The Complete Guide to your Hoh Rainforest Elopement
Are you looking to experience the jaw dropping, magical vibes of Washington? I encourage you to look no further than the western part of Washington for your Hoh Rainforest Elopement. As a photographer who has worked at this spot a ton, there are usually quite a few things I have to let my couples know about!
In this article you’ll learn:
- How to start your process: hire a specialized photographer
- Why Leave No Trace is important
- Climate of the Hoh Rainforest
- Rainshadow Effect
- Vegetation
- Animals
- When is the best time of year for our Hoh Rainforest Elopement?
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
- Time of Day: Understanding Forest Light
- How many people can I invite to our elopement?
- Trails of the Hoh Rainforest
- The Logistical Stuff
- Special Use Permit & Parking Pass
- Bathrooms / Parking
- Entrance Line
- Marriage License
- Backup Plan Importance
- Where to stay
- What else can you add onto your Hoh Rainforest Elopement?
To start your planning process, hire a specialized photographer
Elopement photographers (specifically adventure ones) are in a category of our own! We assist in helping you create an experience rather than just showing up to take photos like traditional photographers do. From location scouting, to backup plans to activity suggestions, to understanding how to photograph in all different types of nature conditions, and so much more, we take a crazy idea and help you make it a reality!
I’ve been photographing at the Hoh Rainforest for years and I can definitely tell you – it’s definitely a magical place with it’s own logistics! (check out my packages to really understand how I help my couples!)
Why Leave No Trace is important
With any outdoor elopement, it’s incredibly important to leave no trace. (If you don’t know what this is, check out the 7 principles of leave no trace here!) The Hoh Rainforest in particular has grown in popularity over the years and is busy. People have damaged the vegetation over the years by going off trail, so in 2024, they started adding yellow ropes to the trails, particularly in the iconic Hall of Moss area to make sure people stay on the trails.
For weddings & elopements, these days are incredibly special, but sometimes couples take the “oh but it’s for my special day” just a bit too far. We are luckly to be able to get you married in these beautiful places, but lets be sure to respect the environment and other hikers to make sure future couples get to come and see these beautiful places too!
The Climate of the Hoh Rainforest
Did you know that you can visit the Hoh Rainforest year round? The hoh rainforest also gets 12-14 ft of rain per year! This means trails will most likely be wet, most of the year! Bring a sense of adventure when thinking about your day because your boots and elopement clothing will get a little muddy here!
Rainshadow Effect
Sitting at 394 feet above sea level, the Hoh Rainforest experiences a unique weather occurrence. Weather systems traveling inland run into the Olympic Mountains. Because of the work it takes to get the system over the mountains, it actually releases the moisture before it fully heads over!
This phenomenon is called a Rain Shadow effect and is responsible for the rainforest climate. Now if you’ve been following along, the city on the other side of the Olympic Mountains (Port Angeles) is in the Rain shadow and thus gets less precipitation than the western side year round! This makes Port Angeles area a GREAT backup if you’re really trying to avoid rain. But let’s be real – if you’re getting married in the rainforest, embrace the adventure of rain!
Vegetation
The vegetation in the rainforest is absolutely incredible because of the moist climate. You’ll for sure see tons of ferns, dangling moss, towering trees (Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock) and even nurse trees!
Animals
DId you know there’s a chance to see elk? There is a non-migratoy herd called “Roosevelt Elk” that hang out in the Hoh Rainforest year round. Mostly active during the mornings and evenings, they do tend to stay away from the park during the busier seasons. I’ve personally seen them in April! If you want to listen for a chance to hear bugling, September to October is their rutting season and when they typically bugle!
If you see an elk, be sure to keep your distance (the park recommends 75 feet minimum). And never feed wildlife!
When is the best time for our Hoh Rainforest Elopement?
Spring
In spring time (March – May) the temperatures begin to rise but they can still sometimes be a little chilly from 35- 62 degrees. The weather itself is very unpredictable. From rain to sun and everything in between, it’s an adventure all in itself!
Summer
Summer is the most popular time of the year to visit the Hoh Rainforest and it starts picking up in visitors after school gets out in June. The temperatures are very pleasant from about 50-75. In the PNW there’s always a chance for rain but during the summer you’ll have more sunny days than rainy ones.
Fall
When kiddos go back to school, the trails become quieter again. September is when we start to see rain start come into the forecast again and while it’s much less volatile than winter and spring, you can definitely expect more rainy days than sunny ones in Fall. Femps can range from 35- 60. But that can mean some moody photos!
Winter
The winter season can be very unpredictable and the weather in general is a little more volatile than some of the other months. Expect more rain and clouds during this season and temps from 27 – 42. But that can mean some moody photos!
Time of Day: Understanding Forest Light
Being a photographer, I’m obsessed with chasing light. I’ve photographed in the Hoh Rainforest enough to have very particular times when I love shooting there for the best light! In general, it’s always towards sunset or sunrise but because of the trees, you can’t go directly at those times because the tree cover makes it a little too dark. However the sun angle and how it breaks through those trees is my favorite thing to plan 🙂 But having a photographer who understands the light can give your photograph very different feels depending on the timing you decide on!
As an elopement photographer, which is best?
I personally love spring and fall mornings during the week. It’s the best chance for less crowds and a more serene experience. You have the best chance for some sun but if you do get rain or overcast weather, the trees shelter you a little and the greens become so beautiful and deep!
How many people can I invite to our elopement?
Since the Hoh Rainforest is such a popular location to visit, theyve recently started roping off the trails which makes the trails into sometimes single or double person widths which are not ideal for groups. Since these trails are also so thin, I actually don’t personally recommend having any small ceremony on the trails of the Hoh Rainforest unless you are there in the off season (Oct – March). Even though you’ll get a permit for your ceremony, it doesn’t block off access for you so you’ll have people trying to move around your ceremony which is not an experience I want for any couple of mine.
For any Hoh Rainforest elopement ceremony I personally recommend a different spot to my couples and then we head into the trails for portraits! It gives couples the privacy they are looking for and it allows them to invite a few guests. Ultimately, I don’t ever recommend more than 15 people at a ceremony in nature. The smaller, the better experience for all!
Here are some ways to include your family whether they are with you or not!
Here are some ways to narrow your guest list!
And here are some ways to manage opinions if you run into them!
Trails of the Hoh Rainforest
Length: 1.1 mi
Elevation gain: 82ft
ADA accessible: No
Pet friendly: No (in general, dogs are not allowed in most of Olympic National Park, however there are a few exceptions they list out here!)
**this on average has taken my couples and I 1.5 – 2 hours to enjoy it and take pictures!
Length: 1.3 mi
Elevation gain: 16ft
ADA accessible: Not really – Gravel / Dirt path, narrow
Pet friendly: No (in general, dogs are not allowed in most of Olympic National Park, however there are a few exceptions they list out here!)
Length: 5.5 mi (and further!)
Elevation gain: 213ft
ADA accessible: No
Pet friendly: No (in general, dogs are not allowed in most of Olympic National Park, however there are a few exceptions they list out here!)
The Logistical Stuff!
Special Use Permit & Parking Pass
To get married in the Hoh Rainforest, you’ll need parking pass for each vehicle ($30 per vechicle/day or Americal the Beautiful Pass) and a special use permit which can cost between $50-$100. This requires a 3-4 week processing time and usually something my couple works with me on because of the timing planning around light is extremly important for good photos!
Bathrooms / Parking
The Hoh Rainforest contains bathrooms (yes real ones, not just pit toilets) a visitor center, and an extensive parking area.
Entrance line
Don’t be fooled by that last statement because if the parking is full, you can’t get past the entrance station until someone leaves! During the weekends I’ve definitely left the park at 11am to find a full 0.5 mile line of cars waiting to enter the park. This is why I always recommend weekdays for elopements!
Marriage License
If youre legally getting married in Washington State, you’ll need to apply for a marriage license!
Things to know:
- You don’t need to get married in the same county you get your license in. In King County, you can apply by mail, online or in person. This makes it super easy for anyone coming in from out of state!
- There’s a 3 day waiting period after you get your license and then you have 60 days to use the license.
- You’ll need an ordained minister and 2 witnesses! (I’m ordained and can perform small ceremonies and I can help you with witnesses!)
- Return it to make it official and get your own certified copies!
*Disclaimer: Always do your own research as laws can change. This is not considered legal advice, just a starting point for you!
Backup Plan Importance
This is something I always have helped my couples create and think about! I try to work within the same permit my couples have with a different backdrop but sometimes its necessary to possibly look into two different permits. A lot of locations in Washington are single road locations so that means if a road becomes in accesslbe for whatever reason, you’re kinda out of luck unless it brings in a lot of revenue to it’s the land unit.
And that’s exactly what happened in the winter of 2024 when a bomb cyclone came through and the the river washed out the road! The road was closed indefintely and we weren’t sure if the Hoh Rainforest was something that we’d be able to access for years. (There’s another area of Olympic National Park that has been washed out for years!) However we definitely lucked out. The funding was found to fix it just in time for tourist season in 2025.
Road Conditions
Check this NPS page for current road conditions before you go out to make sure the Upper Hoh Road is open!
Where to Stay
Gorgeous cabins 20 min away from the Hoh Rainforest!
Right in the Hoh Rainforest, but for my camper friends!
Kalaloch Lodge is right on the coast, 1 hour away from the Hoh Rainforest and offers no frills lodging and an onsite restaurant. It’s something very different to what you’ll find in Forks!
It’s about 3 min from one of the La Push Olympic National Park Beaches and just over 1 hour to the Hoh Rainforest.
Forks, WA
Distance from the Hoh Rainforest: 1 hour
If you’re a twilight fan, there’s all the twilight tourism here! I always recommend forks so you don’t have to drive the 2 hours the morning of your elopement! Smaller hotels here!
Port Angeles, WA
Distance from the Hoh Rainforest: 2 hours
This is a larger city with tons of restaurants, trails, boutique stores and tons of lodging!
What else can you add onto your Hoh Rainforest Elopement?
Get Ready at your Vacation Rental
I really think that everyone should have time with their photographer getting ready either at the trailhead or their vacation rental. Why? It gives you time to warm up to being photographed rather than just jumping into somnetiems the most important photos right away! It also gives you time to create a more intentional experience with your partner. Copy your vows into your vow books, enjoy coffee on the porch together before you get dressed, and maybe even unwind with champagne in your hot tub when you get back! Having all of this documented will help you relive the full day and share it’s amazingness with all your friends and family who couldn’t come!
Picnic it up
Head to the picnic area and have a picnic post elopement!
Cook Dinner, have a dance party, cut cake at your Vacation Rental
Either hire a private chef to come and cook for you, grab takeout or bring your own food!
Head to the Coast – More Adventures!
Visit any number of the beautiful beaches for sunset in the La Push area or Kalaloch Area! Try tidepooling, have a picnic on the beach, or just spend some time listening to the waves!
Check out Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent – More Adventures!
If you head 2 hours towards Port Angeles, you’ll have access to Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent. You can end your day on the top of the mountains watching the sun go down, or spend it kayaking on a very accessible alpine lake with even more lush vegetation!
Enjoy some Twilight Fandom
Forks is where Twilight is set (if you didn’t know). While the bulk of the show wasn’t actually filmed in forks, you can still stop by various sight seeing spots like the Twilight Museum, Bellas Red Truck at the chamber of commerce, The Swan’s House, La Push Beaches, and the Treaty Line Sign at 3 Rivers Resort!
Visit John’s Beach Combing Museum
This is such a local treasure! John has been beach coming for over 40 years and has quite the collection! When I went it was $5 cash per person to visit!
Whatever you do, hi, I’m Alexandria! I can’t wait to help you create a day that you’ll remember for years to come.
As you can see there’s a lot to think about when it comes to the Hoh Rainforest and a lot of things you can do! From finding the right light to your ceremony to the trails and beyond, you can create a magical day and get to enjoy what mother nature has to offer.
