When you think Washington, you probably think ocean beaches, glacier-capped peaks, sleeping volcanoes and lush rainforests. What you might not think of are hot springs. And while the Evergreen State has far fewer mineral pools than its neighbors to the east and south, it still has worthy offerings for those seeking adventure, relaxation, a balm for aching muscles, and an escape from the world into the depths of nature.
The Traxplorio team has come together to compile a list of 11 of Washington’s best – from established resorts with everything you need for a civilized but therapeutic weekend away, to those seeking a challenge, a hike, and (or) a simple, au natural dip into nature’s best hot tubs. Read on…
1. Doe Bay Resort And Retreat
Dip yourself into some luxurious mineral soaks-with-a-view at the stunning Doe Bay Resort and Retreat on the southeast corner of Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands.
What To Expect
The Doe Bay Spa has three small side-by-side waterfront soaking tubs set over a waterfall in a one-acre organic garden, a dry sauna, and outdoor showers. There is no day use “drop-in” option here – the pools are only available to overnight guests, and only during working hours.
The resort offers yoga and massages, and the chance to make full use of the nearby water with a guided kayak trip. Round off a fantastic day with a delicious dinner in the waterfront cafe, and get ready for an early morning start on your hike in nearby Moran State Park.
Don’t Miss…
Their onsite cafe, serving tasty dishes created using ingredients from their onsite garden.
Live music night – grab yourself a cocktail (or two) to celebrate escaping the hustle and bustle of home!
Book ahead for your magical and rejuvenating escape to Doe Bay Resort. Choose from a large or medium cabin (our favorite is Little Cabin for its views), yurt, or a spot on their waterfront campground.
Good To Know
Address: 107 Doe Bay Road, Olga, Washington
Website: doebay.com
Clothing optional.
2. Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort
Another perfect escape from the stress of urban life in Washington state is Carson Hot Springs Resort in the Columbia River Valley, a place that has changed little over the past century, making it a rustic retreat ideal for couples and friends.
What To Expect
The bathhouse at Carson Hot Springs is adults-only, offering large communal pools (men and women in separate pools, as per the tradition when the bathhouse first opened in the 1920s), and a room with rows of claw-foot iron bath tubs divided by curtains for those seeking some privacy. Bathing sessions are charged by the hour and typically involve a 25-minute soak followed by a soothing 25-minute linen wrap. Highly recommended! There is also a large swimming pool with mixed mineral-chlorine water for free use by overnight guests, while day visitors need to pay. The new hotel has a hot mineral tub on every balcony, while the old hotel is simpler in style and has no tubs.
Don’t Miss…
- The on-site 18-hole Elk Ridge Golf Course.
- The surrounding nature to hike, bike and photograph! Head into the Columbia River Gorge, said to have first been inhabited 12,800 years ago.
Good To Know
Clothing required in the pool, optional in the private tubs.
Address: Hot Springs Avenue, Carson, WA
Website: carsonhotspringswashington.com
3. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Less than three hours from Seattle, the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in Olympic National Park is both easy to access and surrounded by spectacular scenery to explore.
What To Expect
Great for the whole family, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort offers three cement mineral pools to soak in and one large freshwater pool for those wanting to swim, with plenty of surface and seating areas in between to sun yourself or take a break to rehydrate. The resort is surrounded by towering evergreens and sits on the Sol Duc River, providing an escape enhanced by the lack of Wi-Fi or cell phone service.
The hot spring sulfur pools peak at 104°F and get cooler from there (the swimming pool being the coolest). You can opt for a day-visit using a Day Pass, or stay overnight in a basic, rustic cabin, and get unlimited pool access. Alternatively, you can camp at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Campground (or any of the 92 other campgrounds in the Olympic National Park).
Don’t Miss…
- The onsite Lodge’s Spring Restaurant with its all-day menu of healthy and delicious “farm to fork” dishes (March – October).
- An easy walk through the ancient forest to Sol Duc Falls (and further if you have the energy – to Seven Lakes Basin).
- A day-trip to Cape Flattery or Shi Shi beach.
Good To Know
You have to pay the national park entrance fee in order to get to the hot springs resort.
At the time of writing, we’re hearing the resort is extremely popular yet is understaffed and so not always able to handle the number of visitors coming for a soak. Aim to avoid public holidays and weekends if you don’t like waiting in line or the noise of a crowded pool.
Address: Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Hot Springs Road, Port Angeles, Washington
Website: fb.com/solduchotsprings
Clothing required.
4. Soap Lake Natural Spa And Resort
For a soak in something legendary, head to Soap Lake, one of only two like it in the world, its waters boasting the most diverse mineral content of any body of water on Earth.
What To Expect
Once lauded as a sacred place by Native American tribes for its healing properties, the lake water contains a high concentration of minerals, including sulfate, carbonate, and bicarbonate, alongside various salts, which give it a soapy consistency. Some compare it to the Dead Sea for its buoyancy. The minerals in Soap Lake are said to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, cirrhosis, and poor circulation.
Enjoy this year-round mineral goodness in the comfort of your own simple room, each of which has its own mineral tub, in a rustic-style lodge. 8 of their 45 guest rooms boast kitchens, perfect for a full family or group retreat. There is also a restaurant and banquet room on site, a number of private cabins, and two saunas.
Don’t Miss…
- A mud bath.
- A ride on the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway, an amazing 150-mile road trip revealing the story of the Ice Age floods.
- The Grand Coulee Dam, as high as a 46-story building, built in the 1930s.
- The fossilized remains of a rhinoceros near Blue Lake.
- Boating and fishing at Banks Lake.
Good To Know
Check out the Soap Lake mineral content here (scroll to the bottom of their page)
Address: 236 Main Ave E, Soap Lake, WA 98851,
Website: soaplake.com
Clothing optional in private tubs, required in public areas.
5. Goldmyer Hot Springs
A lot of the springs in Washington are sulfur-based, so the secluded Goldmyer Hot Springs, 25 miles east of North Bend, in a 20-acre wilderness reserve, is somewhat refreshing for its lower sulfur content.
What To Expect
The three man-made 104°F-plus rock pools (and one cold pool) need some legwork to get to, but it’s worth it. Take plenty of water and as much time as you need on the 4.5-mile hike through the Snoqualmie region, on a trail boasting forested shade and bridges crossing the beautiful Pratt River at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
The water contains sodium, chloride, silica, bicarbonate, sulfate, potassium, and calcium, which is great for your skin, and has only a very mild sulfur smell.
Admission (Wednesdays – Mondays)
| Children under 18 | FREE |
| Adults 18-64 | $30* |
| Seniors 65+ | $25* |
On site, aside from the shallow pools, are simple toilets, some picnic tables and a nice open-air cabana.
Don’t Miss
- Goldmyer Hot Springs is surrounded by ancient forests containing trees over 900 years old.
- Upper Middle Fork River Valley is worth exploring.
- Flying Squirrels and owls at night!
Good To Know
There is no cell service or internet availability – so leave your work and worries behind!
So as to keep visitor numbers down (to 20 guests max at a time), and to protect the surrounding nature, the privately-owned property asks you to reserve your spot, with visitors selected through a monthly lottery system. You can go to their website and fill out an application here.
In winter, you’ll need snowshoes to get there.
There is no drinking water on site. Bring your own and/or a water filter.
Address: Follow the directions and advice here.
Website: goldmyer.org
Clothing optional.
6. Olympic Hot Springs
Located near Port Angeles, Washington, the beautifully secluded and challenging-to-get-to Olympic Hot Springs, within Olympic National Park, can be reached via a 9-mile hike through a refreshing alpine forest from the Madison Falls Trailhead. Expect an elevation change of 3,100 feet as you follow the ridges, cross bridges and are rewarded with a perfect view of the Madison Falls below.
What To Expect
Open from May to October, this strongly scented sulfur hot spring flows into seven pools, starting at a steaming 118°F. The first few pools you’ll encounter on the trail are shallow and cooler, while the deeper and busier pools turn up the heat and are the most popular with visitors. Each pool fits up to 3 people.
Don’t Miss…
- The short hike to Madison Creek Falls.
- The former dam at Glines Canyon.
Good To Know
The pools are in a wilderness area, are not tested or treated, and may contain bacteria. Keep your soak “shin to chin” – don’t dunk your head in the water.
Plan on arriving early or going on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
Camping is available at the Boulder Creek Campground half a mile away.
Address: Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Washington, 98363
Admission: $30/car, $25/motorcycle, or $25/pedestrian/biker. Or get an annual park pass.
Clothing optional.
7. (Mt) Baker Hot Springs
While not Washington’s most beautiful mineral soak, the dirt- and gravel-bottomed Baker Hot Springs offers a therapeutic, turquoise pool of warmth in the stunning Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest of Washington, a worthy reward for the rocky drive and muddy hike in.
What To Expect
Baker Hot Springs is a single 15-person, 2-3 foot deep sulfur water pool fed by five different volcanic sources. The temperature varies depending how close you are to a bubbling source and the season of the year, but averages around 101°F.
Getting there from the nearest town of “Concrete” is a bumpy drive along an unmaintained forest road and a 1.5-mile hike on a root-strewn but well-marked dirt trail. It is popular, so expect it to be crowded on weekends and holidays from mid-morning onward.
Don’t Miss…
- Rainbow Falls Viewpoint
- Exploring the surrounding Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- A hike to the stunning Table Mountain.
Good To Know
Catch it in the right light, and Baker Hot Springs is a brilliant turquoise or light blue color.
There’s a four-mile dirt road to the trailhead best attempted by 4x4s and not accessible in snow unless you walk.
Volcanic ash sometimes clogs the bubbling vents of the hot springs, and you might need to dig down to clear them.
Clothing optional.
8. Scenic Hot Springs
Imagine soaking up hot spring minerals suspended over a pine forest, with lush (or snow-capped) mountain peaks in the distance, seemingly at eye-level. Imagine the splendor; the serenity. Now go do it!
What To Expect
Just 1.5 hours outside Seattle, in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, Scenic Hot Springs offers three plastic hot springs tubs on 40 acres of private property, fed by two different sources. The “Lobster Pot” is the hottest tub, being closest to the source, at up to 118°F, while the tub fed by the second source is around 110°F. From our experience, the tub to grab in summer is the middle one, while you’ll want the hottest in winter! The three tubs are surrounded by a simple and rickety-looking wooden deck, and beyond that, tall Ponderosa Pines and the Cascade Mountains just visible through the evergreen branches.
It is around a two-mile hike through the forest each way, uphill (1,100 feet of elevation gain), and during the winter you will need to bring snowshoes.
Visitors must ask for permission to soak there and pay a fee to visit (see below).
Don’t Miss…
- The Alpine Lakes Wilderness – a 400,000-acre forest packed full of untouched nature, and a wildlife community that includes elk, deer, mountain goats and black bears. People go there to hike, horseback ride and rock-climb.
Good To Know
In the interest of nature conservation, and in order to get building permits for the decking around the tubs, in 2001, the landowner closed access to Scenic Hot Springs for a time. Now it is open by invitation only. See the fees, calendar, and make a reservation here.
Address: Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, Washington (the exact address will be given by the property owner when you reserve your spot).
Website: scenichotsprings.blogspot.com
Clothing optional.
9. Gamma Hot Springs
Gamma Hot Springs is a deliciously secluded hot mineral pool on the steep slopes of Gamma Mountain, one that you will find a challenge to get to. But it is a challenge worth setting yourself for the experience of getting back to total nature!
What To Expect
Hike the 11 miles in from Suiattle River Road on the Suiattle River Trail, but expect to confront trees, washed-away paths, blow-downs, ridges and river banks before you get there.
The pool is around 140°F, but can be cooled down by adjusting the rocks to let more or less of the cold creek water flow in.
Don’t Miss…
Good To Know
Gamma Hot Springs is notoriously hard to get to. You need to be fit, a lover of climbing, and have a background in cross-country trail-finding to find this hot springs destination rewarding. Be well prepared, take your time, aim to camp for a few days, and enjoy the wilderness.
Clothing optional.
10. Sulphur Creek Hot Springs
The hike to Sulphur Creek Hot Springs (also called Sulphur Warm Springs) near Darrington is the perfect adventure or romantic getaway, on a fun trail offering breathtaking scenery and a guaranteed memorable experience – in fact, the hike is why you’re there, and the hot springs soak you get at the end of it is just a bonus.
What To Expect
The nearly two-mile, reasonably flat trail to Sulphur Creek Hot Springs, which passes below ancient trees and over a river in a lush forest, is often overgrown and uncleared, so take a stick for the cobwebs and wear long pants and sturdy boots. After the log bridge, the stone steps will lead you to the pool.
The warm 90°F spring fits two adults comfortably and exudes a strong smell of sulfur which you will carry home with you. Sulfates are essential for maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails, though, so don’t be put off by the smell!
Don’t Miss…
Good To Know
When you get there, if you find the pool empty, use the provided broom to brush off the bottom and open the pipe to let in the mineral water. It’ll take around 20 minutes to fill up.
Best visited March – November
Address: NF-26, Darrington, Washington 98241
Clothing optional.
11. Wind River Hot Springs
You’re practically guaranteed a solo and secluded soak at the Wind River Hot Springs, nestled as they are in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, largely due to the limited time they are exposed by low river water (just three months a year) and the difficulties you may face parking and accessing them (see below).
What To Expect
Just north of the Oregon-Washington border, outside the town of Carson, Wind River Hot Springs offers two primitive 4-person hot pools on the banks of the Wind River, surrounded by an oasis of flora in a forested valley.
One of the bedrock pools boasts mineral water bubbling up from the bottom at around 105°F, while the other is slightly cooler at around 102°F, with minerals that promise silky smooth skin. If you get too hot, feel free to pop into the river to cool off. The hot springs are reachable via a 0.5 mile hike that will have you crossing the river – so be ready to get wet even before your soak!
Don’t Miss…
- Fishing, hunting, and horseback riding in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Falls Creek Falls
Good To Know
Best visited late July to mid September, when the river level is low enough to cross.
Locals like to fish here but the pools are not often used.
The property adjacent to the hot springs is privately owned, though the pools themselves are on public land, being below the waterline. The owners of that property will have your car towed if you park there, and crossing the nearby bridge may well land you a DNR citation. As such, if you really, really want this soak, you’ll have to swim the fast-flowing river or walk up-stream from a free parking spot on Indian Cabin Road, being careful not to cross the high water line (which will mean you’re trespassing on private property).
Address: Carson, Washington 98610, adjacent to the Wind River
Clothing optional but advised.
Disclaimer
While we at Traxplorio do our very best to give you the latest information about these hot springs sites, life happens, weather happens, and property owners happen. We always recommend you go to the official hot springs’ web page and/or the relevant state authority page to check conditions, times, and prices (where relevant) before you head out. Thanks for understanding, and enjoy your soak!
