Couple says their vows among the rainforest of Hoh

HOH RAINFOREST, OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK wedding & ELOPEMENT DESTINATIONS

couple gets nose to nose and smiles in hoh rainforest

Why choose Hoh Rainforest for your Olympic wedding or elopement?

The Hoh rainforest is what most people think of when they picture Olympic National park. An icon of the Pacific Northwest and one of Washington’s most treasured places. As one of the worlds few temperate rainforest its easy to understand why couples from all over the planet choose Hoh Rainforest for their wedding and elopement adventures. Personally it is one of my favorite areas of the park and I never get tired of exploring these forests. Hiking trails wind through old growth forests laden with hanging mosses. Ferns spread as far as the eye can see and most mornings the whole forest glistens with dew. Elk are frequently seen here foraging through the forest understory and enjoying the crystal clear creeks that run through the area. It’s like a forest out of a fairytale.

There’s nothing like these rainforests

Bride laughs hysterically during tender wedding ceremony in Maple Grove

eloping couple kisses under clear umbrella among lush rainforest

The Deets

Open Year Round

best for small, intimate groups, or couples only
Average yearly Rainfall- 129in

Elevation - 394 to 2,493 feet

Heavily Trafficked

Best Time of Day - Early Morning, Late afternoon
Parking 0.5 miles away

Bride and groom walk along the trail in Hoh Rainforest

Why might not want to Pick Hoh for your Ceremony

This awe inspiring natural beauty does come with a price however. Hoh is one of the busiest areas in Olympic national park and even sunrise sessions here won’t be without some onlookers. And as the parks popularity has grow it has taken a toll on the trails here. Many of the side paths that used to lead to small clearings perfect for an intimate ceremony have now been closed off for restoration. Leaving only the Maple Grove as viable ceremony site for weddings. I now often recommend having your ceremony elsewhere and visiting Hoh just for photos instead. But the Maple grove is stunning itself, so plan around the crowds and you can still have an incredible wedding here!

Bride and groom look out at the moss covered trees of the Olympic Peninsula

Maple grove wedding ceremony in Hoh's Hall of Mosses

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Sweet kiss among the ferns on the River trail in Hoh Rainforest

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Groom reads his vow in intamite wedding ceremony in the Rainforests of Washington

Plan your wedding day

If possible have it on a weekday to work around the crowds and then have your marriage ceremony early in the morning before 8am or late in the afternoon within two hours of sunset. That way you can exchange vows and say I do without too many uninvited wedding guests. If you’d like it to be even more private you can also chose to elope in the spring or fall when crowds aren’t much of an issue.

Is Hoh Rainforest worth the trouble? It really is a majestic outdoor venue for an elopement or micro wedding and worth the trouble of planning to avoid the crowds. Just make sure you bring an umbrella for your wedding adventure, it is a rainforest after all!

husband whispers sweet words in wifes ear as they elope in the Hoh Rainforest

Where to find it

Hoh Rainforest sits on the western side of the Olympic Peninsula in Olympic National Park. The visitor center and major trailheads are around four and a half hours drive from Seattle or a two-hour drive from Port Angeles and just under an hour from Forks.