Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach Guided Tour in Olympic National Park

We did the Hoh rain forest tour and Ruby beach tour on 8/6/26. The road to Rialto beach was closed so Ruby beach was the substitute. We met at OHC's office at 7:15 am and left for Hoh at 7:30 am. There were 13 people on the tour plus Nancy the guide (it was full). The ride to Hoh was about 2.5 hrs. Nancy provided color commentary as she drove to Hoh. When we got to Hoh, there was already a 2.5 hr back up to get in. Luckily, OHC sends an empty van to get there by 8 am. That van parks in a pulloff after the entry station and the driver waits for the 7:30 am van to arrive and you switch vans. It was a .75 to 1 mi. walk from one van to the other but it allowed us to get to the Hoh VC and hikes around 11 am, hours before we would have otherwise gotten in. Nancy did a great job explaining what we were seeing on the hall of moss trail and then we hiked the Spruce trail. In total both trails were about 2.3 mi.with some up hill, some rolling flat areas and a little mud to avoid. Coupled with the hike between vans it was about 3.3 mi.total. We then drove to Kalaloch for snacks and a break and then to Ruby Beach where we spent an hour on the beach. There is a short .25 mi. walk down to the beach and then you roam as you will. We ended up walking about a mile at Ruby. The drive back to Port Angeles took about 2.5 hours with no stops. Given the back up to get into Hoh, if you are in Port Angeles and want to see Hoh, taking the tour is the best option. We enjoyed the tour and would recommend it. Well worth the money.

This seems like a hidden gem in Port Angeles. These are professional experienced well trained, and friendly folks. Trevor gave us a great introduction andNancy was an exceptional tour guide, driver, and naturalist. She could field any question we asked whether it was having to do with moss, trees, forest management, twilight fans, flowers, cost of living in the area, and the differences between all the parkland. She has a special love of banana slugs too!!. And still managed to get us leaving and arriving at the times they designated. Special accommodation was made because Rialto Beach was closed so we drove further to Ruby Beach. We wish Nancy all the best!

What a fun day and a great way to see both the HoH rainforest and Ruby beach (Rialto was closed during our visit). Our guide Mara was fabulous! She checked in frequently with guests and kept the day on schedule. We had plenty of time to explore each location! Bonus was no driving or waiting for a parking spot!

We booked this tour and the Hurricane Ridge tours back to back days as we were in the area for a very short time. Both tours went flawlessly, had excellent tour guides and the views were amazing! The van paused for photo ops at various points and both days had a stopover to grab lunch. Lunch by crescent lake was awesome! Thanks for letting me borrow the hiking pole for a couple of the steeper sections! I'm not an avid hiker, but I'd definitely book this company again in a heartbeat. They made it so fun, and I'd never have gotten the total experience without hiking it. Thanks.

Excellent tour. The tour meet up location was easily found and was clean and comfortable. Our guide provided interesting information and anecdotes during the travel to the destinations as well as on the Ho River Trail. And the Old Growth forest! Wow! what can one say! Magnificent, awe inspiring, humbling and centering all at once.

Professional and friendly. This was a completely well organized and extremely informative tour to just the right number in our group. Nancy was an unbelievably great resource of information and her enthusiasm and personality were perfectly suited to us all. Her knowledge and love of the park is evident throughout. We've taken other tour operators at other national parks in WA on this trip and it was no comparison in terms of quality and value. Would highly recommend to all.

A beautiful experience! Our guide, Betsy, was very knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The Hoh rainforest is magical. The beach, beautiful! Thanks for a great trip! We'll done!

Super informative with a respect for all nature. ONP is such a diverse national treasure. Roni is a friendly, terrific guide!

The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. The office was in an easy to access location and they had a lot of parking. The tour made traveling to various sites convenient and enjoyable. The van was clean and spacious. Olympic National Park is massive and can feel overwhelming but having an expert guide was worth it! We packed and brought our own lunch which is a good idea for anyone with dietary restrictions. I recommend bringing snacks and water for the road.

I had an amazing experience with Olympic Hiking Co during my guided tour of the Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach. The company was very organized, friendly, and accommodating, which I appreciated very much especially since I was traveling solo on a very tight schedule. I arrived early in the morning at the Olympic Hiking Co office in Port Angeles. Although I had all my luggage with me, the staff kindly offered to store my luggage safely until I returned from the tour. The check-in process was smooth, and the staff were welcoming and professional. We made brief stops at Forks Outfitters for restrooms and snacks on our way to and from the rainforest. The drive itself was scenic, especially the stunning views of Lake Crescent. Our guide was absolutely fantastic - knowledgeable, engaging, and very passionate about nature. He taught us how to identify different trees such as spruce, fir, and hemlock, and even had us taste wood sorrel, which had a lime-pepper flavor. He also shared fun mnemonics (“Fir feels friendly, spruce feels spiky, hemlocks have stems”) and amazing insights about the forest ecosystem - from devil’s club to fairy barf lichens. We learned about ferns, step moss, and saw a black licorice slug. We did a second hike - the Spruce Nature Trail - which led us to the beautiful Hoh River. I loved both hikes - hall of mosses and spruce nature trail! After the rainforest, we drove to Rialto Beach, stopping briefly again in Forks. The beach was stunning with dramatic cliffs, ocean mist, and iconic Twilight vibes. Though it was cloudy and a bit cold, the scenery was breathtaking. We also saw a fun sign that read “No Vampires Beyond This Point,” on our way to the beach. Overall, Olympic Hiking Co exceeded my expectations. Their tours are perfect for solo travelers and small groups. This was an amazing experience for me, and I’m so glad I did this tour.