot, it was very nice

This is our favorite campsite ever - and we’ve been a lot of places!! It’s deep in the forest, prepare for a long drive. We listened to Jurassic park music the whole way there. You’ll see lots of wildlife and cross over some incredibly high bridges to get there.

The campground is very secluded and hidden in the trees. Sites are spaced out far apart and quiet.

It felt like we were camping alone even though there were plenty of other people there.

Bathrooms are vault toilets and even though they’re relatively clean you won’t want to spend much time in them!

There is no cell phone service but there are plenty of hikes to do from the campground.

My only real warning is to be prepared for precipitation! It was very humid and everything was covered in a layer of dew in the morning.

Amazing campground!!

This was my second time staying here. It’s convenient for waking up early to get out on the trail before the crowd. Flushing toilets, heated bathrooms. Nice campground. 

2nd time here

My family and I came from Seattle to stay here and we were not disappointed! The ride there was easy and the pretty direct. The park was beautiful with trails and bathrooms and camping was offered just outside the visitor building. Plenty of spots and nicely spaced out so you’re not disturbing your neighbors. They had bathrooms around the sites, every so often so you will never be far from one. Overall we loved it here! Not far from Ruby Beach, too! 

Great place!

This campground has new, clean restroom facilities and the camp sites were very tidy.  The sites seemed well spaced, but was only 1/2 full during our two night stay in the middle of the week.  Great access to the Hall of Mosses, Spruce Nature and Hoh River Trails. Special treat was having a half-dozen elk wander through loop A one evening.

Very nice with great trail access

This is a very wet campground(you are in the Hoh Rainforest afterall), so bring some extra tarps to stay dry. There are 3 loops, with a few riverside sites in Loops A and C. There were a lot of downed trees that were in various states of being cleared when I was there, which did close some sites to campers. Some sites had some privacy and others did not, but all were level. I was comfortable on my site, but preferred more privacy. None of the sites that I looked at had dedicated tent pads, but all had the usual picnic table and fire pit. It's a short walk to the visitors center and lots of hiking trails are nearby, including one that cuts through the campground. It was very quiet at night, and even though I was not on a site on the river, you could hear the river at night.

Wet but worth it. 

The road getting there is long and worth the trip. Campsites are a bit smaller than advertised. Ours Site 25 was a tight fit for our 28ft trailer and F 250. Loved hiking, remember it is a rainforest so be ready for rain and mud on the trains. Overall great time.

Excellent Experience

I used to live near here and spent many hours here. The river is beautiful and there are swimming holes. Don't be surprised if you see deer elk bears etc. Hiking and camping is great.


Breathtaking beauty

Loved, loved, loved the hiking here. A bit crowded on the trails, but the old growth and rainforest are the reason why. We snagged a great campsite, close to the clean bathrooms. Dipped in the river. 

  

We hiked 7 miles along the trail, but it goes on much further. Was a bit muggy and hazy from forest fires in Oregon.  A really lovely place.

One of the Best!

Such a prime location! Walking distance to the Hoh rainforest hikes. Campground is peaceful, filled with huge trees. Nice clean bathrooms, no showers. RV dump station out of function as of Aug 2021 - disappointing. Biggest challenge is the LONG wait to get into the park in morning or early afternoon- waited over an hour at the entry booth, even mid-week.

Excellent location, seasonal challenges

Super convenient to camp inside the park boundary to avoid all of the car traffic in and out of the park. The campground is a few minutes walk to all of the trailheads. Campsites are reservable at the visitors center (campground desk hours in intervals of 10am-6pm). We drove in around 4pm on a Saturday with hopes of getting a site and we got pretty lucky because some people cancelled reservations due to rain the next day…in a rainforest lol. I would 100% stay here again. Easy access to clean water, clean flushable toilets and beautiful old growth trees on the campground and some in the A loop back up to the hoh river. 

Unforgettable 

Wet rainy night in the rainforest.  We just used tarps and made it fun. 20 Elk came into the site after 6.  A little far from the bathroom.  Site is a short hike to the visitor center that Is closed for the week.  Open Friday thru Sunday.   Good short distance from the river too.  Good stay.


Hoh rainforest campground 

Watch for elk on the way in.. the elk frequent the hoh river right behind the campground. Great campground.. obviously prepare for rain. 

Great for families

Campground has decent sites. Loop A will get you the most sun while loops B and C are mostly shaded (loops b and c were closed when we visited). We haven’t seen a single park employee in the campground for three nights so far. No one has cleaned the bathrooms in this amount of time either and they are pretty gross. We had to break out the poop bucket in case the bathrooms become unbearable. 

Beautiful park that needs some tlc 

Huge, mossy trees give lots of privacy. I almost don't want to give a good review because then everyone will take up reservations! The site used to have FF spots, but now everything has to be reserved way way in advance for the summer because they get taken up FAST. I have been trying to reserve since February and only got to place reservations for September. The bathrooms are very clean and are flushing toilets. Water is easy to get from the spigots. The river is beautiful and we saw otter tracks. The closest place to get any supplies is halfway to Forks, so make sure to have what you need, it is a big, deep forest and a really long drive.

Beautiful, my favorite campsite!

This campground had such a good location, it was very close to Hoh Rainforest, the visitor center, Hoh River, and many trails. I would’ve given this campsite a 5 if it weren’t for the screaming kids, zero privacy, and no showers. It is very much a family campground, which isn’t terrible just not my style. The sites were small also. I guess I just set my standards too high for this campground, I’m sure many people enjoy it. The bathrooms are clean and there is a sink with potable water for drinking and cleaning dishes. There is lots of wildlife to see, a deer and her fawns even walked into our campsite. The River was beautiful but ice cold. Overall a good experience, just underwhelmed.

Convenient Location but a Family Campground primarily

Arrived the day after reserved camping ended for the summer. First come, first serve for fall! 
Our site was on the river with a path down. Highly recommend-we we’re able to walk right next to some salmon, and spotted what was either a bobcat or cougar track in the mud bank. 
-Bathroom was fine, there is also a family room. Bring your own soap. 
-No firewood available in off season. Site had metal ring and grate to cook. 
-Picnic table at site 
-On busy days, the parking lot is managed so no cars are allowed in until a spot is open. 
-Head out early on the great hikes that start here to avoid crowds. 

Early Fall Fun

Elk came through the campsite, which was cool. But also a lot of foot traffic through campsites instead of using the roads. Not super private and no showers. Overall a good stay for what it is.

Good national park family campground

Loved this campground! Steps away from the rainforest trailhead, so a great one night stay to hike the trails. It's a rainy place as you can imagine. Washington State itself sure is.

Spots were level, there were a couples of loops with spots to choose from. It was open overall and your typical national park camping. Clean bathrooms, no cellphone reception. Small visitor center, one cafe halfway between it and hwy 101, so bring plenty of food. 47 minutes from Forks and a decent grocery store.

Steps away from rainforest trail heads

Imagine a world where moss, funguses, lichen and other epiphytes grow upon the living trees in such vast numbers as to be more noticeable than the massive trees themselves. Imagine wandering down the trail in the middle of this mass of life and observe a herd of Roosevelt Elk browsing on this herbivore salad bar. It’s exceptional. 

  

The campground is within walking distance of many trailheads, and the visitor’s center. During the day, especially on a weekend, this place will be hopping, and traffic to get into this part of the park is backed up for miles. So, plan accordingly. The sites are small but well spaced apart with the usual fire ring and picnic table. Check out the parking space limitations carefully, because this campground was developed back in the day before the massive rig trend. Its age makes it nonetheless charming, as we love these classic campgrounds. We were able to find a reservation with little planning- using Dyrt Alerts!

  

The bathrooms were recently renovated and offered flush toilets and running water, but no showers (we grabbed a shower for a small fee at the general store/campground/restaurant down the road). Freshwater spigots and group dishwashing sinks available near the bathrooms– why aren’t these more regular throughout the NPS system?  

  

Activities abound in this part of the park, road cycling, hiking in the forest, or day trips to the beach areas along the coastal road– just be mindful of traffic. Returning to the campground in the early evening shouldn’t cause too much pain as the worst traffic is between 10am- 4pm. The nearest town with groceries, laundry and restaurants is Forks, about 75 minutes away.

Like Something Out of Jurassic Park!

Imagine a world where moss, funguses, lichen and other epiphytes grow upon the living trees in such vast numbers as to be more noticeable than the massive trees themselves. Imagine wandering down the trail in the middle of this mass of life and observe a herd of Elk browsing on this herbivore salad bar. It’s exceptional. 

  

The campground is within walking distance of many trailheads, and the visitor’s center. During the day, especially on a weekend, this place will be hopping, and traffic to get into the park is backed up for miles. So, plan accordingly. 

  

The sites are small but well spaced apart with the usual fire ring and picnic table. Check out the parking space limitations carefully, because this campground was developed back in the day before the massive rig trend. Its age makes it nonetheless charming, as we love these classic campgrounds. The bathrooms were recently renovated and offered flush toilets and running water, but no showers (we grabbed a shower for a fee at the general store, campground, restaurant down the road). Freshwater spigots and group dishwashing sinks available near the bathrooms– why aren’t these more regular throughout the NPS system?  We were able to find a reservation with little planning- using Dyrt Alerts! 

  

Activities abound in this part of the park, road cycling, hiking in the forest, or day trips to the beach areas along the coastal road– just be mindful of traffic. Returning to the campground in the early evening shouldn’t cause too much pain as the worst traffic is between 10am- 4pm. The nearest town with groceries, laundry and restaurants is Forks, about 75 minutes away.

Photos of Hoh Campground — Olympic National Park

Real photos from real campers