Washington, the “Evergreen State”, is well-deserving of its nick-name, and yet it has far fewer mineral pools than its neighbors Idaho and Oregon. That said, it can still offer dedicated hot spring enthusiasts brilliant soaking experiences in lush, secluded forest, with no payment but some dedicated leg work and planning. Check out our five best natural (and FREE!) finds for Washington State, and go get yourself a natural, mineral-infused escape from the urban grind.
Olympic Hot Springs
The Olympic National Park forest near Port Angeles in Washington boasts the beautifully secluded Olympic Hot Springs, reachable with a 9-mile trek and a not-for-the-faint-hearted 3000+ foot elevation gain. Start at the Madison Falls Trailhead and follow the trail along the tops of ridges with a view, across bridges and gushing waterways, to and past the stunning Madison Falls.
What To Expect
The seven sulfur pools of Olympic Hot Springs are open from May to October. The temperature at the source is a very warm 118°F, while the further you get from the source, the cooler the water is. There are both shallow and deeper 3-person pools to choose from among the seven, though naturally most visitors head straight for the deeper mineral soaking options.
Don’t Miss…
- Madison Falls
- The former dam at Glines Canyon
Good To Know
The Olympic Hot Springs are 100% natural and are neither maintained nor tested for bacteria. Keep your soak “shin to chin” – don’t dunk your head in the water. See more about the risks in this informative article.
Arrive early or aim to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Camp at the Boulder Creek Campground 0.5 miles away.
Address: Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Washington, 98363
The hot springs are free to visit but the parking and national park pass are not. But, hey, someone has to look after our nature, and it’s a small contribution to make towards that. Expect to pay $30/car, $25/motorcycle, or $25/pedestrian/biker. Find out more about getting an annual park pass.
Clothing optional.
Sulphur Creek Hot Springs
Sulphur Creek Hot Springs (also known as Sulphur Warm Springs) near Darrington is a great spot for those looking for a cute destination point to hike to for an adventure. The two-mile trail, though little maintained, offers breathtaking scenery with birds to watch out for and clean air to breathe in as you leave behind your worries.
What To Expect
Follow the level trail to Sulphur Creek Hot Springs through a lush, ancient forest and across a log bridge over a river. You’ll likely find the trail overgrown, so take a stick to clear the spiderwebs and wear long pants and sturdy boots for any scrambling you might have to do over fallen branches.
The warm 90°F sulfur spring fits two adults comfortably. In fact, sulfates are the principal mineral here, and you’ll be wearing that scent home with you, but don’t be put off by it, because sulfates promote healthy skin, hair, and nails!
Don’t Miss…
Good To Know
If the pool is empty when you get there, use the broom to sweep the bottom clear of any leaves and open the faucet to let in the mineral water. It will take some 20 minutes to fill.
Best time to visit: March – November
Address: NF-26, Darrington, Washington 98241
Clothing optional.
(Mt) Baker Hot Springs
(Mt) Baker Hot Springs may not be the most attractive hot spring pool – though in the past it did have more infrastructure around it – yet it offers a worthy and popular therapeutic soak right in the depths of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest of Washington.
What To Expect
Baker Hot Springs is a 15-person, three-feet deep, dirt-and-gravel bottomed sulfur mineral pool fed by a whopping five different volcanic sources. The temperature varies depending how close you are to a bubbling source and the season of the year, but it averages around 101°F. There is also a small pool next to the main one, but it’s so shallow, few visitors use it.
The nearest town is “Concrete,” and from there it’s a bumpy drive along an unmaintained forest road, followed by a 1.5-mile hike on a well-marked dirt trail. Be warned – there are a lot of tree roots on this trail and in wet weather it can get muddy and slippery!
Don’t Miss…
- Rainbow Falls Viewpoint
- Exploring the surrounding Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- A hike to the stunning Table Mountain.
Good To Know
Baker Hot Springs is popular, so if you want to avoid the crowds, stick to weekdays and early mornings.
In the right light, Baker Hot Springs glows a brilliant turquoise or light blue.
The four-mile dirt road to the trailhead is best driven by 4x4s and is totally inaccessible to cars in snow – if you want to soak, you’ll have to walk!
Volcanic ash sometimes builds up and blocks the bubbling vents of the hot springs. Just dig down and shift the dirt and gravel a little to get that flow going again.
Clothing optional.
Gamma Hot Springs
Gamma Hot Springs holds mythical status, being notoriously hard to find. This secluded hot mineral pool on the steep slopes of Gamma Mountain is a goal worth setting yourself for the experience of getting back to total nature!
What To Expect
Gamma Hot Springs is around 11 miles from Suiattle River Road on the Suiattle River Trail, but is an obstacle course of overgrown trees, washed-away paths, blow-downs, ridges and river banks before you get there. The Traxplorio team has scoured all the sources it can find to describe Gamma Hot Springs and how to get there, so be sure to check out that page before making your own heroic attempt.
The Gamma Hot Springs pool clocks in at 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 a serious challenge to find and get to. Only try it if you are fit, experienced, and are ready to carry in all the necessities with you for a few nights camping. Be well prepared, take your time, and enjoy the wilderness.
Clothing optional.
Wind River Hot Springs
This lovely little soak in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is not popular, largely due to the limited time the pools are exposed by low river water (just three months a year) and the difficulties you may face parking and accessing them (see below). But the Wind River Hot Springs makes our list anyway – it is free and it is hot!
What To Expect
Just outside the town of Carson, near Oregon, Wind River Hot Springs is a selection of four-to five-person hot mineral pools on the banks of Wind River, in the depths of a forested valley.
One of the two bedrock pools has mineral water heavy in silica (great for soft skin!) bubbling up from the bottom at around 105°F, while the other is a little cooler at around 102°F. If you get too hot, take a refreshingly cold but careful break in the river.
You can reach the hot springs by swimming the fast-flowing river after a 0.5 mile walk, or by walking upstream. Scroll down for more details.
Don’t Miss…
- Fishing and horseback riding in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Falls Creek Falls
Good To Know
The best time to visit so you can cross the river is late July to mid September.
The property behind the hot spring pools 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 nearby, while crossing the nearby bridge may get you a DNR citation. If you really, really want this soak, we advise confident swimmers to brave the river, and everyone else to walk up-stream from a free parking spot on Indian Cabin Road – be careful not to cross the high water line, though, as that will make you a trespasser 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!
