One of our favorite Northwest photographers, Daniel M Robbins (@danielmrobbins) captured this stunning image of the Hoh Rainforest that provides yet another reminder of how wonderful our region of the world really is.
Hoh Rainforest, photo credit: Daniel M Robbins (@danielmrobbins)
While pretty much everyone knows about the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon, few outside of the Pacific Northwest are familiar with the Hoh Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula, one of the largest temperate rainforests in the nation. Seattle is well-known as a rainy place, getting some 36 inches of rain annually, but the Hoh gets as much as 14 feet each year, while the prevalent mist and fog contributes another 30 inches of water, resulting in the of our planets lushest rainforests. It’s been named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and a World Heritage Site, with a unique ecosystem that’s remained unchanged for thousands of years, and today, is the most carefully preserved rainforest in the northern hemisphere.
Yes, we’re very lucky to live in this area, and whether you’re a Pacific Northwest local or a visitor, the Hoh Rainforest is a place that you really need to experience. Explore it by walking the two short nature trails from the visitor center, the 1.2-mile Spruce Nature Trail and the Hall of Moses Trail which is just under a mile. For something more challenging that will bring you deep within the wilderness, the 5-mile Island hike follows the Hoh River and is lined with massive moss-draped, century-old cedars, spruce and firs.
