We arrived at the parking lot around 1:00 pm on Sunday. The main lot was already full, and the second lot was quickly filling up due to the holiday weekend. My 3-year-old daughter and I backpacked to Mount Tom Creek camp for an overnight stay. The visitor center and bathrooms were open, even though they were not scheduled to open until the following weekend. The ranger explained he wanted to open early to gauge the crowds.
We began our hike on the busy Hall of Mosses trail, but once we transitioned to the Hoh River trail, the crowds thinned out considerably. We encountered about 30 people on the way to camp. Several washouts along the trail were tricky to navigate with a toddler and a large backpack, but they were manageable. We also faced two stream crossings that required some balance to stay dry. The trail was muddy in sections, so waterproof shoes were essential for keeping our feet dry.
We lucked out and had the entire camp area to ourselves right on the river. I clocked 3.5 miles to camp. We enjoyed a quiet (and cold) evening and night. Thankfully, the forecasted rain and snow held out until we got back to our car the next morning. Our hike out was beautiful and uneventful (just how we like it) - all of the water crossings and washouts were easier to pass in this direction.
I definitely want to return and take this trail further in the summer!
Comments
Am looking to schedule an overnight with my kiddo here this spring and your trip report was gold! Thank you. Also this smile. :)
Posted by:
Loren Drummond on Mar 02, 2026 01:25 PM