Hoh River Trail, Olympic National Park

The Hoh River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula. About 56mi long, the Hoh River originates at the Hoh Glacier on Mount Olympus and flows west through the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the foothills in a broad valley, emptying into the Pacific Ocean at the Hoh Indian Reservation. The final portion of the Hoh River's course marks the boundary between the coastal segment of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, the Hoh Indian Reservation.
The Hoh's drainage basin is 299sqmi. Its discharge, or streamflow, has considerable seasonal variation, with summer streamflow averaging about one-third that of winter flows.
The Hoh is a glacial river fed by glaciers on Mount Olympus, such as the Blue Glacier. The glaciers grind rock into a fine glacial flour which turns the Hoh River a milky slate blue color. The river valley is generally broad and relatively flat, causing the glacial sediments to settle out, creating extensive gravel bars, river meanders, and the many side channels characteristic of a braided river. Discover how to plan a Olympic National Park trip in just a few steps with Inspirock's itinerary builder.