Olympic Hot Springs

Olympic National Park has two distinct hot springs that visitors can choose from. The Sol Duc Hot Springs is a developed hot spring at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. The Olympic Hot Springs is a natural group of hot spring pools near Boulder Creek. Whether visitors want a refined resort-style soak or an isolated natural one, both options are in the northern region of the park.

The Sol Duc hot springs have been a recreational and medicinal hot spot for over 100 years. The resort was constructed in 1912. The waters have been long thought to be therapeutic by the Olympic Peninsula natives, specifically, the Quileute. The name Sol Duc means 'sparkling water,' coined by the native people who have been visiting the waters long before Caucasian settlement. These days the hot springs are contained in three tiled pools for soaking outside and indoors, four hot tubs. Ranging from 98 degrees to 106 degrees, the temperatures are just perfect here. Many give testament to the waters' curative properties. For those who are not staying at the resort, day use is welcomed with a small fee.

The natural hot springs in the park are the Olympic Hot Springs. There are seven little pools there that can be found at road's end of the Upper Elwha Road after following the old abandoned road just over two miles to the Boulder Creek Campground. The path from the campground is actually part of the Boulder Creek Trail that leads over Boulder Creek and downstream to the hot springs area. The pools are mostly lined with rocks and a couple of pools are hidden and nestled in the forest. The temperatures range from 98 degrees to 105.

These hot springs are not expansive and can become extremely populated in the summer. The best time to visit is in the offseason, at night or even in the winter. If traveling during the off-season, the last few miles of the Upper Elwha Road could be closed. This will make the trek to the campground more like 5 to 7 miles. Many choose to ski or snow hike in. Be prepared with the proper equipment and remember to check in at park headquarters in Port Angeles if you intend on camping, as all camping in this area requires a permit.

Hot springs add a special element to Olympic National Park. Whether you want to soak in a resort style environment or along a creek in the forest, the hot springs in the area are top notch.