Washington's Most Remote Hot Springs, Olympic National Park
How does relaxing in Washington’s most remote hot springs sound? No-brainer, right? These totally natural hot springs in Olympic National Park are tough to get to (I’ll share a pro tip to make this adventure MUCH easier below), but so worth it for so many reasons. The best part (aside from a relaxing day in the beauty of Olympic National Park) is that you’ll likely have them mostly to yourself due to their remote nature.
Here’s everything to know about visiting Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic National Park.
Hey, friends! I love recommending the gear that I'm stoked about and use on the regular. As such, this post contains affiliate links to some of the products I love, and I'll receive commission upon any purchases made through those links at no expense to you.
Table of Contents
Hot Springs Etiquette
Before we dive in, let's review a few very important details about hot spring etiquette!
Shower beforehand, if possible. Hot springs are very delicate, and it's super easy to accidentally introduce foreign bacteria that can disrupt its delicate chemical balance. Showering before entering can help their long-term health. Now, Olympic Hot Springs is remote and there are no shower facilities on site, but there is a river if you feel like a cold plunge.
Keep it down. We visit hot springs to relax, and while Rainbow Kitten Surprise is calming for you, your neighbor might not agree. Read the room.
Never use soap. Again, hot springs are very delicate, and any foreign substance can hugely alter its natural balance. This includes biodegradable soaps and shampoos!
Stay hydrated! Hot springs are, well, hot, and can cause serious dehydration if your'e not careful. It's important to drink lots of water to ward off those "fainting spells" hot springs are known to cast. Especially when you’re this deep in nature! When it's time to leave, get up slowly. I never visit a hot spring without my Hydroflask.
Leave the glass behind. Breaking glass is (hopefully) never intentional, but accidents happen, and when they do, it can be dangerous, and broken glass can be nearly impossible to see. I sliced my heel open in one of these hot springs :( It sucked. Watch your step and please leave the place better than you found it.
Avoid peak times. Overcrowded springs aren't fun for anyone–it increases the negative impact on the springs, increases the chance of COVID exposure, and you could end up without a spot. Try to visit on weekdays if possible, and mornings are always best.
Check for fees/permits/reservations. Every spring has its own rules and many do require fees, permits, or reservations to keep human impact to a minimum. If you plan to camp at Olympic Hot Springs, you’ll need to secure a permit from the ranger station before heading out.
Check road conditions. Wilderness springs, while amazing, can be pretty grueling to get to. Do your research ahead of time to make sure you're appropriately prepared. This specific trail requires an 11-mile bike ride and a 2.5-mile hike to the springs. It’s an adventure! Make sure you’re prepped and ready.
Pack out what you pack in. Hot springs in Washington State see a lot of visitors, and we all have our little luxuries we like during a hot soak, but all of those cans, snack wrappers, and underwear (this is more common than you think) need to accompany you back home as well. Many of these hot springs aren't regulated as well as they could be. Especially these since they’re so far out there. Therefore, what you bring in will stay there until someone else packs it out for you. Don't put that burden on them. Do your part, respect the land, treat it as if it were your own property, and keep it clean and pristine for future use.
Don't pee in the springs! Just like pools and hot tubs, peeing (or pooping, gross) in public springs is so not okay. Pools at least have chlorine and a cleaning system in place. Hot springs are as natural as can be, and any foreign substance can throw it off balance. We all know hot water loves to test our bladders, so consider peeing before getting in. (Make sure to pack out your toilet paper too!)
Leave your fur puppies at home.
Camping is allowed during the warmer months. Get your permit from a ranger station before heading out!
Leave it better than you found it!
Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic National Park
Location: 47.9761993, -123.6882494
Hours: N/A
Entrance Fees/Permits: National Park Pass
Native Lands: Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, S’Klallam
Level: Hard
Length: 21.6 miles round trip (bike + hike)
Open: Year-round
Temperature: Lukewarm to 118ºF
Smell: Decently smelly. You’ll smell like sulphur afterwards.
Toilets: Pit toilet at parking lot. Pit toilet at the dam. Pit toilet at trailhead. Outhouse at the top (but a scary one).
Best time to visit: May-Oct
Clothing: Optional
Fun fact: Did you know Olympic Hot Springs was actually a popular resort back in the day? That is, until their lease expired in 1966. It’s been primitive ever since, and even more so now that the road is closed with no plans to repair the bridge in the near future. It’s cool to see nature take back its land!
FAQ:
Can you go into the hot springs in Olympic National Park?
Yes! You can! Some are cleaner than others, but all are warm enough to get your soak on in this magical place!
How long is the hike to olympic hot springs?
It’s about 2.4 miles from the trailhead to the farthest spring, but the road to the trailhead is washed out, which requires you to bike 10 miles to the start of the trail.
Are dogs allowed in hot springs national park?
No, please leave all furry friends at home.
Camping at Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic National Park
Camping is allowed at Boulder Creek Campground, which is just a short walk from Olympic Hot Springs in Olympic National Park. Please make sure to obtain a camping permit before venturing out. This can be done at a ranger station, or online at recreation.gov. These are easy to get (100 permits are available each day, and almost never sell out). To reserve online, put “Elwha” as your starting area, enter dates and the number of people in your party, and find Boulder Creek Campground in the list.
Reservation fee: You’ll need to pay a $6 reservation fee, and then $8 per person.
Food storage: There’s a community bear wire at the campground. No need for bear cans!
Toilets: There’s a pit toilet.
Water: Bring a water filter and gather water from ABOVE the confluence of hot spring water and creek.
Campfires: To protect sensitive vegetation, campfires are prohibited at Olympic Hot Springs and the Boulder Creek Campground.
What to Pack/Wear for a Day Adventure:
Swimsuit – I layer my one-piece under my clothes to get in the pool as fast as possible.
Changing poncho. I loveeee my Nomadix microfiber changing poncho for adventures like these! They’re quick to absorb, warm, and make changing back into my clothes so easy in public!
Everywhere Towel: If you’d rather take something a little smaller and lighter than a changing poncho, check out the Rumpl Everywhere Towel!
Layers – I wore my Glyder leggings, Vuori tank top, Stio moisture-wicking quarter-zip long sleeve, Darn Tough socks, and Blundstones since it was a short trail and they slip on and off! I also brought my Stio puffy and my GTX raincoat.
Water – I like to bring along my Hydroflask insulated water bottle follows me on all my hot springs adventures. Stay hydrated, friends!
Snacks – Something fresh like an orange (pack out those peels!) tastes 10x better when enjoyed in a spring. I also bring along a cliff bar and some Skratch energy chews too!
Rumpl Everywhere Mat – I throw my clothes on top of my Everywhere Mat to keep my clothes dry while soaking.
Day Pack. I love my Shimoda!
Trash bag – For your trash and others'!
** Don't forget to pack everything out with you!
Where to Rent eBikes
If you’re a biker and own your own, get after it! That’s definitely not me, so I decided to make this trip a little easier on my body and rent an eBike from a local shop in town.
Elwha eBike Adventures is located in Elwha RV Park and Campground just off Highway 101 in Port Angeles. The staff was incredibly kind, super knowledgable, and hooked us up with some incredible Aventon eBikes.
They’re powered mountain bikes, meaning you can shift gears just like your normal mountain bike, but you also get to choose from three motor modes: Eco, Trail, and Turbo. These made this adventure as easy as can be. Yes, you still have to pedal, but the boost these bikes give you is phenomenal. Our average speed was 10 mph and that was without even a drop of sweat.
Let them know if you need a drop off–we had a pick up truck with us, so they rented us a tailgate cover so we could easily mount the bikes over the tailgate and bring them to the trailhead ourselves.
How do you get to the hot springs in olympic national park?
Make your way to the parking lot for Madison Falls (Olympic Hot Springs Rd). This is where you’ll leave your car and the adventure begins!
Once suited up (don’t forget your helmet!), head to south end of the parking lot and bike around the closed gate on Olympic Hot Springs Rd. You’ll pass horses on the left and an old national park booth on the right. Keep going until you reach the end of the road (about a mile from the parking lot). You’ll see where the bridge washed out. To the left, you’ll see the entrance to the bypass trail that takes you along the river and past beautiful moss-covered trees and fern-covered forest floors until you reconnect with the road (it’s about 0.6 miles through the forest).
From here, follow the road for about 7 miles until you reach the trailhead sign.
Don’t forget to stop at the Glines Canyon Dam! Built in 1927, it was demolished in 2014 because it blocked 90% of the watershed, salmon habitat, and the natural delivery of sediment and wood to downstream habitats. The side structures still remain and it’s cool to look out over what used to be a manmade lake and see how nature’s healing its wounds!
Once at the trailhead, park and lock your bikes (Elwha eBike Adventures gives you a bike lock, first aid kit, emergency blanket, and a toolkit in case you need to fix your bike on the go!), and hit the trail! It’s an easy 2.2-mile walk to the first hot spring on a wide, relatively flat trail.
You’ll need to cross a stream, meander around a few washouts, and walk across a bridge before a tiny bit of elevation takes you up the last leg of the trail before Boulder Creek Campground.
This is where you’ll find a pit toilet that’s been pretty neglected. I wouldn’t go in there. I didn’t go in there.
One last walking bridge to go and you’ll quickly find yourself at the very first hot spring.
Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic National Park
There are eight pools along the trail, but only a couple of them are clean enough to be comfortable, in my opinion! The last one is arguably the best, but you’ll need to climb a few switchbacks to get there (the best is always the hardest to get to, am I right?). It’s the deepest, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by Olympic National Park’s dense forest.
But honestly, my favorite pool was closer to the beginning. A cherry blossom tree happened to be blooming at the time–it felt like something straight out of a fairytale with the lush greenery, buttercups, and the flower petals falling one by one into the pool below. I had my snow white moment for sure.
There’s also a sauna cave with a little hot spring pool inside. It’s a bit creepy, but definitely check it out. It’s a little hidden. Find the pool in the image directly above this paragraph, and walk a few more steps down the trail. The sauna cave will be on your left.
Leave No Trace
Always remember to leave no trace–pack out what you pack in, leave what you find, prepare for every adventure, and respect the outdoors and each other every step of the way. Learn more about how to leave no trace here.
And if you do decide to venture out, drop a comment below or shoot me an email to tell me how it went!
Happy adventuring!
