Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier Hike Guide

36 miles - Hard Effort
Or: As low as 6 miles RT to first campsite
2-4 Days (Total)
5,400 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 5,130 feet
No Dogs Allowed

The Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park is a bucket-list worthy hike. You'll start the adventure by hiking along the Hoh River, which is fed directly from glaciers, making it a cold, milky-gray color. The trail winds through what most consider is the best-preserved rain forest in the northern hemisphere, also located in one of the most remote areas of the United States, the middle of the Olympic Peninsula. The temperate rainforest is covered in ferns, mosses, and massive trees, some of which are over 1000 years old. And then the Hoh River Trail turns upward, over a spectacular whitewater gorge, climbing through alpine scenery until it reaches the spectacular Blue Glacier at the foot of Mt Olympus. Most people take two to four days to backpack the Hoh River Trail, and in this guide, I'll give you all the information you need to plan and enjoy this epic hike.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier
Itineraries, Planning, and Permits for Campsites
Insider Tips and Gear Recommendations for the Hoh River Trail

Quick Links: Olympic National Park - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Mar 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Planning the Hike

Hoh River Trail Directions 1 — The remoteness of the Hoh Rain Forest park entrance combined with the abundance of campgrounds means that snagging a permit is much easier than other popular quota-controlled hikes.

First off, if you just want to hike a portion of the Hoh River Trail as a day hike, you don't need a permit. You only need a permit if you are camping overnight along the route. However, there are a few things to figure out before you hit the trail.

Picking the Right Season

Snow On Hoh River Trail — In the colder months, the upper sections (roughly the second half) of the Hoh River Trail are often covered in snow. You can see that the snow here (located just after Glacier Meadows) can be crossed, and it is easier with trekking poles and micro-spikes. But many of these upper sections on the trail cross steep avalanche chutes and shouldn't be attempted unless you are an experienced mountaineer. The trail is usually clear and good for hikers after July.

As you might have guessed from seeing the term "rain forest" thrown around a few times already, it can get very wet here. And when it's wet at the higher elevations, you get snow and ice. The Hoh's position right next to the wet and wild Pacific means that it can get clobbered with precipitation; the area gets between 12 and 14 feet of rain every year, the most in the lower 48. The sweet spot to do this hike is later summer, when the area is driest and the snow covering the higher elevations is gone.

Season	Pros	Cons
Winter	No Crowds	Upper Trail Not Passable - Lots of Precipitation - Occasional Snow in Rainforest
Spring	Less Crowds	Upper Trail Not Passable - Lots of Precipitation - Cool and Mild - Very Muddy
Summer	Route Passable to Blue Glacier - Driest Season	Crowded - Thunderstorms Possible
Fall	Less Crowds - Route Passable in Early Fall - Salmon Spawning	Wet Season - Upper Camps Close

Note that even if the upper reaches to Blue Glacier are not passable, the first half of the hike in the rain forest is still fun to do on its own. Simply hike along the Hoh River, camp, and return.

Suggested Itineraries

Hoh River Trail Campsite — Here are the campsites along the Hoh River Trail for reference. The trail starts on the left side of the map at the Visitor Center. The red/orange campsites don't permit open campfires, but you can use stoves there.

The abundance of campgrounds on the route means that you have options, but here are the most common itineraries for the Hoh River Trail. And unless it's an emergency, you must stay at one of the designated camping areas to reduce your impact on the environment.

3 Days

Hike to Lewis Meadow
Leave tents and gear setup at Lewis Meadow and hike up to Blue Glacier and back with lighter packs
Hike out from Lewis Meadow

2 Days

Hike to Glacier Meadows and overnight
Visit Blue Glacier with light gear, then hike back down and out

4 Days

Hike to Lewis Meadow
Hike to Glacier Meadows
Visit Blue Glacier, then hike down to Olympus Guard Station (campsite)
Hike out

Hoh River Trail Tips 10 — Camping along the Hoh River is a highlight of this experience, with the ice gray water next to you and high peaks above. The hike along the river is generally flat and easy with a backpack. Many people choose to set up a basecamp at a campground like Lewis Meadows, just before the climbing starts, and then do the uphill section to Blue Glacier with just a light pack.

Booking a Campground & Permit

Booking a campsite on the Hoh River Trail serves as your wilderness permit. As long as you have your campsite booked, you have a permit to stay overnight there. There are quotas for all the campsites along the Hoh River Trail, but the abundance of sites usually means that something is open. You can book up to 6 months in advance, and right up to the day of the hike. All of the booking is done through the Recreation.gov website. A few days before your start, you'll get an email letting you know that you can download and print your permit / reservation. Print it out and take it with you, it's as easy as that. If you can't make your trip, pay it forward and cancel your reservation so that other people can use it.

Hoh River Trail Campsite Booking — As you would suspect, there is better availability on weekdays. The higher elevation campsites like Martin Creek, Elk Lake, and Glacier Meadows fill quickly, and are closed in the winter months.

Permit Availablity

Can't get a permit for your date? Try OutdoorStatus.com and get a text message as soon as a cancelled permit opens up!.

Getting to the Hoh River Trail

The Hoh River area of Olympic National Park is remote, and the only way to get there is from the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. From Seattle it's about 4 hours in normal conditions, and you'll either go the north or south route, depending on whether you want to take ferries or not. Expect a good amount of tourist traffic. The roads have occasional passing opportunities, and a one-lane construction closure can add time to the trip. Whichever way you go, it's a beautiful trip. Facilities are limited as you leave Seattle behind, so plan your gas and supermarket stops in advance.

The trail starts at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, use this address:
Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, 18113 Upper Hoh Rd, Forks, WA 98331

You need to pay an entry fee to get into Olympic National Park. I highly recommend buying a National Parks Pass, which gets you in all federal land and attractions for a year.

Hoh River Washout — Even if it's the "dry season," it can still rain heavily. Occasionally the road into the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center gets washed out. Check the park closures page before you make the drive out here. Photo Olympic NP Twitter

Get to the trailhead early (before 8am) if you can. There's a single entry booth at the Hoh River area and the traffic can back up to an hour or more during peak times.

Hoh River Trail Directions 2 — There's a parking lot right next to the trailhead and Visitor Center, which is where you should try to park. If it's full, there are other lots around the campsite area where you can park.

Hoh River Trail Directions 3 — There is a bathroom and water refill by the Visitor Center.

Gear For the Hike

Hoh River Trail Tips 4 — If you don't have trekking poles, the numerous stream crossings can be tricky.

The local forecast will give you the temperatures that you have to dress for. Bring extra layers for the Glacier Meadows / Blue Glacier area, which are usually about 10-20F cooler than at the start of the hike.
The trail is frequently overgrown, if you don't like brushing against leaves, wear long pants. There are ticks and bugs, but no reports of Lyme Disease. A sprayer of insect repellant is a good idea.
There are a lot of stream crossings and muddy sections. I use trail runners that drain quickly with wool socks and just plan on getting wet and muddy. Keeping water out of your boots is tough if not impossible. You can read about my thoughts on waterproof versus breathable footwear here. When my trail runners are muddy I just rinse them off in the numerous water crossings.
You'll need the normal backpacking gear such as a tent/tarp, sleeping bag and pad, headlamp, and camp stove.
This area is the wettest in the lower-48. Always be prepared for rain. I carry a rain shell, lightweight rain pants, and a rain hat.
There's plenty of water along the route to refill. The easiest thing for me is a water filter attached to a bottle. Just fill the bottle and drink from it. There's no need for any complicated system of clean and dirty water storage.
Bring a zip-lock bag to pack out your trash.
If you are at a campsite where campfires are permitted, roll cotton balls in Vaseline and keep them in a zip-lock bag. Use them to start a fire in damp conditions. Don't forget the Bic lighter.
Lightweight flip-flops are great after a long day of hiking. Don't forget to dip your feet into the ice-cold Hoh River, which feels incredible. Swimming in the Hoh River is not recommended, it's swift, rocky, and visitors have died doing it.

Hoh River Trail Tips 7 — If there's a possibility of snow on the upper sections, having micro-spikes is smart.

Top Spring 2023 Gear Picks

Osprey Stratos and Sirrus 24 Daypack ( Amazon | Sirrus REI | Stratos REI )
Garmin Mini 2 Satellite Communicator ( Amazon | REI )
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles ( REI | Amazon )
As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My March 2023 Top Gear Picks

Camping on the Hoh River Trail

Hoh River Trail Campsite List

Hoh River Trail Tips 5 — All the campsites have clearings where you can pitch your tent. You must camp in established campsites when hiking along corridor trails like the Hoh River Trail. The sites are not numbered, just pick any site that is open.

Hoh River Trail Tips 9 — The Parks Service also lets you camp on the gravel river bars at campgrounds that have access to it. Pick a spot that has no impact on the surrounding vegetation. Don't worry about the rocks. Camping on the river beaches is one of my favorite things about this hike.

Hoh River Trail Tips 8 — Some campsites have shelters, which can be used on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some shelters are reserved for emergency use. Make sure you read any notices posted near the shelter. The shelters are nice when it's raining heavily.

Hoh River Trail Tips 6 — The campsites along the Hoh do a good job of dispersing and hiding the tent sites and facilities. Look for signs like this to help you find your way around.

Hoh River Trail Tips 13 — Some sites have a primitive toilet. Bring your own toilet paper.

Hoh River Trail Tips 12 — Check the trail conditions page of the Olympic NP website for the specific requirements of each campsite. Depending on animal activity, you may be required to use a campsite bear hang (as seen here), or bring your own bear canister. Some Olympic NP offices loan out canisters for free, and you can also rent them from REI (the closest one is in Silverdale).

Hoh River Trail Maps

Check the current trail conditions before you leave. I've found the page to not always be up to date. If you can speak to a ranger at the visitor's center, it can't hurt.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Free Nav Tools: GaiaGPS - AllTrails - LAST DAY - 50% Off AllTrails+

Guides to Help You Navigate

How To Use the AllTrails App (Beginners)

Hiking With Gaia GPS For Beginners

How-To Use Routes, Tracks, and Waypoints on Garmin

How To Read a Topographic Map

Elevation Profile

You can mentally break the hike into two sections: a flat stretch through the rainforest for the first 12.4 miles, and then a climb to Blue Glacier for the last 5 miles (which feels much longer).

Challenges on the Trail

Hoh River Trail Tips 11 — There are a lot of stream crossings. Some crossings have bridges, some have logs to walk across, and some you will have to ford. If you have vented trail runners, which are your best bet, you can just plow through. Your shoes wlll dry as you hike on.

Hoh River Trail Tips 1 — Mud is probably the biggest downside of the Hoh River Trail. Usually there is a way around the worst mud holes. Otherwise go through and rinse your feet off at the next stream crossing. If it's raining and muddy overall, expect a slower than normal pace.

Hoh River Avalance Ladder 1 — The toughest challenge for most folks is the ladder going down a slide area, about 0.25 miles before reaching Glacier Meadows, known as the Jemrod Gully Ladder. The ladder is about 100 feet and is supplemented by a rope that you can hold on to walk up and down the ladder.

Hoh River Avalance Ladder 2 — The ladder can be in sad condition and there are rungs missing. You can walk up and down the slope by just holding onto the line and walking at an angle. In general it looks scarier than the actual experience. I've seen folks of all shapes and sizes on the ladder, including those with huge packs.

The Jemrod Gully Ladder should be experienced one hiker at a time. Don't climb up or down if there is someone else on the ladder. There is a lot of very loose debris in the slide area, and it's easy to send rocks below onto someone's head.

3D Map

Hike Brief

Elk On Hoh River Trail — The Hoh River Trail is noted for its rich assortment of wildlife, including blacktail deer, black bear, cougars, coyotes, and, pictured here on the Hoh River, Roosevelt elk. Don't feed them, keep your distance, and you'll be fine. Some campgrounds have animal-specific requirements which are listed on the park's trail condition page. Read it before you go. Photo Olympic NP Twitter

"Hoh" is pronounced "hoe" and comes from the native Quileute word for "snow water."
The Hoh Rainforest is one of the last remaining large areas of primeval forest in the lower 48. Protected when it became part of Olympic National Park in 1936, the area you will hike through was never logged, and some of the trees are over 1000 years old. This pristine forest is also a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.
Your hike traces the Hoh River to its origin at the Blue Glacier. The Hoh River is usually a milky-gray color from something called glacial flour, small rock ground down by the movement of Blue Glacier. The Hoh River is home to some of the healthiest Steelhead trout in the country. In the fall, keep your eyes open for Coho Salmon that spawn and die here.
There is evidence that native peoples inhabited this area from 12,000 BC. Back then, mastodon roamed the area.
In 1787 British fur trader Charles Barkley (no, not that Charles Barkley) sent men up the Hoh River, and it went downhill for the native peoples from there. The tragic but too common pattern of disease, "treaties" and relocation have isolated the native peoples to smaller reservations along the coast.
I mentioned earlier that you don't really have to worry about animal attacks here. That wasn't always the case, and in 2010 a visitor was killed by a 370 pound mountain goat. Most animals need salt, and get it from licking mineral-rich rocks. But salt is also in human urine, and the abundance of urine from hikers along the Hoh River Trail proved too attractive for the mountain goats, who learned to get aggressive with humans in search of it. The mountain goats, which are not native and were introduced in the 1920s, are currently being relocated to the Cascades. As their numbers here dwindle, there's not much to worry about, but check the park's trail conditions page for any updates.
A mountain goat airlifted to urine rehab in the Cascades.

Hoh River Trail Hike Directions

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Video Directions

Turn by Turn Directions

Hoh River Trail Directions 4 — The trail starts just next to the Visitor Center.

Hoh River Trail Directions 5 — There are a couple of short loop trails by the Visitor Center. Head toward the Hoh River Trail.

Hoh River Trail Directions 6 — Hike past the trail board.

Hoh River Trail Directions 7 — And then bear right to head over the small bridge.

Hoh River Trail Directions 8 — The water is clear and beautiful, but nothing compared to what you will see on the trail in a mile or so.

Hoh River Trail Directions 9 — The crowds thin out and you start hiking into the rainforest.

Hoh River Trail Directions 10 — At the split, head left onto the Hoh River Trail.

Hoh River Trail Directions 11 — And you'll see a sign for the Hoh River Trail.

Hoh River Trail Directions 12 — And then a larger sign listing out the distances.

Hoh River Trail Directions 13 — Immediately you're among the giant trees, some of which are over 200 feet tall.

Hoh River Trail Directions 14 — You'll see several cut-offs down to the river on the right, mainly used by day hikers to catch a glimpse of the river. Continue straight unless you want to sneak a peak.

Hoh River Trail Directions 15 — You'll also see some splits like this. The safe bet is to stay left to continue down the Hoh River Trail. Sometimes these rejoin, sometimes the right dead-ends at the river.

Hoh River Trail Directions 16 — Soon you'll start getting glimpses of the Hoh River on your right.

Hoh River Trail Directions 17 — Overall the trail climbs a few hundred feet in the first 12 miles, but in practice is full of ups and downs.

Hoh River Trail Directions 18 — Cross the Mineral Creek Footbridge. To the left is a waterfall.

Hoh River Trail Directions 19 — And some streams to ford.

Hoh River Trail Directions 20 — And at about 2.9 miles you'll see the turnoff for the Mt Tom Creek campsite.

Hoh River Trail Directions 21 — Keep heading straight down the Hoh River Trail.

Hoh River Trail Directions 22 — You'll have several bridge and stream crossings.

Hoh River Trail Directions 23 — By this point you will have left the crowds behind and can really enjoy the enormity of the rainforest fauna.

Hoh River Trail Directions 24 — Logically, at about 5 miles, you'll pass the turnoff for 5 Mile Island campground.

Hoh River Trail Directions 25 — Keep straight past the turnoff into the campground.

Hoh River Trail Directions 26 — Shortly after that, you'll pass the Happy Four shelter and campsite.

Hoh River Trail Directions 27 — There are sections of the trail that get dense as you approach the banks of the Hoh.

Hoh River Trail Directions 28 — And then you have a wide log crossing of one of the braids of the Hoh River.

Hoh River Trail Directions 29 — Once over the water, you'll head left and up on the island.

Hoh River Trail Directions 30 — This part is important. Keep your eyes open for this intersection. If the water level is low, you can walk straight through the stream ahead. But if it's high, make the left here.

Hoh River Trail Directions 31 — You'll come to a pile of logs across the braid which you'll need to cross. Take a look, and then go back and approach it from the beach upstream for an easier way to climb up.

Hoh River Trail Directions 32 — Here's what it looks like from the beach upstream. Climb up and over.

Hoh River Trail Directions 33 — The trail is narrow just after the crossing, then gets back to normal.

Hoh River Trail Directions 34 — If you were able to walk across the water, you'll come out on this little beach.

Hoh River Trail Directions 35 — As you hike upstream you'll be able to see some of the higher peaks through the trees.

Hoh River Trail Directions 36 — You'll continue past the crossing, again over bridges and smaller streams.

Hoh River Trail Directions 37 — Hike straight past the sign.

Hoh River Trail Directions 38 — And around 9 miles in you'll see a turnoff for the Olympus Guard Station campsites.

Hoh River Trail Directions 39 — And then you'll see the ranger station at Olympus.

Hoh River Trail Directions 40 — Check out the trail board for any notices.

Hoh River Trail Directions 41 — And continue straight up the Hoh River Trail out of the campsite toward Elk Lake.

Hoh River Trail Directions 42 — At the junction with the Hoh Lake Trail, stay right to continue on the similarly named Hoh River Trail.

Hoh River Trail Directions 43 — Hike over the Hoh Creek (lots of Hoh going on around here...).

Hoh River Trail Directions 44 — And then cross Slide Creek.

Hoh River Trail Directions 45 — And at about 10.5 miles you'll pass the turnoff for Lewis Meadows.

Hoh River Trail Directions 46 — Continue up the Hoh River Trail - more bridges.

Hoh River Trail Directions 47 — As you continue you'll see the high peaks off to the right.

Hoh River Trail Directions 48 — Okay, here's where the business end of things starts. When you see the 12.4 mile marker by the river, the trail makes a hard left and starts climbing.

Hoh River Trail Directions 49 — The first mile is uphill, but not too steep.

Hoh River Trail Directions 50 — But as you continue to climb, the slope ticks up and the trail gets rockier.

Hoh River Trail Directions 51 — At around 13 miles you'll approach the High Hoh Bridge.

Hoh River Trail Directions 52 — The Hoh River rushes through a gorge, 100 feet below on the left.

Hoh River Trail Directions 53 — On the right, you'll see Glacier Creek flowing into the Hoh River.

Hoh River Trail Directions 54 — Just past the bridge you'll pass a non-reservable campsite. They're there in case you need to bail out and spend the night.

Hoh River Trail Directions 55 — Shortly after the first campsite, you'll pass the second (and last) non-reservable campsite.

Hoh River Trail Directions 56 — Now you climb. And then climb. And then climb some more. If you have a heavy pack, this can be really tough. The good news is that it's totally shaded.

Hoh River Trail Directions 57 — A little over a mile up from the bridge you'll start to hear, and then see, the Martin Creek falls.

Hoh River Trail Directions 58 — And then you'll cross Martin Creek.

Hoh River Trail Directions 59 — And then through the Martin Creek campsite, which is dispersed to the left of the trail.

Hoh River Trail Directions 60 — 0.25 miles past Martin Creek you'll arrive at Elk Lake. To continue on the trail, hike straight through and continue up. You're about halfway up the climb.

Hoh River Trail Directions 61 — Here's the Elk Lake Shelter. Elk Lake is down to the right if you want to visit. Otherwise we'll see it as we climb.

Hoh River Trail Directions 62 — As you pass through Elk Lake there's a sign for Glacier Meadows, the next landmark on the hike.

Hoh River Trail Directions 63 — The views on this section are some of my favorites, with a line of sight to the high peaks. The high point in the distance is called Panic Peak. My Olympus is hidden behind it, and you can catch occasional glimpses of Olympus from behind Panic Peak as you climb.

Hoh River Trail Directions 64 — And if you look down as you climb, you'll see Elk Lake nestled in the forest. Behind you, across the Hoh valley, is Bogachiel Peak.

Hoh River Trail Directions 65 — More stream crossings, which can also be snow crossings when it's cooler out.

Hoh River Trail Directions 66 — As you climb the views of Panic Peak become more spectacular.

Hoh River Trail Directions 67 — There's also a beautiful "hidden" hanging valley with the wild Glacier Creek flowing down to the Hoh River.

Hoh River Trail Directions 68 — Keep climbing. It's tough, but still shaded.

Hoh River Trail Directions 69 — Another crossing at a creek that feeds Elk Lake.

Hoh River Trail Directions 70 — And then you reach the famed Jemrod Gully Ladder. You are going to climb down about 100 feet to the gully below.

Hoh River Trail Directions 72 — You start the descent by crossing a thin strip of trail over to the ladder.

Hoh River Trail Directions 71 — Here's the view from the top of the ladder. Notice that the top of the ladder is missing rungs; you have to walk down the bare slope there (using the rope).

Hoh River Trail Directions 74 — So the best move is generally to hold the rope and walk backward down the ladder and slope. In some sections there are rungs missing so you just have to walk down the bare slope. It's normal for debris to fall as you are on the ladder; it's all very loose here.

Hoh River Trail Directions 73 — At the bottom you'll notice another (purple) line off to the side.

Hoh River Trail Directions 75 — I've found that at the bottom it's easiest to butt-slide straight down to the gully. On the way back, the slope is too steep, so grabbing the (purple) side line from the last shot and climbing up to the bottom of the ladder is the move.

Hoh River Trail Directions 76 — Once you get down to the creek, make the left uphill and look for the trail to continue on the right side of the gully.

Hoh River Trail Directions 77 — Here's a view looking back at the ladder from the continuation of the trail. The first time you see all this it can be intimidating, but everyone does it and you can too. Just take your time and think ahead.

Hoh River Trail Directions 78 — A few minutes after the ladder, you reach Glacier Meadows, which has some shelters and campsites.

Hoh River Trail Directions 79 — At the junction in Glacier Meadows, make the left and continue uphill.

Hoh River Trail Directions 80 — You'll pass the seasonal ranger station.

Hoh River Trail Directions 81 — And after a bit of climbing you'll emerge on the moraine above the glacier.

Hoh River Trail Directions 82 — And then off to your right is the Blue Glacier and the three peaks of Mt Olympus above.

That's it! From here, you just return the way that you came up.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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