After our morning at Ruby Beach, we headed for something completely different – Hoh Rainforest, park ecosystem #2. We were all a bit damp – okay, drenched – after the coastline, so I think the idea of walking under a rain-breaking canopy of trees was appealing to everyone.

Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the United States. The landscape was carved by glaciers, and it’s a completely different world from the coastline we had just left.

Our destination was the Hall of Mosses trail. If I’m being completely honest, I’ll tell you that we picked the trail based – pretty much – on the name alone. I mean, how could we pass up a trail called “Hall of Mosses” – could you? It helped that our cursory research confirmed the trail’s kid-friendliness; it’s short, relatively flat, and steeped with interesting things to look at.

My favorite thing about the trail was, predictably, the old-growth trees hung with primeval quantities of emerald green moss.

I know that Longfellow’s famous line “This is the forest primeval” was written about eastern Canada – but it could easily have been about this spot.

We veered off the main trail onto a little spur that took us into a magical grove of maples overhung with club moss.

Nugget liked the maple grove.

The other day, Nugget asked me what my favorite hike is. I couldn’t possibly decide – I’ve been privileged to experience so many incredible trails, in habitats ranging from coastlines to deserts to mountains to forests – and everything in between. But the Hall of Mosses trail would have to be up there. There was just so much to look at – from the largest moss-hung trees…

…to the tiniest details of mushrooms, moss, and tiny leaves.

The Hall of Mosses trail was short, but packed so much into a fascinating space. I’d love to go back – again and again. I’m sure it must change every day.

Next week: Still in the Hoh Rainforest, we explore another trail and amble down to the Hoh River.