How to plan for an engagement shoot at Hoh Rainforest
If you would love to have a destination wedding but don’t want to skip the big guest list filled with friends and family, you should definitely consider a destination engagement shoot! Alicia and Mike are travel nurses contracted in Port Angeles, Washington, and when we talked about doing an engagement shoot that would be truly memorable, the plan we made to do their session at the Hoh Rainforest was just right from the beginning! Here I’ll answer some questions that we had when planning the session as well as show you some of my favorites from this epic engagement shoot!
Where to fly in to visit the hoh rainforest
Since the rainforest is pretty remote, you will need to prepare to drive several hours from the nearest airport. SeaTac is the largest major airport, which is where we also flew into, and then we had about a 4 hour drive to the Rainforest.
Where to stay when visiting the hoh rainforest
The couple in the photoshoot stayed at an air bnb in Forks, WA. It was only about an hour to the visitor center from their air bnb, so if you have a late flight home, this would be a good option. I stayed in Lacey Washington solely because we wanted to have a shorter drive to the airport on the morning we were flying out. So it was a 3 hours drive to the rainforest for us, but only about an hour drive to the airport the following day to get home.
how to check for road closures in a national park
Anytime you visit ANY national park, you MUST check for road closures and vehicle requirements. The Hoh Rainforest is sometimes inaccessible because of flooding, and the weather can change quickly, so keep an eye on the national park’s website a week before your shoot and also the day of. It’s great to have a back up plan in case of road closures. Check out the “other spots” section below.
what to bring to a photo session at hoh rainforest
Keep in mind it’s a RAINFOREST, so expect damp, dark, ever-changing weather. We were SO lucky to have a mild, sunny day, but the paths were still wet and muddy. Definitely make sure you have the following for your shoot:
umbrellas
shoes you dont mind getting muddy (you can bring nice shoes along)
a jacket
a tote bag or blanket to put all of your belongings down when you’re being photographed
expectations of bad weather (have a plan for your hair - updo’s are a great, humidity-”proof” option)
permits for doing a photoshoot in the hoh rainforest
According the the national park’s website, unless you are photographing paid models or plan to use the photos to advertise products you are selling, there is no fee other than the National Park Pass that you need to buy to access the rainforest. This is usually less than $50.
Where to park and hike at the hot rainforest
We routed our GPS to the Hoh Rainforest visitors center, and while it was closed the bathrooms were open and there was plenty of parking. There are several trailheads at the Vistor’s Center, but we took the Hall of Mosses trail which is a 0.8 mile loop. Aside from a very short “stairs”-like incline at the beginning, the trail is mostly flat and even paved in some spots. It took us about 2 hours taking time to stop and photograph, but you could easily get through it in a half an hour if you’re looking for a recreational hike.
other spots in olympic state park for photo shoots
On the drive to the rainforest from the south west of the park, there are several amazing spots to stop and take photos, including Kalaloch Beach and Ruby Beach. Both of these options are usually accessible even if the roads to get to the Hoh Rainforest are flooded. These beaches also do not require you to have a park pass.
