Table of Contents:
- Where is the Hoh Rain Forest?
- Hoh Rain Forest Elopement FAQ’s
- Why Elope in the Hoh Rain Forest?
- When to Elope in the Hoh Rain Forest
- Hoh Rain Forest Elopement Permits
- Where to Stay Near the Hoh Rain Forest
- Full Olympic National Park Elopement Guide
- Hoh Rain Forest Elopement Photographer
If you’re in your Hoh era, then you’re gonna like this one 😉 Welcome to my guide to eloping in one of my all-time favorite elopement locations, the Hoh Rain Forest—aka one of the actual most MAGICAL places on planet Earth. It’s exactly what you think of when you envision the PNW: moody, gloomy, green, and a little mysterious. Prepare to become obsessed with this lush forest wonderland as you read about how to elope in the Hoh Rain Forest!
Where is the Hoh Rain Forest?
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most iconic destinations in Olympic National Park, located on the west side of the park about an hour from Forks (yes, the Forks from Twilight!) and 2 hours from Port Angeles. For reference, if you’ve ever heard or seen photos of Lake Crescent, it takes about 1.5 hours to drive from there to the forest. If you’re driving from Seattle, you can expect the trip to take around 4.5 hours, so it def requires more than a day trip.
Fun fact, the Hoh Rain Forest is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. It’s the most carefully-preserved rainforest in the northern hemisphere and boasts such a unique + picturesque ecosystem—which explains why it gets SO many visitors each year. That’s why it’s especially important to Leave No Trace with your Hoh Rain Forest elopement! We want to leave this paradise just as gorgeous as we found it, so that future visitors + couples can also experience the magic. Read more about what it means to Leave No Trace with your adventure elopement here!
Hoh Rain Forest Elopement FAQ’s
Can you get married in the Hoh Rain Forest?
Yup! Once you get a Special Use Permit that allows you to get married within Olympic National Park (which I’ll talk more about later), you can have an intimate ceremony in the Hoh Rain Forest. There’s not much space for guests along the trails, so I recommend keeping it to only a couple of guests, or making it totally private with just the two of you!
Do you need a permit to get married in the Hoh Rain Forest?
You’ll need that Special Use Permit that I mentioned, as well as a regular park entry pass.
How much does it cost to get married in the Hoh Rain Forest?
With a standard entry pass ($30) and your Special Use Permit ($50-$100), it’ll cost you at least $80 to get married in the Hoh Rain Forest, plus any additional fees that are required by the park. And all of your vendors, your Washington marriage license, and your activities, of course!
Are dogs allowed in the Hoh Rain Forest?
Sadly, pets aren’t allowed on trails in the Hoh Rain Forest, so you’ll have to leave your pups at home (or wherever you’re staying). Olympic National Park isn’t a super dog-friendly park, they’re only allowed on a few specific trails that you can find here. You can always bring a photo or a cardboard cutout of them to pose with in your portraits!
Why Elope in the Hoh Rain Forest?
The Hoh Rain Forest is the best place to elope if you want that moody, enchanting, forest-y vibe! I’m obsessed with the mossy trees, the walls of ferns and all of the magic that forest elopements bring! If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so green, that’s because it’s literally the rainiest forest in the US, getting 140 inches of rain per year on average. The forest receives rain pretty much all year-round, but it’s especially heavy in the winter months from October to March. So if you’re not a fan of rain, this definitely isn’t the elopement location for you—precipitation is pretty much always on the menu! But that’s what makes the canopy so vibrantly green and luscious!
The moss and ferns that cover the surface of the Hoh Rain Forest are what makes it so famous and enchanting; the forest floor is literally filled to the brim with sprawling foliage, massive tree roots, and towering trees that make you feel so itty-bitty. There are multiple trails you can explore within the forest, all three of which are super quick, easy, and great for any couples/guests who don’t want to, or aren’t able, to go on longer hikes:
—Hall of Mosses Trail: 0.8 mi round trip, 100 ft elevation gain
—Spruce Nature Trail: 1.2 mi round trip, 230 ft elevation gain
—Hoh River Trail: You can take this one as far as you’d like, it goes all the way to Glacier Meadows!
Overall, I’m obsessed with the mossy trees, the walls of ferns and all of the magic that Hoh Rain Forest elopements bring! Plus you’re shaded by the giant old-growth trees so you barely even have to wear sunscreen if it does happen to be sunny out 😉 If you want to see a dreamyyyy example of an elopement here, then you should check out Marina + Jack’s Hoh Rain Forest Elopement!
When to Elope in the Hoh Rain Forest
What is the best time of year to elope in the Hoh Rain Forest?
One really great thing about the Hoh Rain Forest is that you can go at any time of year and it will be beautiful! So the time of year you choose to elope is really up to you and your personal preferences.
If you want the warmest weather and more daylight to work with, then summer is the best time for you to elope in the Hoh Rain Forest—between July and September-ish. This is an amazing time to visit Olympic National Park as a whole because you can access the rainforest, the coast, Lake Crescent, and the mountains, plus you have a TON of outdoor activities available to you such as hiking, kayaking, swimming, and camping. Just keep in mind that everyone else also wants this incredible weather so the park can get crowded, especially on the weekends!
If you’re fine with cooler weather and would rather have fewer crowds to deal with, then eloping during the spring (April-June) or fall (October) is a great idea. The temperatures aren’t super warm but aren’t too cold yet, either, and you won’t find as many crowds as you will in the summer so it’s a perfect time to hike + explore in private. And spring is usually when the greens are at their most vibrant thanks to the winter rainfall! If you also want to check out more mountainous spots like Hurricane Ridge, you should avoid eloping in winter since higher elevations will be inaccessible.
Finally, if you want the LEAST crowds possible and want a pretty much guaranteed rainy, moody, and gloomy atmosphere, you can elope in the rainforest in the winter (November-March)! Be prepared for a TON of rain, though, and a lot less light to use on your elopement day. I honestly think the Hoh Rain Forest is so gorgeous in the winter and it’s worth it to see the abundance of rich greenery despite the chillier temperatures. When there aren’t many visitors around, the forest gets so quiet tranquil thanks to the protection of the moss; it’s a truly magical experience.
What is the best time of day to elope in the Hoh Rain Forest?
Depends what time of year you’re eloping! If you’re eloping in the forest in the middle of the summer when there will likely be lots of visitors, then it’s best to elope early in the morning or late in the evening, ideally on a weekday. Weekends get wayyy busier than weekdays, so you’ll have a lot better chance of finding quiet, secluded areas if you can plan for a Monday-Thursday, or even Friday is better than Saturday/Sunday. The forest is busiest from around 10am-5pm most days, but that really depends on the season and the weather conditions!
Hoh Rain Forest Elopement Permits
If you’ve read any of my other blogs about Olympic National Park, then you’ll know you are going to need a Special Use Permit to elope in the Hoh Rain Forest, being that it’s part of a national park! Here are all the deets + instructions you’ll need to follow.
Olympic National Park Special Use Permit
Special Use Permits are required for all kinds of weddings in Olympic National Park, whether it’s just the two of you or you and a few guests. It costs between $50-$100 to apply for the permit, and there may be additional fees determined by the park depending on the details of your elopement. The park asks that you apply at LEAST 3-4 weeks in advance to allow time to process your permit, but I recommend earlier if you can so that you don’t have to stress about it! You can download the permit application on this webpage, and email the completed form to the park. Then you’re good to go!
Olympic National Park Entrance Pass
In addition to your Special Use Permit, you will need to get a park entrance pass. This costs $30 for one vehicle for 7 days, or you can get an annual pass for $55. If you go to a lot of national parks then the $80 America the Beautiful Pass will get you the most bang for your buck!
Where to Stay Near the Hoh Rain Forest
There aren’t any places to stay right in the Hoh Rain Forest (other than the campground that I’ll mention in a sec), so you’ll most likely want to stay in Forks nearby. Below are some super cute cabins that would be dreamy AF for your stay in the area, and some of them even have hot tubs (nighttime hot tub pics, anyone??) 🔥
If you’d rather camp instead, the Hoh Rain Forest has a year-round campground where you can be completely surrounded by the moss and the trees! Reservations are required for this campground between May 23-September 23, otherwise it’s first come, first serve. It costs $24 per night and some of the sites are located right along the Hoh River! Learn more about the Hoh Rain Forest Campground here!
Full Olympic National Park Elopement Guide
I just KNOW you’ve got to be obsessed with Olympic National Park by now just like I am, so I wanted to give ya my full guide to How to Plan An Adventure Elopement in Olympic National Park before ya go. It’s a good one and it’s got literally everything you need!!
Hoh Rain Forest Elopement Photographer
Then reach out to me here once you’re ready to start planning your special day in this magical, enchanted forest—I’ll make your wildest elopement dreams come true 😉
Want to dive deep into specific parts of Olympic National Park instead? Check out more of my dedicated ONP elopement guides below:
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