Olympic: Hoh Rain Forest & Rialto Beach Day Trip from Port Angeles

Summary

Walk mossy trails then hear Pacific waves crash at Rialto Beach

You’ll feel moss under your boots in Hoh Rain Forest, grab coffee with locals in Forks, then breathe in cold salt air at Rialto Beach as Pacific waves thunder nearby. With an expert guide handling logistics and sharing stories along the way, you get to slow down and really take it all in—muddy shoes included.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me in the Hoh Rain Forest wasn’t the quiet — it was this thick, earthy smell, almost sweet, like wet bark and something green I couldn’t name. Our guide, Jamie, pointed out a nurse log tangled with tiny ferns. I tried to imagine how old some of these trees were (Jamie said some were older than the U.S.), but honestly I was mostly watching the way sunlight made everything glow weirdly gold through the moss. There’s a spot on the Hall of Mosses loop where you can just stop and listen — not silence exactly, but this layered hush: water dripping, far-off bird calls, our boots squishing in mud. It felt like being inside a storybook forest.

We stopped for snacks at Forks — yes, that Forks (someone made a Twilight joke). The grocery store there is kind of an institution; I grabbed coffee and a bagel and watched locals chat over fishing gear by the checkout. The drive out to Rialto Beach after that was all winding roads and glimpses of river. When we finally got to the beach, it was colder than I expected and windy enough to sting my cheeks. The sand here isn’t soft — it’s pebbly and rough under your shoes — but sitting on one of those huge driftwood logs with my lunch and staring at those sea stacks… well, I didn’t talk much for a while. Just watched waves slam into rock and spray fly up like smoke.

I tried walking down toward Hole-in-the-Wall but kept stopping to pick up weirdly smooth stones or just watch gulls fight over something in the surf. Jamie told us about how tides shape everything here; apparently you can walk farther when it’s low tide but we didn’t push it — too easy to lose track of time when you’re just wandering along the edge of things. On the ride back to Port Angeles everyone was quieter, maybe tired or maybe just full from all that green and gray and salt air. I still think about that forest light sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach Tour

• Shuttle from Port Angeles
• Guided hike Hall of Mosses trail
• Guided hike Spruce Nature Trail
• Visit Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
• Stop at Forks Outfitters store
• Walk or relax at Rialto Beach

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Port Angeles to Hoh Rain Forest & Rialto Beach?

This is a full-day tour including roundtrip transportation from Port Angeles.

Is lunch included on this Olympic tour?

No lunch is provided but there’s a stop at Forks Outfitters where you can buy snacks or coffee.

Are entry fees to Olympic included?

Yes, entrance fees for Olympic are covered in your booking.

What trails do you hike in Hoh Rain Forest?

The Hall of Mosses (0.75 mi) and Spruce Nature Trail (1.25 mi) are both included with your guide.

Is this tour suitable for kids?

Guests must be age 10 or older; children need to be accompanied by an adult.

Does this tour run if it rains?

Yes—the tour operates rain or shine so bring extra clothing just in case.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is in Port Angeles, WA—not Seattle.

How far is Port Angeles from Seattle?

It’s about a 3 hour one-way trip from Seattle to Port Angeles.

What’s included

Your day includes roundtrip transportation from Port Angeles by shuttle van, all Olympic entry fees covered, guided hikes through both Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail with a knowledgeable naturalist leading the way, plus time at Rialto Beach—with a quick stop in Forks so you can grab lunch or coffee before heading out to the coast.