The Hall of Mosses

The Hall of Mosses is a short hiking trail located in the Hoh Rain Forest on the Olympic Peninsula in the west of Washington state, USA. The forest along the trail is filled with old temperate trees such as bigleaf maples and Sitka spruces, whose branches are blanketed in green and brown mosses.

The Hoh Rain Forest receives 12 to 14 feet of rain throughout the winter season, resulting in a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous trees. Because of the abundance of water and nutrients in the soil, many of the trees have short roots that are unable to hold onto the wet soil and topple over. Mosses and ferns cover the surfaces of both living and fallen trees adding an otherworldly dimension to the enchanting the rainforest.

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Photo credit: W. Tipon/Flickr

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. It is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States and is one of the park's most popular destinations.

The Hall of Mosses is less than a mile long and loops through a section of the Hoh Rain Forest. Aside from the charming mosses, it also offers the chance to see wildlife. The trail is accessible year-round.

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