Hoh River, Washington, United States

5Passenger36840 5:00 PM Jul 18, 2004

Hoh River: Waters of Heaven
On the heels of several grunt years of collegiate academia, my girlfriends and I decided to check out the Olympic rainforests. I never expected to fall in love with the rivers, particularly the Hoh. I took numerous photos, but pictures aren't nearly adequate enough for the astounding slate-blue color, the coldness of the currents, and the utter peace found in the interface of river, forest, sky, and self. If you've never been, go. If you have been, go again. I plan to.

4Steve5863 5:00 PM Jan 7, 2016

Nice Glacier-fed River
The Hoh River originates from the Hoh Glacier on the slopes of Mount Olympus and flows about 56 miles (90k) to the west and empties into the Pacific Ocean a little north of Ruby Beach. While it is popular for fishing during the fall salmon run and it is possible to hike the Hoh River Trail about 18 miles (29k), starting at the National Park visitor center in the Hoh Rain Forest, to the Blue Glacier, the largest glacier on Mount Olympus and which also contributes to the river, the best and most likely way for the average visitor to Olympic National Park to see the Hoh is by hiking the 1.2 mile (1.9k) loop Spruce Nature Trail which also has its trailhead at the same visitor center. Part of this loop trail runs along the Hoh and I always find glacier-fed rivers pretty and interesting as the cool water with a distinct milkiness from the glacial flour, fine powdered rock created by the erosive forces of the glaciers, flows through a wide, rocky riverbed created as the river snakes and meanders as it deposits silt and rock creating the ever changing course.