Rain Forest Hostel

Adrienne Boggess

11 months ago

Thank you, Jimmy. You have impacted my life in more ways than one. For travelers, I am a solo female African American and can say I felt 100% safe and welcomed here. Jimmy is incredibly knowledgably and very welcoming. His mission here is admirable, pay what you can and donate if you can, and chores are required unless you donate extra. Be open to meeting people from all walks of life. Great location, 30 min from town of Forks, 10 from Ruby beach.

varun sharma

year ago

Five stars for Jimmy for having such a thoughtful initiative. In days where humanity is taking a dip, he's still trying to do his part to preserve it. I loved the concept of the hostel, and my time there was wonderful as well. I stayed for a night and was the only one staying there. As everyone has already mentioned, it's not a regular hostel. It's an old man's house. So don't expect anything fancy in terms of services; however, I loved his living room. The kitchen was clean. Rooms are decent, comfortable bed, but nothing fancy. I didn't mind having a conversation, and it definitely didn't feel a forced one. However, be prepared and make some time for a 15-minute chore. Location is perfect for exploring hoh rain forest, with the closest access to ruby beach.

Parker Moore

year ago

Me and 5 other guys stayed here on a Thursday night before a 3 day backpacking trip on the coast. Based on the mix of ultra positive reviews and occasional frustrations from people who wanted a typical hotel experience from this, I think it would be good to add our experience of the trip. We arrived and met Jim, where he sat us down in his living room and talked for 15 minutes or so about why he does this- what hosteling means to him, the collective spirit he wants to help foster, and basic ground rules. This wasn’t politically charged or unbearable like some reviews suggest, but an enjoyable chance to learn why Jim does this. We enjoyed the rest of our night there and woke up around 7 am at the same time as him and knocked out 15 minutes of pulling weeds around his greenhouse after the whole crew was awake and ready. Overall, I really enjoyed the time with Jim. Some of my friends came in frustrated that I picked this place because of our desires to make our trailheads at the needed time, but they came away happy with the experience. Take a second to slow down here. Put aside the need to expedite your check-ins, check-outs and tight schedules on your adventures around the coast. Live at Jim’s pace for the time you’re here, and you’ll better understand the magic of this coast than you would have otherwise.

Ryan Lewis

4 months ago

Jimmy was a great host. Very friendly and welcoming. The accommodations were great. I surely will come back.

John Calabrese

8 months ago

Some other visitors called this place a hidden gem - I agree with that. There is something special about what Jim does with this hostel. If you’re looking for luxury amenities and a traditional check in/check out experience, you won’t find that here. To me that feels like the whole point. There are few times in life where you run into special people doing special things. My visit and stay with Jim was one of those times. I appreciated Jim having me and would undoubtedly stay there again next time I find myself on the west side of the peninsula.

Sarah S

year ago

I really appreciated Jimmy and my time at his place. Please know that this is not your typical hostel, it is his home that he is kind enough to share with others. For a small donation of $16 and a scrub of the tub I was able to stay the night less than 10 minutes from Ruby beach. Jimmy was incredibly helpful helping me plan the rest of my short trip and even offered suggestions on what seasonal work was available around the area. I had no idea what I was walking into as I had not read the reviews and only did a quick search on google maps for "hostel". I walked in around 6pm and found Jimmy meditating and soon realized that I was walking into this gentleman's home. He was kind and welcoming, he discussed his concept behind it which might be weird to some but I found it interesting and heartwarming. After our talk I had enough time to go to the beach during sunset and check it out during low tide which was amazing. The rooms and bathrooms are not spotless and could use a clean but keep in mind this is where his guests stay and it is their/our responsibility to keep it clean through our chores. It felt like I was staying at a family members home. I am a solo female traveler and I felt safe and comfortable. I was the only person in the woman's room and there was one man that arrived after me that was staying in the room next to me. I hope to come back soon and have more time to sit and talk with Jimmy since he is an interesting person.

Audrey Rice

4 months ago

I stayed here a few years back. Jimmy is a wonderful man and I’ve never felt safer while traveling alone than I did while staying at his home. I hope I get to visit him again someday.

Kiara Johnson

year ago

I have so much to say about this beautiful, hidden gem. I must admit, after reading a few Google reviews, I began doubting my choice of booking. This is my first time in the United States and, as a female solo traveller, safety is always my first priority. However, I NEVER once felt unsafe or scared once I arrived. Jimmy is a thoughtful, soft-spoken, eccentric, and generous person with so much knowledge of the area and its nature. His concept of the hostel is wonderful and should definitely be understood before making a booking. I paid $16 a night (stayed for 2 nights) and my two chores included a scrub of the bathroom sink and a bit of dusting, no more than 15 min a day. THE HOSTEL This is not a traditional hostel. Jimmy has opened up his house to travellers, with two separate rooms available. It is a co-ed hostel. However, he does make special accommodations for an all-women dorm, or a space for travelling couples. The hostel is clean, the bathroom spotless and the bedding and towels washed and ready. Yes, admittedly the shared spaces are quite crowded, but are filled with interesting artifacts, tons of books and comfy spots to sit and read. It is a homey and warm environment! THE AREA The Rainforest Hostel is in an ideal location. About 15 min from beautiful Ruby Beach sunsets, 30 min to Forks, and about 40 min from the entrance to the Hoh Rainforest. The Hostel is easy to find, with plenty of parking. The stunning scenery surrounding the hostel is worth the trip itself. JImmy has maintained two beautiful clearings that are often frequented by deer and elk, as well as a wildflower garden. It’s perfect for a little downtime in between hikes. THE DOWNSIDES? The building is quite old and can have a certain mildew smell when it rains. But I have asthma and my chest was fine throughout the rainy weekend. Other than that, I cannot think of other downsides to staying here. I truly enjoyed every minute and will definitely be returning soon. I think it is importa

Melissa Hickman

month ago

This was a truly awesome stay and I wish I could’ve spent another night! Young solo female traveller here and I felt 1000% safe! The guy is super sweet and wants the best for the world - the host will tell you his mission for the hostel and he obviously appreciates the guests point of view too. I stayed a short while but paid my way and also weeded the greenhouse in the morning! So cool and such a unique wholesome experience. There’s a really cool account of each guest over the last thirty years. This place is very very close to beaches, and a good starting point to head to rainforest or cape flattery in the morning