Hoh River Gear Checklist
The Hoh River Trail runs 17.4 miles up a rainforest valley to Glacier Meadows, flat for the first 13 miles and steep after that. People who walk it write about mud, constant damp, a bear canister for every scrap of food and scent, a wade or two, and a washed-out slope with a rope ladder before Glacier Meadows. What they pack follows from that: waterproof footwear, poles, sandals for the ford, a spare tarp for cooking, and bug protection.
What shapes your gear on Hoh River
- Distance and climb
- The park lists 17.4 miles to Glacier Meadows, with the grade between 600 and 4,300 feet. The first 13 miles are mostly flat, and the grade steepens after that.
- Season
- The park names late June through September as the best season. In early season, steep snow slopes sit along the upper trail, and an ice axe may be needed through spring and early summer.
- Mud and rain
- A May 2025 hiker found the flat lower trail extremely wet, with deep mud, puddles and side paths braiding around the worst water. Two days of constant rain left water inside their tent by the second night.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island, Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier
- River crossings
- The park describes one crossing of a river braid near mile 8 and a few small stream crossings. A 2024 hiker found the main ford about calf-deep and never above the knee, easy with poles and water shoes. A second crossing at a log jam stayed dry.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024)
- The rope ladder
- A slide area about a quarter mile before Glacier Meadows has washed out, so hikers use a ladder and rope to get down loose rock, then scramble back up to the trail. A 2021 hiker counted missing steps in about 3 places and had no rope near the bottom, where a trekking pole helped.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021)
- Water and toilets
- The park says to boil, filter or treat river and side-stream water. The park puts pit toilets at five camps: Five Mile Island, Olympus Guard Station, Lewis Meadow, Elk Lake and Glacier Meadows. A 2024 hiker found none at Martin Creek or Happy Four.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024)
- Pace on a loaded pack
- A 2020 party with packs over 40 pounds in heat above 80 degrees needed about 2 hours to Five Mile Island, 3 more to the Lewis Meadows area, 4 more to Glacier Meadows and 8 hours to walk out on the last day.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020)
What the agency requires on Hoh River
A bear canister for food, garbage and scented items
Food, trash and anything scented has to go in a bear canister, says the park notice, and its camping section says the same for every wilderness night.
A way to treat water
The park says to always boil, filter or chemically treat drinking water from the river and side streams to prevent Giardia.
A digging tool for camps without a pit toilet
Away from the listed pit toilets, the park says to dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from any water or campsite.
A stove for any camp above Martin Creek
No campfires are allowed above Martin Creek, to protect fragile plants. Below it, burn only dead wood that is already on the ground.
What hikers carry on Hoh River
Waterproof boots and trekking poles
The lower trail turns to deep mud and standing water. One May 2025 hiker called waterproof boots barely enough and poles crucial for staying upright. Others used poles for the ford and for the scree below the washout.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island, Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier, Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024) and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021)
A spare rain tarp for the cooking area
After two days of steady rain a May 2025 party advised an extra tarp so cooking and sitting stay dry, since their tent still took on water.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island, Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier
Sandals or water shoes
The ford near mile 8 is a brief, brisk wade, and one 2024 hiker said to bring sandals rather than trust a wet log. A six-day hiker who brought slip-on flip-flops wished for sandals with better grip for river crossings.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024) and ECM Architect
Gloves for the rope and ladder
A six-day hiker packed sailing gloves for the rope and ladder on the Blue Glacier route.
From ECM Architect
Bug protection with long sleeves
Mosquitoes were manageable low on the trail in July 2020 but heavy at Glacier Meadows, where a long-sleeved shirt, a face net and a repellent still left a hiker badly bitten. A June 2021 party also met swarms at the meadow.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020) and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021)
Electrolyte mix and extra drinks
A July 2020 party met heat above 80 degrees with humidity on the climb to Glacier Meadows and was glad to have electrolyte pills and powders.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020)
A headlamp with fresh batteries
One hiker reached the Hoh ranger station at dusk, filled in the self-registration form and set off in the dark with a dim headlamp. Moonlight did most of the work.
From Sequim Gazette
Microspikes and poles for early-season snow
A June 2021 hiker met snowbanks and two snowfields at Glacier Meadows and called microspikes and poles highly recommended. The park warns of steep snow slopes and a possible ice axe need earlier in the season.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021) and National Park Service, Olympic National Park
A warmer sleep layer in the shoulder season
An autumn camper found sleeping bags kept them alive but not comfortable on a cold night near the river. A July hiker who brought fleece pants found them too warm most nights.
From Sequim Gazette and ECM Architect
12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Hoh River
A big power bank
A six-day hiker found no phone signal anywhere on the trail and carried far more battery than a phone and a watch needed.
From ECM Architect
A heavy old digging shovel
The same hiker never used the shovel and said a lighter plastic or titanium one would do next time. Bury-your-waste rules still apply at camps with no pit toilet.
From ECM Architect and National Park Service, Olympic National Park
A pack cover as the only rain plan
One July hiker brought a large pack cover and never used it, while a May hiker stood in two days of steady rain. Rain on this trail was the bigger problem for tents and camp kitchens.
From ECM Architect and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island, Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier
Spare camp clothing beyond one change
A six-day hiker wore the same shirt, pants and socks for three days, washed at Elk Lake and wore fresh clothes for glacier day. They said a third pair of socks was probably one too many.
From ECM Architect
Gear questions for Hoh River
Do I need a bear canister on the Hoh River Trail?
Yes. The park requires all food, garbage and scented items to be stored in bear canisters. Some camps have bear wires, and hikers report them in use, but the park's rule names canisters. One 2020 hiker picked up a canister at an information center on the south shore of Lake Quinault before driving to the trailhead, so plan that stop.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park, Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020) and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021)
How muddy is the Hoh River Trail?
Very, after rain. A May 2025 hiker found the flat lower trail extremely wet, with deep mud and puddles, and some parts nearly impassable with side paths forming on the banks.
From Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island, Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier
Is there a river crossing on the Hoh River Trail?
Yes, one real wade near mile 8 and a few small stream crossings. A 2024 hiker found the main ford calf-deep at worst and easy with poles and water shoes. A log jam crossing beyond it was dry.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024)
How hard is the rope ladder on the Hoh River Trail?
Hikers split on it. A 2020 party called it less sketchy than expected, while a 2021 party found missing steps in about 3 places and no rope near the bottom. A 2024 hiker with a day pack found it fine and guessed a full pack would feel worse. The ladder sits about a quarter mile before Glacier Meadows.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park, Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020), Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021) and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024)
When is the best time to backpack the Hoh River?
The park names late June through September. Earlier, steep snow slopes remain on the upper trail and an ice axe may be needed. Summer brings heat above 80 degrees in some reports, and mosquitoes at Glacier Meadows.
From National Park Service, Olympic National Park and Washington Trails Association: Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020)
Sources
- Hoh River Trail - Olympic Wilderness · National Park Service, Olympic National Park · Agency
- Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island, Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier · Washington Trails Association, alpinediva · Trip report
- Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (June 2021) · Washington Trails Association, sun shine · Trip report
- Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (July 2020) · Washington Trails Association, jamesapw · Trip report
- Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier (September 2024) · Washington Trails Association, goodsoup · Trip report
- Hoh River Trail Equipment List · ECM Architect, Jeff Potts · Blog
- Rediscovering the Hoh · Sequim Gazette, Leif Nesheim · Blog