Reservation8/10
Olympic National Park backcountry permit
The single overnight permit for backpacking anywhere in Olympic National Park's ...
Hoh River Corridor Permit
Olympic National Park · Washington
Booked one camp per night, in order
Rainforest trail camping.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Hoh River were gone within 5 minutes.
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Hoh River Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate6/10
SeasonMay 15 - October 15
Cost$6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit, plus $8 per person per night for adults 16 and over. Under 16 camp free.
Max Group Size12 people
Hoh River Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Hoh River in Olympic National Park, Washington requires a permit issued via reservation.
- The permit season for Hoh River runs May 15 through October 15.
- The Hoh River route covers 17.4 miles, rated moderate.
- Cancelled Hoh River permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensNot a lottery - summer reservations are released April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific
SeasonMay 15 - October 15
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level6/10
LocationOlympic Peninsula, WA
Pro Tips
- •If you just want the rainforest, book Lewis Meadow or Five Mile Island. They sit outside the quota list, so they are far easier to get than Elk Lake or Glacier Meadows.
- •Check the trail conditions page for the ladder before planning anything past Elk Lake. Three broken rungs and one missing was the park's 2026-06-14 report.
- •The first eleven miles gain almost nothing, so you can cover ground faster than the mileage suggests - and then the last four take longer than you expect.
- •Borrow the canister free at the Wilderness Information Center when you collect the permit.
- •Book on April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific for the whole summer. Olympic holds nothing back for walk-ups.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
17.4 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
3-4 days
Difficulty
ModerateElevation Range
600 - 4,300 ft
Highlights
- •17.4 miles one way to Glacier Meadows, from 600 feet to 4,300 feet
- •Camps at Tom Creek (3), Five Mile Island (5), Happy Four (6), Olympus Guard Station (9.5), Lewis Meadow (11), Elk Lake (13) and Glacier Meadows (17.4)
- •Quota sites are Elk Lake, Martin Creek and Glacier Meadows, plus all group and stock sites - the lower river camps are not quota-limited
- •Individual sites take six people; group sites take 7 to 12; stock sites take 12 people and 8 stock
- •Two fords just below the Olympus Guard Station campsites
- •A rope ladder down a loose slope in an avalanche chute below Glacier Meadows, reported on 2026-06-14 with three broken rungs and one missing
- •Bear canisters required, free to borrow at a Wilderness Information Center
Best Time to Visit
Late June through September, which is the park's own best-season window - the upper trail and Glacier Meadows are snowbound outside it. July and August give the driest tread and the most reliable fords. September is quiet and the elk are bugling in the lower valley. The reservation season runs May 15 to October 15, and a spring trip to Lewis Meadow and back is a perfectly good use of the lower river when the top is still under snow.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The rope ladder in the avalanche chute below Glacier Meadows, reported by the park on 2026-06-14 with three broken rungs and one missing
- !Two fords just before the Olympus Guard Station campsites
- !37 downed trees reported between the trailhead and Glacier Meadows
- !River rise on the Hoh, which drains a glacier and comes up fast in rain
- !Snow and rockfall above Glacier Meadows on the moraine
- !The Upper Hoh Road is county-maintained and has a history of washout closures
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
🌧️
52°
41°
46%
Mon
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50°
38°
Tue
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51°
39°
Wed
☀️
65°
40°
Thu
☀️
71°
46°
Fri
☀️
67°
45°
Sat
☁️
68°
46°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a National Park Service account
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2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: July and AugustShoulder: Late June and September
Conditions
High water off the glacier and snow above Elk Lake. The reservation season opens May 15 but the upper trail is not in yet.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +The lower river camps are easy to book
- +Waterfalls and side creeks at full volume
- +Elk calving in the valley
Challenges
- !Snow blocks the route above Elk Lake
- !The Olympus Guard Station fords run high
- !Constant rain
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Two different groups. To Lewis Meadow it is a beginner-friendly rainforest walk on almost flat ground. To Glacier Meadows it is a committing mountain approach.
Recommended Experience
None for the lower river beyond basic backpacking. For the top four miles: comfort on loose ground, a damaged fixed ladder, and stream fords. The exposure rating is set by that chute, not by the valley.
Not Recommended For
Parties heading to Glacier Meadows without checking the ladder's condition, and anyone crossing the Olympus Guard Station fords in high water.
About This Permit
The Hoh River Trail runs 17.4 miles from the Hoh Rain Forest to Glacier Meadows, with the park giving elevation as 600 feet to 4,300 feet - the two endpoints, not a cumulative climb, which it does not publish. It rates the trail easy to moderate with a best season of late June through September.
The quota here is partial and its unit is sites. The park lists Elk Lake, Martin Creek and Glacier Meadows as quota sites along the Hoh River Trail, plus all group sites for parties of 7 to 12 and all stock sites. Hoh Lake and C.B. Flats are listed separately. The lower-river camps - Tom Creek, Five Mile Island, Happy Four, Olympus Guard Station and the individual sites at Lewis Meadow - are not quota-limited, which makes a three-day trip to Lewis Meadow and back one of the easier good permits in the park to get. The park publishes no number for any of it.
Group sizes differ by camp: individual sites cap at six people, group sites take 7 to 12, and stock sites take 12 people with up to 8 head of stock. The Hoh River Trail and Hoh Lake Trail are both on the park's list of areas where parties of 7 or more must use designated group sites.
The upper trail carries the real hazards. The way into Glacier Meadows crosses an avalanche chute where the trail washed out, leaving a rope ladder down a steep and loose rock slope; on 2026-06-14 the park reported that ladder with three broken rungs and one missing. Two stream crossings just before Olympus Guard Station have to be forded, and the park counted 37 downed trees between the trailhead and Glacier Meadows.
Bear canisters are required. The park's food-storage page states that animal-resistant food containers are required in all wilderness areas of the park, and the permit's own rules say canisters are required for overnight stays anywhere in the Olympic Wilderness. They are free to borrow at Wilderness Information Centers.
The Upper Hoh Road has a history of washouts and is county-maintained, but it was listed open as of 2026-05-05 on a road-status page reviewed 2026-08-07. Check it again before you drive.
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Hoh is the standard approach to Mount Olympus and the best long walk through temperate rainforest anywhere in the country. It also splits neatly in two: the first thirteen miles are nearly level river-bottom walking that almost anyone can do, and the last four are a different trip entirely.
The Route
The park publishes 17.4 miles to Glacier Meadows with elevation running from 600 feet to 4,300 - endpoint figures, not a cumulative gain, which the park does not publish. It rates the trail easy to moderate with a best season of late June through September.
Camps come in order: Tom Creek at 3 miles, Five Mile Island at 5, Happy Four at 6, Olympus Guard Station at 9.5, Lewis Meadow at 11, Elk Lake at 13, Glacier Meadows at 17.4. Everything up to Lewis Meadow is river-bottom walking. Above Elk Lake the trail crosses an avalanche chute where a washout has left a rope ladder as the way down a steep, loose rock slope - and on 2026-06-14 the park reported that ladder with three broken rungs and one missing. There are also two stream crossings just before the Olympus Guard Station sites that have to be forded, and the park counted 37 downed trees between the trailhead and Glacier Meadows.
The Feeling
Moss hanging off every branch, elk trails braiding away from the main tread, and the river always somewhere to your left. It stays like that for most of a day and a half. Then the valley narrows, the trail climbs, and at Glacier Meadows you come out under the Blue Glacier with rock and ice above you and no moss at all.
Trailhead Information
Hoh Ranger Station
Start of the Hoh River Trail. NPS's Olympic trailhead waypoint file lists this point as Hoh Ranger Station; the same place is signed as the Hoh Rain Forest.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
NPS says parking at the Hoh Rain Forest is limited in summer, and recommends arriving before 8 am or after 5 pm to avoid entrance-station waits of up to 2 hours.
Nearest Services
NPS puts the Hoh Rain Forest 20 miles southeast of Forks, WA.
Sol Duc Trail
The other way into Hoh Lake and C.B. Flats. Recreation.gov says both camp areas are reachable from either the Hoh River trailhead or the Sol Duc trailhead.
Restrooms
No water
Notes
Coming in this way puts you in the Sol Duc / Seven Lakes Basin quota area. Recreation.gov's reservation season for Seven Lakes Basin / High Divide runs July 15 to October 15.
Rules & Regulations
- •A wilderness permit is required for every overnight trip and must be reserved on Recreation.gov
- •Group size is limited to 12 people and 8 stock; affiliated groups may not combine and must camp and travel at least 1 mile apart
- •Parties of 7 to 12 must use designated group sites on the Hoh River Trail and the Hoh Lake Trail
- •Bear canisters are required for overnight stays anywhere in the Olympic Wilderness
- •Permits are issued around 3 days before your trip start date
- •No sites are held as same-day walk-ups, and trailhead self-registration no longer exists
Gear Checklist
Required
- An approved bear canister - free to borrow at a Wilderness Information Center
- Shoes you can ford in, for the two crossings below Olympus Guard Station
- Rain gear built for sustained rain, not showers
- Water treatment
- Gloves, if you are going past Elk Lake to the ladder
Recommended
- Trekking poles for the fords and the loose slope above Elk Lake
- A dry bag for the sleeping bag - this is the wettest forest in the lower 48
- An ice axe if you intend to go above Glacier Meadows onto snow
- Insect repellent for the meadows in July
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Hoh River
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
⛰️
4,300ft
High📏
17.4mi
DistanceClick on a marker to view details•6 landmarks
Landmarks (6)
Hoh River FAQ
Do I need a permit to backpack the Hoh River Trail?
Yes, for any overnight. Olympic National Park wilderness permits are reserved on Recreation.gov at $6 per permit plus $8 per person per night for anyone 16 or over. Day hiking needs no permit.
How far is the Hoh River Trail to Glacier Meadows?
17.4 miles one way, with the park giving elevation as 600 feet at the trailhead to 4,300 feet at Glacier Meadows. Those are endpoints - the park publishes no cumulative elevation gain for the trail. It rates the whole thing easy to moderate.
Which Hoh River campsites are quota sites?
Elk Lake, Martin Creek and Glacier Meadows, plus every group site for parties of 7 to 12 and every stock site. Hoh Lake and C.B. Flats are listed as their own quota area. The lower river camps - Tom Creek, Five Mile Island, Happy Four, Olympus Guard Station and the individual sites at Lewis Meadow - are not quota-limited, which is why a trip to Lewis Meadow and back is much easier to book.
Is the ladder to Glacier Meadows safe?
Treat it carefully. The trail into Glacier Meadows crosses an avalanche chute where a washout left a rope ladder as the way down a steep, loose rock slope, and on 2026-06-14 the park reported that ladder with three broken rungs and one missing. Check the park's wilderness trail conditions page before you commit to going past Elk Lake.
Are there river crossings on the Hoh River Trail?
Yes - the park reports two stream crossings just before the Olympus Guard Station campsites that have to be forded, plus a crossing of a river braid near mile 8 and a few small streams. They were running low as of the park's 2026-06-01 note, but the Hoh drains a glacier and rises quickly in rain.
Is the Upper Hoh Road open?
It was listed open as of 2026-05-05, on a road-status page reviewed 2026-08-07, described as 18 miles from US 101 and paved. The road is county-maintained and has closed for washouts and culvert work before, so check the park's road conditions page again before you drive.
Do I need a bear canister on the Hoh River Trail?
Yes. Olympic requires animal-resistant food containers in all wilderness areas of the park, and the permit's own rules state canisters are required for overnight stays anywhere in the Olympic Wilderness. Bear wires and self-built hangs are not accepted. Canisters are free to borrow at Wilderness Information Centers.
👥Community
Trail Conditions(7)
Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
There is very little direct light on the valley floor at all. Shoot the forest on overcast days and save sunrise for Glacier Meadows and the Blue Glacier.
Best Light
Flat grey light is what the rainforest wants - moss and epiphytes lose all their detail in hard sun. The upper moraine is the opposite and wants early morning.
Beat the Crowds
Day-hikers turn around at Five Mile Island. Past mile 6 the trail belongs to backpackers, and past Lewis Meadow you may not see anyone.
Classic Shots
- 📍Hall of Mosses epiphytes near the trailhead
- 📍The Blue Glacier and Mount Olympus from the moraine above Glacier Meadows
- 📍Roosevelt elk on the river bottom at dawn
- 📍Gravel bars and braided channel from Five Mile Island
- 📍Nurse logs with a row of hemlocks growing straight out of them
Can't Get a Hoh River Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Enchanted Valley
Similar Experience13 miles up the East Fork Quinault through the same kind of rainforest to a waterfall-ringed meadow and the 1930s chalet.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Shorter, with a published quota of 208 users or 30 permits a night. Currently carries a washout a third of a mile before the chalet.
Seven Lakes Basin and High Divide
Same AreaThe 18.2-mile alpine loop out of Sol Duc, looking straight across at the same Blue Glacier from above.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Gets you the view of Olympus without the ladder or the fords, but has 3,050 feet of climbing and a season that does not open until mid-July.
Olympic Wilderness Permit
Same AreaThe park-wide overnight wilderness permit for Olympic's non-quota areas.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Wide open by comparison. The lower Hoh camps already sit outside the quota list, so this is close to what you are booking anyway if you stop at Lewis Meadow.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Hoh River trip
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