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Olympic Hot Springs is located in the Olympic National Park west of Seattle. The park no longer includes the hot springs in its "visitors map". Apparently in the hopes of reducing the number of Textiles who might be shocked by the casual CO use of the hot springs. There are six pools which get cleaner and hotter as you go to the top.
DIRECTIONS: Go west from Seattle to the Olympic Penisula via ferry or by driving south through Tacoma and then north along Route 101 to Port Angeles. Continue on west about 8 miles and turn south through the Elwha River Valley into the mountains. At the ranger station, take the right fork up Boulder Creek Road to the end of the road. Park there and take an easy 2 and 1/2 mile hike up to the springs.
SITE REVIEWS:
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000
From: Tom Kintner (tkintner@olypen.com)
It seems that you might need an update on the current conditions at OHS: The slide mentioned in ealier posts has been removed, and the road is now open to the trail head. It is also true that the ONP folks are no longer promoting the OHS as a destination, yet they will answer questions at the gate on the Elwha river as to the accessibility. The Flower Power gent who weekly provides fresh flowers on Sunday continues to provide the flowers for the last, hottest and best pool. The hike and exercise are well worth the cardiovascular workout, and, like the "last pool decorator," will keep you young although the rumor is that "Mr. Flowers" is over 80 years young! One of these days we will meet at the place of the heart, the last pool.
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999
From: [Author's Name Withheld]
"Eric Langdon"
Subject: road block
Date: Sat, 22 May 1999
From: Amy Swim (bswim@earthlink.net)
My wife and I recently returned from an attempt to go to Olympic Hot Springs. The road is now blocked off due to a slide at the lake reservoir now. The sign on the gate said It's another 7 miles to the turn off. So about 9.5 miles to the Springs now. We didn't get to far . About a 1/4 mile past the gate we ran into a black bear stalking 4 deer right along the road. So we carefully and slowly backed back down the trail.
Brett
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999
From: [Author's name Withheld]
Hi Mooncrow...
A few comments on nudity at the Olympic Hot Springs. I've been going there forover 15 years now and have thoroughly enjoyed each visit.
It's a mix of textile and nude. Some days more of one group or visa versa. Never had any problems being nude. Many people now even stroll nude between the various springs. In the large meadow before the springs people often lay out nude and sunbath or picnic.
Lately I've taken to actually hiking (or biking) in in the nude. I've passed several people at times and have rarely come across anything that could be considered negative. Mostly smiles and nice brief comments. Seen a few (very few) topless hikers, but no other nude hikers. Hopefully more in the future. As far as rangers are concerned, I've only seen a few, and have never been hassled, though I've never come across them while nude either. Apparently they're not too concerned so long as you are simply nude and they don't receive a complaint. The small sign at the trail head mentions that nudity is common at the hot springs. If I think I'm going to hike or bike in nude I put my own sign up there too. It doesn't warn those hiking down, but at least it's there for when I return.
It's a beautiful spot and I hope more people create a nudist friendly environment at the springs.
By the way, the trail is actually a decaying paved road. You used to be able to drive in right to the springs. While not great for road bikes, mountain bikes do great. Bike Nude!
Thanks for the wonderful site!
(Please keep my name and address anonymous.)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998
From: Kpacnuu@webtv.net (Samuel L. Crapps)
Merry Christmast to you! Here is some new on the Olympic Hot Springs to share:
12-22-98
The access road to the Olympic Hot Springs is closed at Lake Mills. I spoke
with a ranger who could not give me a date on when it will be open again due to
snow conditions. It's best to call the Elwha Ranger station for info before you
plan this trip. When the access road is closed at Lake Mills its a 10 mile hike
to the springs.
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 1997
From: Nick & Lori Sampson (lorinick@erols.com)
My husband, my 1-year old & I hiked up to Olympic Hot Springs Sat 10/25/97. The weather was perfect for hiking. We stayed the night before in a great B&B only about 15 minutes away: The Elwha Ranch B&B. The innkeeper is very familiar with OHS. Their custom-built house has a great view of one of the Olympic Mountains. Another place to stay nearby is Lake Crescent Lodge (part of the NPS), but I bet it fills early in season, so call early! The road that goes thru O.N.P. directly to the trailhead is called Olympic Hot Springs Road and it's exactly 10 miles from Rte 101 to the trailhead. The good news is that off-season, the entrance gate is not usually manned, so you don;t have to pay the $10 car entrance fee. The closest places to eat are a convenience/ supply store back on Rte 101 and a good & cheap local place called Granny's, on Rte 101 heading towards Lake Crescent (open till 9pm). There is also a restaurant at the Lake Crescent Lodge, but only April-Oct.
The 2.4 mile hike up took 50-55 min. There were about 5 other cars parked at the trailhead, and we only encountered 3-4 people on the way (coming back down) The old roadbed is luckily wide & flat in most places, and swept away by rains or snow in about 3 places. If not for those places, you could easily wheel a stroller or bike the whole way. There is now a port-a-john at the trailhead.
We only found 3 of the 6 pools (3 must be hidden away pretty well). I chose the one overlooking & closest to the river so as not to be too hot for Baby. The smell of sulfur was pretty strong. It was noon & nobody else was soaking! Our pool was up to 2 & 1/2 feet deep & I guess about 10 feet across. The rocks in the bottom were slippery due to moss & algae...
Note: the nearest campground is on top of a steep bank directly overlooking the springs. They get a clear view of everything, just so you know.
The hike back down only takes about 40-45 minutes. We encountered about 25 people heading up, so we're glad we missed rush hour! At the trailhead, I counted about 20 cars. The road to the trailhead is not closed due to snow until AFTER Halloween. I was relieved, not wanting to take the extra 1.75 mile hike to the trailhead due to the road being closed!
Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997
From: Bob in MD (rames@bellatlantic.net)
Hi all!
I returned Friday from Seattle - such a beautiful city! - from Maryland. It's quite a haul. I'm still trying to recover from jet lag.
After looking through all the naturist options in Washington State I decided on hot springs - for two reasons. They (hot springs) are not on the east coast (as far as I know), and I enjoy the State Park type setting.
I rented a car and took the ferry from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island. The ferry ride was great! After a few other roads I ended up on 101 west to Olympic National Park. I followed the directions I got off of Mooncrow's home page, http://www.cheef.com/mooncrow/wa-olym.htm through to Port Angeles. While it was raining in Seattle, through the mountains I started to see some clearing skies.
The directions said to turn south through the Elwha River Valley into the mountains. I went past Port Angeles for about 8 miles, found the enterance to Elwha River, and turned. The signs don't help you much from here on.
After driving for what seemed to be a good bit of time, I came upon the ranger station on the left. It was deserted. There was parking in front, and what appeared to be a service area on the other side of the road.
The directions say to take the right fork up Boulder Creek Road at the ranger station. You actually have to go on a ways beyond the ranger station to reach the fork, and when you do the road is not marked.
Don't take the right over the bridge - I don't know where it goes, but it is the wrong way.
I took the road which indicated that it would end within 5 miles. It does go past Lake Mills. At Lake Mills the road winds around upon itself. Stop and look! It's beautiful!
Continue until the road ends. There will be boulders blocking you from going forward, although paving continues for several miles. Here you will see a sign indicating 2.4 miles to the hot springs. Before we reached the sign there was another car coming down that I flagged. When I asked them if I was heading the right direction for the hot springs they said I had to go further up 101. Wrong.
Turns out that on the map there is another hot springs area in Olympic National Park - Sol Duc Hot Springs - but this is not where you want to go. As the story goes, too many textiles were hiking to the Elwha hot springs and being shocked by the CO usage, so the park took it off their map. (It's true, the map didn't show it!)
The 2.4 mile walk was up hill, but gradual. Very pleasant. Absolutley beautiful cypress trees - the bigest I have ever seen. And the low-lying clouds - you could see the mountains above them - just gourgeous! I kept asking people as I walked by if I was heading the right direction for the hot springs. One couple of late teen girls giggled and said yes. They were followed closely behind by an older couple - I assume their parents.
Don't get off the paved road - you're heading the right direction. There are parts where the road was washed out and you had to cross using boulders in the stream.
You will get to a place where there is a sign indicating a trail straight ahead, and a foot bridge to the left. Take the foot bridge. A little walk over the bridge you will come to the first spring.
Using Mooncrow's page as a guide, I knew that the last spring was the best, so I kept on walking.
The first spring was occupied by two late-teen early 20's men, both nude. I had found the right place!
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th springs were deserted. The 5th (actually a double, so some call it 5th and 6th) had a couple, fully clothed, testing out the water with their feet. I asked them if there was a 6th and they said yes, but someone was in it.
I was undaunted. I continued to the 6th and found an elderly man in the spring alone. Naked, of course. I asked if I could join him - "no problem, come on in!"
I took off my clothes and stepped in (can't jump, it's not that deep). Sitting, the water was up to my nipples. Truly delightful! Probably about 110 degrees.
The gentleman told me he was 85 years old, had been coming to the spring for a number of years. His wife had come at least once, but didn't enjoy it. He rode his bike up the 2.4 miles to the spring from the rocks.
Said when he arrived there was another couple in the spring in bathing suits. Explained that he didn't have one, and did they mind?
We had a wonderful visit. After about 30 minutes the two younger men from the 1st spring arrived and joined us. Now it was the 4 of us, all nude, enjoying the hot water.
10 miniutes later the couple from the next spring joined us (also late teens to early 20's). They stripped and got in.
The spring itself had a cold water spring next to it with a plywood board that could be moved to direct cold water into the pool if it got too hot. It wasn't too hot, so we basked in the hot water of the sulphur spring exclusively!
About 6:30 pm it started getting dark (dusk at 7pm) so most of us left. I gave the couple (M/F) a ride for about 1 hour back towards Seattle before they took a diferent course (they were camping for the past week at a campground near the spa - don't know anyting about it, but it is walking distance. Rather primitive - no water or electricity.)
It was tremendous! If you get the chance, do it.
On my walk back I tested all of the springs. The last was the best, but the 1st was hotter when I was there. Continuous bubbles coming up from the bottom. Too hot to sit on. Trouble was, the spring wasn't that deep (about 1 foot).
I was the only one there who didn't know of the place via word of mouth. Told them I got it off the internet. "So cool!"
Just proves that if you don't know any locals, the best place is the web.
MDbob
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997
From: DDBLAIR@webtv.net
Hello Mooncrow!
A friend and I visited Olympic the weekend of Father's Day (June 14th and 15th) and wanted to share an update. The weather was beautiful. The hike was only about 2.4 mi as ALL the snow was melted and you could park at the trailhead. This was wonderful news to me as I went last December and it was over 1.75 mi of hiking just to get to the trailhead and then another 2.4 mi to get the springs. That was not a nice surprise (not to say it wasn't worth it then too however!). At any rate, the springs were still hot as ever, and the people as friendy as ever. When we got there at about 7 in the evening, there were 8 people in the last pool but they were just leaving as we got in. We camped there that night and didn't even require a tent. Just threw some sleeping bags out under the stars. I had a wonderful time. The only thing missing was the snow to roll around in and then jump in the hot water! Oh well, I guess you can't have it all! Thanks for your page--it is the best! Keep up the good work!
From: samonrosehill@webtv.net (Samuel L Crapps)
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997
Greetings. I thought you had shut down your page as my old link was now dead. I'm very happy to see your site is as informative as ever. I have some updated info on both Olympic and Scenic Hot Springs which should be of interest to all the fellow soakers out there.
The road from Lake Mills to the parking area is now closed due to a slide and is gated at Lake Mills. The road is open to hikers and mountain bikers, but it is now 10+ miles from Lake Mills to the springs. This information came directly from the Headquaters Ranger Station in Olympia and saved me a long wasted trip to the Olympic National Forest.
From: samonrosehill@webtv.net (Samuel L Crapps)
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996
On 12-7-96 my companion & I visited the Olympic Hot Springs and had a wonderful time. However, first let me share some updated directions and conditions.
From Port Angeles continue west on Hwy 101 for eight miles to the Elhwa River Valley turnoff. Follow this road into the park to the ranger station. A short way past the ranger station you'll come to a fork in the road. At this point continue on the right fork to Lake Mills. At Lake Mills you'll come to a second fork, continue right again upward into the mountains. The road is now closed exactly 1.75 miles from the trailhead so you will now park at a viewpoint looking back on Lake Mills.
The first 1.75 mile hike on the road while not bad in itself will eventually become snow covered by the time you reach the trailhead. The final 2.4 miles along the actual trail is one of the most beautiful winter hikes you'll ever encounter. The forest is completly snow covered, and the silence is only broken by waterfalls of various sizes that you will encounter along the way. However, a word of caution here. The trail itself while not difficult is completly snow covered and will become almost knee deep. There was narrow trench in the snow make by other hikers ahead of us that made it a little easier. However, good snow boots, snowshoes, or cross country skis should all be seriously considered if you attempt this hike. It's slow going and will not be the cakewalk you'll expect in the summer months.
Upon arrival at the actual campground cross a wooden bridge over a stream and follow the trail to the springs. All six springs are easy to find as the water runoff has melted the snow all the way down to the trail.
Spring #1 was occupied by three hikers, one of which had come in on cross country skis. This rock pool was about 90-95 degrees, while not deep it is nice for about six people to enjoy. Springs #2-4 are not clean or deep and should be passed up. Spring #5 is large enough for about 12 people is about 98-100 degrees, and deep enough to immerse your entire body.
However, Spring #6 by itself is worth the entire aforementioned hike. This gem of the forest is higher up from the trail than any of the previous five and is the hottest spring you'll encounter in this area. It was occupied by a lone hiker who passed us earlier on the trail.
Spring #6 is a glorious 115-120 degrees! It is the deepest of the springs and is large enough for six people to immerse themselves and streach out. The three of us had this spring to ourselves for the entire day, and it was just wonderful. From this spring you can either lie back and look at the forest as it rises above you, or you can turn and enjoy a spectacular view streaching out for miles ahead of you.
The area sports excellect campgronds for an extended stay at the springs, or as a base camp for exploration of other parts of the forest. The present conditions will keep out all but the most serious and prepared enthuasists.
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 1996
From: MAX (bowser@gte.net)
I would like to thank you for posting the directions to the hot springs on the internet. I went up to Olympic hot springs yesterday. It was great. I camped about 20 miles away and drove to the trail head. The hike in was easy, but covered with snow and ice. I was the only one in the last hot spring for about an hour when a small group and a couple decided to join me. It was snowing very hard and I thought I should drive down because the road out is so steep I didn't want conditions to get worse and the road to ice over.
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996
From: George Sadler (gsadler@ix.netcom.com)
8/2/96 - I visited the Olympic Hot Springs last weekend and had a wonderful time. I will write about that in a minute, but first, directions.
I have a good sense of direction and I follow landmarks very well but the directions I had seen on the web were less than perfect for this site, so here goes.
Take the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton.
>From Bremmerton go west toward the Olympic National Park and Hwy 101 (this is the shortest way I found).
At 101 go North to Port Angeles at the north point of the peninsula.
About 7 miles past Port Angeles you will see an entrance for the park on your left.
My admission (one person) was $5 which was good for a week. Go straight ahead for approximately 4 miles or so, you come to a dam straight ahead and the road curves to the right to a fork. Take the right fork -between- the houses and proceed to the end of the road about 4 miles. From there you will see parked cars and a chained off road.
The 2.5 mile -hike- up the road is not a cake walk since it is inclined about 10-15 degrees all the way up. The campground is about 50 yards from a bridge that takes you over a powerful and gorgeous waterfall. The incline makes the walk tougher but is is worth it. There are supposed to be 5 to six pools. The pools are sulfurous and the largest spring I found had the water coming out of the mountain like a hot spigot.
It is BEAUTIFUL ! The smell, sights and sounds of the forest are all that you hear. It is lush green with large old forests on both sides of the road. Some of the trees on the road were probabably eight feet in diameter and 300 feet tall.
I stayed in the springs quite a while so I had a chance to see a wide variety of people. Most went nude and the ones who weren't didn't seem to mind at all. You should still be sensitive to some of the visitors since some have children along.
Review written by: David Hampton (10/22/95)
Several pools located at the end of a two mile hike in Olympic National Park. Origionally, the road went all the way to the springs, People complained about nudity, though, and the Park service was in a fit trying to figure out what to do. Then a few years ago, part of the road was washed out, and was not repaired. Probably a conscience decision, and a good one at that. Now, only the more serious hot springs goers reach the pools, and there are far fewer complaints. I have seen people hike in, see naked people, and hike out, without ever getting their feet wet, though. Oh well, their loss. I have also seen people wear their suits in the pools, so a little courtesy is called for. There is a full campground at the site as well, complete with outhouses. This location makes a great starting point for grand hikes into Olympic National Park.
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