Olympic Hot Springs
Port Angeles, Washington
Details
Distance
21.52 miles
Elevation Gain
3556 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Matt Williams
Enjoy a hike through the old growth forests of Olympic National Park and soak in one of 22 natural hot springs. Take advantage of the local clothing optional tradition and go au naturel in one of the many pools secluded from the trail - if you want.
A local favorite, this moderate day hike winds its way uphill from the Appleton Pass trailhead through old growth stands of fir, hemlock and cedar for 2.2 miles to a cluster of hot springs interspersed among the trees. Note: This route is now closed due to a washed out road. The current route is via the Madison Falls Trailhead.
Located in the Olympic National Park, the trailhead lies at the end of Olympic Hot Springs Road, several miles above the old Glines Canyon Dam (now removed).
The hike itself consists mostly of a long abandoned road that has since converted into a broad trail. The old asphalt has been removed and replaced with shredded wood to encourage plant growth, making for a smooth and pleasant path.
As you near the hot springs, the old roadway gives way to narrower trail. Here you will cross a newly-built suspension bridge at Crystal Creek. At the top of the slope after the bridge, you'll enter a flat meadow (once a parking lot). Bear right at the fork and follow your nose to the hot springs. Keep an eye out on both sides of the trail, as some of the best pools are tucked away among the trees.
Camping is also available at Boulder Creek Campground adjacent to the hot springs.
Note that the NPS does not monitor the water quality of the hot springs.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Olympic Hot Springs Reviews
We were so happy to find the road open to the hot springs! The hike up is beautiful and on a Sunday morning there were only a couple people there. Make sure to check out the hot springs farther up the trail for a more private option.
5.0
With the road closed it makes for a tidy 21mi round trip hike, possible to do it in a day (we did). That being said, the road was 95% clear of snow two days ago when we did it and the trail itself was snowy but not bad! I would suggest bringing a good pair of road-running shoes for the hike/jog up and the jog back down on the road, if it's going to be closed! There were a few trees down and a spot that looked like it might slide soon, so I could understand why it was closed. Hot springs were lovely!! Very sulfur-y, as to be expected, but perfectly hot and amazing to soak in for a bit before heading back down! They're all a bit spaced and hidden around once you cross the log bridge (hang a left and stay left [towards the little outhouse with the crescent moon on it] once you cross the suspension bridge), we found the bigger one near the river only on our way out. I felt bad for dragging my not-as-outdoorsy/not-long-distance-running friend with me. She was in pain by the end, but I didn't have to carry her so I was proud!
4.0
June 2016 - the road is still closed to cars but open to bikes. We rented bikes in Port Angeles and cycled up, it's 10miles and 1,500 ft elevation gain so a bit of a grind before you even start the walking to the springs! We had the springs to ourselves and enjoyed a good soak before freewheeling all the way back down.
5.0
As of today 12/28/2015 the road is washed out and the gates are closed about 10 miles from the hot springs.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Madison Falls
West Elwha River Trail
Swim in the Elwha River
Wolf Creek Trail
Humes Ranch and Goblin Gates
Hurricane Hill
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy