Camp at the Hoko River Mouth and Ocean Retreat--Two Camping Cabins available too

This place is amazingly beautiful! It feels like a sacred site, and we felt grateful to be able to stay there.

Tucked away in the woods, a rustic camp with just the right level of amenities awaits!

For my Wife’s birthday we invited about ten of our close friends out to camp and feast and imbibe. We found Dale, our host, to be a generous and knowledgeable guide to all that the Hoko and surrounding area provides. He even showed us where the native people would hold their ceremonies on the point above his property as well as leading us on a short hike to show us the abundance of the area. The next day we went followed our tracks back to the same spot, foraging as we walked for an abundance of local mussels, urchins, edible forest greens, beach sweet peas, and fresh thimble berries right from the beach and forest, our two shellfish/seaweed harvesting permits garnering enough food to feed all of us a wonderful meal.

The accommodations are spartan but very thoughtful, with a covered fire pit for both cooking and relaxing out of the elements and a covered kitchen area with just about all the tools you would need to prepare anything your heart desires and a full sized fridge to chill your favorite beverages. Sleeping quarters for us consisted of a soft bit of flat moss to pitch out tent on, but there are two cozy little cabins that would be more than ample to house folks who don’t have a tent or are of a more delicate constitution and would do well to allow a stay in the colder months of the year. We camped in early June and saw some rain, but the one clear day we had that weekend was warm enough for a row in one of Dale’s boats and a cold dip in the river for some of our more adventurous campers. Afterward we warmed ourselves by the fire and sipped spiced rum with cedar tips until curling up in our sleeping bags.

We recommend being prepared for cool weather and some good boots to keep your feet dry.

Our group loved the HRMR! We had such an amazing time! This place has it all (just bring your food, sleeping bags and tents) Dale was out of town but our care taker Tex was so nice and made sure we were well taken care of!

We get as many as we can of our 27 children and grandchildren together for a "Family Camp" every two or three years. We had 19 campers this year. My wife and I provide the campsite and each family provides breakfast and dinner for the camp for one day. We provide the makings for do-it-yourself sack lunches for each day. We research attractions at the campsites and in the nearby areas to suggest to group members. We usually plan a group campfire with "smores" or such. Not all our campers are rugged outdoors persons, but as long as we manage to have good food in camp and hot showers available nearby, and we make reservations well in advance we can get most of our group together each time.

My wife and I were able to arrange to inspect the camp about a year in advance and make our reservation for 2017 shortly thereafter. The kitchen facility provided by the camp greatly eases and facilitates cooking for such a large group and eliminates the need for hauling one large dining fly. The four large propane burners with accompanying pans and pots are very satisfactory. The campfire/eating area is covered by a large awning next to a well-stocked wood supply, again greatly facilitating eating arrangements and campfire activities. Abundant seating was provided by the camp. Though no flush toilets are provided, the two out-houses were satisfactory for the camp. Each out-house was provided with sufficient toilet paper, lime for treating each toilet, and hand sanitizer. The stand-alone shower stall near the kitchen appears to share the hot water from the water heater for the kitchen sink, so shower duration needs to be minimal to facilitate the needs of large groups. Towels and wash-cloths are provided, though many of our campers used their own. Electric lighting is provided for the toilets, shower, etc. The Hoko river next to the camp is very calm and not as cold as the adjacent open ocean. We didn't have much luck fishing on the river, but we did use the two camp rowboats in the ocean outside the river mouth with some success. We brought our own kayaks and most campers enjoyed exploring the river by kayak for a couple of miles upstream. The campsite itself is a beautiful, private location with short trails and a delightful eagle nest. Outstanding activities nearby included the Hoh Rain Forest Trail, the amazing trails to Cape Flattery and Shi Shi Beach. Many of our campers enjoyed taking in the hot springs at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort one day.

We couldn't have had a better experience at the Hoko River Mouth Retreat. Dale made us feel incredibly welcome, showing us the best tent spots, preparing the fire pit, giving us local tips, and even explaining to us how and where to harvest and prepare mussels from nearby areas. Then, he left us to our privacy :) The covered kitchen (with all of the amenities), fire pit (with dry wood), and a hot shower made life convenient and kept us dry when it was rainy (though we had lovely spots of sunshine, too). Finally, the views from camp...wow!