SPRUCE NATURE TRAIL

Length 1.2-mi/1.9 km 
Access Hoh River Road 
USGS Map Owl Mountain 
Agency Olympic National Park

This nature trail lies between the Hoh Trail and the Hoh River and begins near 
the Hoh Trail Visitor Center on the Hoh River Road. The path first traverses a 
river terrace covered with a magnificent stand of large Sitka spruce intermixed 
with hemlock, Douglas fir, and western red cedar. The trail then descends to a 
lower level that is periodically flooded by the river. This area, composed mostly 
of glacial silt, is covered with alder and maple because the floods prevent conifers 
from establishing a foothold. Elk frequents the grassy bottoms because they provide 
good forage.

The trail comes out to the riverbank, then returns to the upper terrace and 
crosses Taft Creek (which issues from a spring within the confines of the trail 
loop) and returns to its starting point on the Hoh Trail (1.2 mi/1.9 km).