Hoh And Rialto From Port Angeles

Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach Guided Tour in Olympic National Park runs through Olympic Hiking Co.. Rated 5.0 across 172 reviews. Runs 9 hours. From $195.

Rialto Beach has no road access right now because Mora Road is shut at the campground per the park service, so the operator confirms the itinerary at booking.

Overview

This nine-hour day trip from Port Angeles pairs the Hoh Rain Forest with Rialto Beach, two of Olympic National Park's signature landscapes, with short guided walks at each. Olympic Hiking Co. runs it: a commercially authorized guide drives the group in a 12 or 15 passenger van, park entrance fees are covered, and the guide points out local flora along the way. The tour starts early, at 07:30, from the company's tour building on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, and finishes back at the same point.

The shape of the day is simple. You spend about two hours at the Hoh Rain Forest, stop for roughly 20 minutes in Forks, then get around an hour at Rialto Beach before the drive back. Lunch is not included; you can buy a picnic lunch at a scheduled stop or bring your own. The walks are short, and the listing says most travellers can participate. It suits travellers who want to reach these two far-flung spots without doing the driving or the planning themselves, especially anyone basing themselves in Port Angeles rather than Seattle, which is about a three-hour drive away. It is not a fit for anyone hoping for long stretches of solitude; one reviewer noted the guide-led format fills the day with information and conversation. Groups cap at 12 travellers, and guests must be at least 10 years old.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in Port AngelesThe tour departs at 07:30 from the Olympic Hiking Co. Tour Building at 720 Marine Drive, Port Angeles. There is no hotel pickup.
2. Drive to Hoh Rain ForestRide in a 12 or 15 passenger van with the guide sharing information about the area en route.
3. Hoh Rain ForestTwo hours at the rain forest for a short guided hike, with admission included.
4. Forks stopAbout 20 minutes in Forks, free to enter, before continuing toward the coast.
5. Rialto BeachRoughly one hour at the beach, admission included, for a short guided walk along the shore.
6. Return to Port AngelesThe day ends back at the meeting point on Marine Drive, nine hours after the 07:30 start.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the day go more smoothly, from what to pack to how the group dynamic works.

• Bring layers. The listing is blunt that the weather forecast can be unpredictable and asks guests to bring extra clothing as a precaution. One reviewer mentioned a cloudy, rainy day that still turned out well. Pack more warmth and cover than the morning sky suggests.
• Pack a lunch. Lunch is not included. Picnic lunches are available for purchase at a scheduled stop, or you can bring your own. Building the meal into the day removes one piece of guesswork on a long outing.
• Easy walking pace. The listing promises short guided hikes at each stop and says most travellers can participate. If you want hours of solo time in the forest or on the beach, one reviewer's caution applies, though there is some downtime at Rialto.
• Group feel. The tour carries a maximum of 12 travellers. One reviewer who joined a full group of that size found it manageable, with a range of ages and abilities, and described the staff as friendly and easy to talk with. Expect a social, information-rich day rather than quiet contemplation.
• Kids 10 and up. Guests must be 10 or older, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Families with younger children will need a different option.
• Early start, long drive. The meeting point is in Port Angeles, about a three-hour one-way trip from Seattle, so the tour works best for those already staying on the Olympic Peninsula.

Common issues. The tour runs rain or shine, and Olympic Hiking Co. does not permit cancellations due to weather, so a wet day means going anyway. One reviewer wished for more time at Rialto Beach but said a long wait to enter the Hoh, about two hours on a busy weekend, cut the stop short. Lunch and gratuities are not included, and there is no hotel pickup. The tour is not wheelchair accessible.

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