Ranger Tales
The Heart Of It

The Heart Of It

The story

Near the road's end, the Hoh transitions into dense, towering old-growth, with conifers wider than a vehicle and a canopy that dims the forest floor. This is among the largest remaining stretches of intact temperate rainforest on Earth.

You're getting close to the heart of it now, the deep old-growth at the end of the road. Slow down a little and just look up through the windshield. The canopy closes overhead, the trunks get wider than your car, and the green goes almost dark. This is the kind of forest that's nearly gone everywhere else on Earth. A few more minutes and you'll be parked at the edge of some of the biggest, oldest trees you will ever stand under.

Photo: Ron Clausen · CC BY-SA 4.0

Good to know
Where is The Heart Of It?
The Heart Of It. Near the road's end, the Hoh transitions into dense, towering old-growth, with conifers wider than a vehicle and a canopy that dims the forest floor. This is among the largest remaining stretches of intact temperate rai…
Is there an audio tour of The Heart Of It?
Yes — The Heart Of It is a stop on the Olympic National Park self-guided audio tour. The story plays automatically by GPS as you explore there, and works offline. Get the Ranger Tales app on the App Store.
🎧 Get the tour

Hear The Heart Of It's story on the drive

Download the tour, leave your phone in your pocket, and let it play itself as you go. Works offline.

Book the self-guided tour, or get it in the app.