Best rainforest destinations in North America
Best rainforest destinations in North America
Immense old-growth temperate canopies and protected river basins in North America
The Pacific Northwest's temperate rainforests hold some of the tallest trees on earth, kept consistently wet by coastal weather systems rather than tropical heat. Central American cloud forests offer a warmer, more biodiverse alternative further south.
The destinations on this list range from cool, towering temperate rainforest dominated by conifers and moss to warmer tropical cloud forest with vastly higher biodiversity. Both require waterproof gear regardless of season.
Visiting during shoulder season tends to mean fewer crowds at the more accessible Pacific Northwest sites without sacrificing much in the way of conditions. Local park rangers can point out specific old-growth groves easy to miss without guidance. Packing waterproof layers also matters considerably given how frequently rain falls in this region.
Lists by region
Nature Reserve in Costa Rica
Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves
Mist, Wildlife and Cloudy Magic
Clouds drift through the trees of Monteverde every afternoon. Moss, orchids and ferns cover each branch. Hanging bridges and zip lines cross the canopy. Trails lead through the Santa Elena reserve. Hummingbirds visit feeders near the cafes. The cloud forest sits around 1,500 metres above sea level.
National Park in Costa Rica
Corcovado National Park
Costa Rica’s Wildest Rainforest Frontier
Scarlet macaws screech over the Sirena ranger station in Corcovado. The trails here lead through lowland rainforest where tapirs and white lipped peccaries walk. A licensed guide is required inside the park. Most visitors arrive by boat from Drake Bay or on foot from La Leona.
Town in Canada
Tofino
Wild Pacific, Rainforest, Endless Waves
The Rainforest Trail in Pacific Rim National Park has two boardwalk loops through cedar and hemlock. Long Beach is a few minutes away, with surfers and storm watchers. Clayoquot Sound has more old growth forest. Boats run from Tofino to Hot Springs Cove, where warm pools flow into the ocean.
Town in Costa Rica
La Fortuna
Volcano Views, Hot Springs, Adventure
Hanging bridges near La Fortuna cross the canopy above the rainforest. A staircase of about 500 steps drops to the base of La Fortuna Waterfall, which falls 70 metres. Hot springs flow from the slopes of Arenal volcano. Toucans and howler monkeys appear in the trees near the road.
City in Mexico
Palenque (city)
Lively Jungle Gateway Town
The Temple of the Inscriptions rises out of the jungle at Palenque. A stair inside leads to the tomb of King Pakal. Howler monkeys call from the trees above the ruins. Nearby, Misol Ha waterfall drops 35 metres into a pool. Agua Azul has turquoise cascades.
National Park in Dominica
Morne Trois Pitons National Park
Volcanic wonders in pristine rainforest
The Boiling Lake trail in Morne Trois Pitons National Park crosses the Valley of Desolation, where steam rises from vents. The hike ends at a flooded fumarole. Trafalgar Falls and Emerald Pool are shorter walks. Titou Gorge is a narrow canyon where visitors swim to a waterfall.
National Park in Costa Rica
El Yunque National Forest
Tropical rainforest paradise in Caribbean
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System. A paved trail leads to La Mina Falls, where visitors swim in the pool below. Coqui frogs call all night from the trees. The Yokahu Tower looks over the canopy towards the coast.
Town in Canada
Revelstoke
Big Mountain Adventure, Small Town Soul
The Giant Cedars Boardwalk loops through an inland temperate rainforest on Highway 1 east of Revelstoke. Some of the western redcedars are over 500 years old. A creek runs beside the boards. The air smells of damp wood. The Skunk Cabbage trail in the same area passes boggy ground.
National Park in United States
Redwood National Park
Home of the World’s Tallest Trees
Fern Canyon has walls covered in ferns, with a creek running along the floor. The trail goes through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop walks beneath old growth coast redwoods. Roosevelt elk graze in the meadows near the visitor centre at Orick.
State/Prefecture in United States
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
The Tongass National Forest covers 16.7 million acres of Southeast Alaska. It is the largest national forest in the United States. Sitka spruce and western hemlock grow beside salmon streams. Floatplanes from Ketchikan fly into Misty Fjords, where cliffs rise straight from narrow inlets. Rain falls on most days.
National Park in United States
Olympic National Park
Untamed Wilderness, All in One
The Hall of Mosses Trail at the Hoh Rain Forest is a short loop beneath bigleaf maples draped in moss. The Hoh gets about 12 feet of rain a year. Sitka spruce here grow past 250 feet. Roosevelt elk walk through the clearings. The visitor centre sits at the trailhead.
Nature Reserve in Mexico
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Ancient Maya Ruins in Pristine Jungle
Calakmul is the largest tropical forest reserve in Mexico. Howler monkeys roar at dawn over the temples of the ancient Maya city. Structure 2 is a pyramid that visitors can climb for a view across the treetops. Jaguars and ocelots live in the surrounding reserve.
National Park in Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano National Park
Lava Trails, Rainforest and Epic Views
Arenal volcano erupted for 42 years before it went quiet in 2010. Trails in the national park cross old lava flows from the 1968 eruption. Forest paths lead to viewpoints over Lake Arenal. Coatis search the leaf litter near the trailheads. Clouds cover the cone on many mornings.
National Park in Costa Rica
Tortuguero National Park
Wildlife and Waterways Adventure
Boats and kayaks glide through the canals of Tortuguero National Park at dawn. Caimans, spider monkeys and green iguanas sit along the banks. A trail climbs Cerro Tortuguero, a 119 metre volcanic cone with a view over the forest and the Caribbean. Strawberry poison dart frogs hide in leaf litter.
National Park in Guatemala
Tikal National Park
Lost Mayan City in the Jungle
Howler monkeys roar across the plaza at dawn in Tikal. Temple IV rises 70 metres and has a view above the canopy. Trails link the Great Plaza, the Temple of the Great Jaguar and smaller groups of ruins. Toucans and spider monkeys live in the trees around the ruins.
State/Prefecture in United States
Hawaii
Tropical Vibes and Volcanic Wonders
Akaka Falls drops 442 feet into a gorge on the rainy Hamakua Coast of the Big Island. A short loop trail passes ferns, orchids and bamboo. The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden sits at Onomea Bay near Hilo. Hilo is among the wettest cities in the United States.
Region in Panama
Bocas del Toro
Tropical Bliss in Panama
Water taxis hop between the islands of Bocas del Toro. On Isla Bastimentos a muddy trail leads through rainforest to Red Frog Beach. Tiny strawberry poison dart frogs sit on the leaves there. The national marine park has mangroves and reefs. Sloths hang in the cecropia trees near the docks.
National Park in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
Jungle, Wildlife and Stunning Beaches
White faced capuchin monkeys and sloths live in the rainforest that meets the beach in Manuel Antonio. Short trails lead to Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. Guides carry spotting scopes to show birds and iguanas. Pacific sunsets show from the beach. Hotels and cafes line the road from Quepos.
Town in Costa Rica
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Caribbean Vibes and Pristine Beaches
Rainforest runs down to the Caribbean coast near Puerto Viejo. Trails in Cahuita National Park follow the beach where capuchins and raccoons cross the sand. The Jaguar Rescue Center cares for sloths and monkeys. Bribri guides lead tours of cacao farms in the hills. Bikes are the easiest way to reach Punta Uva.
Island in United States
Kauai
Lush Landscapes and Secluded Beaches
Mount Waialeale in the centre of Kauai is one of the wettest places on earth. Kayakers paddle the Wailua River through jungle to the trail for Secret Falls. Wailua Falls drops from a cliff beside the road. Wild chickens and ferns line the lower trails.
Region in Belize
Cayo District
Jungle adventures and ancient Maya ruins
Caracol, a Maya city, rises out of the Chiquibul Forest in western Belize. Climb the Caana pyramid for a view over the canopy. Mountain Pine Ridge nearby has pools at Rio On. Guides lead trips to Actun Tunichil Muknal, a cave reached by wading through a stream.
City in United States
Juneau
Glaciers, whales and wild Alaska
Mendenhall Glacier sits beside a rainforest of Sitka spruce and western hemlock just outside Juneau. The visitor centre has a deck with a view over the lake. Short trails lead to Nugget Falls. Rain falls on most days. The moss on the trees stays green.
National Park in United States
Mount Rainier National Park
A Majestic Volcano and Wild Beauty
The Carbon River area in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park has a temperate rainforest. Moss hangs from bigleaf maples. Western redcedars grow beside the glacial river. Salmon spawn in the side channels in autumn. The Carbon River Rainforest Trail follows the old road. Trails here are quieter than at Paradise.
Island in United States
Maui
Island of Sun, Surf and Serenity
The Road to Hana follows the rainy east coast of Maui and crosses 59 bridges. Stops include Twin Falls and the black sand beach at Waianapanapa. At Haleakala National Park, the Pipiwai Trail runs through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls, which drops about 400 feet.
National Park in United States
Glacier Bay National Park
Majestic glaciers and pristine wilderness
Boats leave Bartlett Cove for the tidewater glaciers at the head of Glacier Bay. At the cove, the Forest Loop Trail winds through spruce and hemlock with moss on every branch. This is the edge of the Southeast Alaska rainforest. Humpback whales and sea otters feed in the fjord.
Forest in Canada
Great Bear Rainforest
Whispers of ancient pines and mist
This rainforest covers about 6.4 million hectares of the British Columbia coast. It is part of the Pacific temperate rainforest ecoregion, the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world. A 2016 agreement gave 26 First Nations a share in decisions about the land. Some of the Kermode bears here have white coats.
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