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OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK · WASHINGTON

Olympic Hot Springs: Open Status, Trail Access & Soaking Alternatives

Olympic Hot Springs still exists — about seven user-built soaking pools among 21 mapped seeps in Olympic National Park's Elwha Valley — but a washed-out road has turned a once-easy drive-up soak into a ~21-mile round trip.

Open — But Hard to Reach

Yes, Olympic Hot Springs is open — the pools were never demolished. However, Olympic Hot Springs Road has been closed to vehicles since May 2021 after Elwha River washouts, so reaching the springs now requires roughly a 21-mile round trip by bike and foot. The National Park Service allows bathing at your own risk — the water is untested.

Current Status at a Glance

Olympic Hot Springs is managed by the National Park Service inside Olympic National Park. The confusion online comes from two different facts that are both true: the springs themselves are open, and the road that used to deliver cars to the trailhead is closed. Here is exactly where things stand, per the NPS hot springs page and the park's current conditions report.

Managing agencyNational Park Service — Olympic National Park
Springs status~7 user-built pools among 21 mapped thermal seeps — never demolished
Road statusClosed to vehicles since ~May 2021 (Elwha River washouts); open to pedestrians, bicycles, and dogs
Soaking rule"Bathe at your own risk" — not prohibited; water is untested with fecal-coliform risk
ClothingNo dress code; nudity is common at the pools
Entry feeStandard Olympic National Park entrance fee applies
Road rebuildEnvironmental assessment stalled — Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe objected (Dec 2020); no timeline

For coordinates and pool-level notes, see our directory record for Olympic Hot Springs.

From Resort to Backcountry Pools: A Timeline

Olympic Hot Springs was once a developed resort reachable by car. Understanding how it reverted to wilderness explains both today's access problem and why the "closed" label keeps appearing in search results.

  1. 1909: A hot springs resort begins operating under a federal lease along Boulder Creek — pools, bathhouses, and overnight lodging served visitors for decades.
  2. 1966: The resort's lease expires and operations end.
  3. ~1970: The National Park Service razes the resort buildings. Contrary to a persistent rumor, the springs themselves were not demolished — visitors later built the small soaking pools that remain today.
  4. 1982: The upper road beyond Boulder Creek reverts to trail use, establishing the route now known as the Boulder Creek Trail.
  5. Elwha dam removals: With the Elwha River's dams removed, the freed river begins carving new channels through the valley — and through the road corridor.
  6. 2015, 2017, 2021: Repeated Elwha River washouts undermine Olympic Hot Springs Road.
  7. December 2020: The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe formally objects to the road-rebuild environmental assessment; the rebuild process stalls.
  8. ~May 2021: The park closes Olympic Hot Springs Road to all vehicles. It remains open to pedestrians, bicycles, and dogs.
  9. Today (September 2026): Still closed to vehicles, with no rebuild timeline announced.

Can You Still Visit? The Full Access Picture

Visiting is legal — just long. Park near the road closure at the Madison Falls Trailhead area, then cover the distance in two very different legs:

Leg 1: The Closed Road
~9 miles each way up Olympic Hot Springs Road to Boulder Creek Trailhead. Flat-ish and fully bikeable — most visitors cycle this leg. Pedestrians and dogs are allowed.
Leg 2: Boulder Creek Trail
~1.5–2.5 miles each way on foot to the springs. This is a national park trail — dogs are not allowed on it, so leashed pets must stop at the trailhead.
Total Commitment
~21 miles round trip — a full day for most parties. Bikes cut the road leg roughly in half versus walking. Start early and carry a real repair kit.
Why mileage numbers differ online (2.5 vs. 21 miles)Competitor sites quote anything from 2.5 to 21.6 miles — all of them are "right" depending on where the count starts. ~2.5–5 miles measures only the Boulder Creek Trail from its trailhead (pre-2021 access). ~21 miles measures the full trip from the current vehicle closure at the gate. Some figures are measured from the park entrance. Since May 2021, only the gate-to-springs figure reflects reality.

What the NPS allows — and warns about

  • Walking and biking the closed road — permitted; dogs allowed on the road itself.
  • Soaking in the pools — allowed under a flat "bathe at your own risk" policy. Bathing is not prohibited.
  • Driving past the closure — the road is closed to all motor vehicles, with washouts physically blocking passage.
  • Dogs on Boulder Creek Trail — national park trail rules apply once you leave the road corridor.
Untested water = real riskThe pools are unmaintained and the water is untested — the NPS specifically flags a risk of fecal coliform bacteria. Do not submerge your head, do not soak with open cuts, and review our wilderness hot spring safety protocol before going.

Expect nudity. There is no dress code at the pools and clothing-optional soaking is common — standard for unmaintained clothing-optional hot springs in the backcountry.

Easier Hot Springs Near Olympic National Park

If a 21-mile round trip isn't the plan, these managed and bookable springs deliver the soak without the epic approach:

Browse every verified soaking spot in the state on our Washington hot springs directory.

Where to Stay Near Olympic Hot Springs

Port Angeles is the basecamp — it sits at the mouth of Olympic Hot Springs Road, minutes from the closure gate and the Madison Falls Trailhead parking area, and it's also the jumping-off point for Sol Duc. Staying in town lets you start the bike leg at dawn.

Search Port Angeles, WA Lodging

Get Status Alerts for Olympic Hot Springs

Road-rebuild decisions, washout repairs, or a reopening to vehicles — we'll email you when the status of Olympic Hot Springs changes.

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Olympic Hot Springs FAQ

Is Olympic Hot Springs open?

Yes — technically. The pools were never demolished, and the National Park Service does not prohibit bathing. But Olympic Hot Springs Road has been closed to vehicles since about May 2021, so reaching the springs now takes roughly a 21-mile round trip on foot and bike.

Can you still soak in Olympic Hot Springs?

Yes. The NPS stance is "bathe at your own risk" — soaking is allowed, but the water is untested and untreated, with a known risk of fecal coliform bacteria. About seven user-built pools sit among 21 mapped thermal seeps along Boulder Creek.

How long is the hike to Olympic Hot Springs?

Plan for about 21 miles round trip: roughly 9 miles each way on the closed (but bikeable) Olympic Hot Springs Road, then 1.5 to 2.5 miles each way on Boulder Creek Trail. Shorter mileage numbers quoted elsewhere usually count only from the Boulder Creek Trailhead, not from the road closure gate.

Why is Olympic Hot Springs Road closed?

Repeated Elwha River washouts — in 2015, 2017, and 2021 — undermined the road after the Elwha dams were removed and the river began carving new channels. The National Park Service closed it to vehicles around May 2021. A road-rebuild environmental assessment stalled after the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe objected in December 2020, and there is no rebuild timeline.

Is Olympic Hot Springs clothing optional?

Unofficially, yes — nudity is common at the pools. They are unmaintained backcountry seeps with no staff and no posted dress code, so expect a mixed clothing-optional atmosphere.

Olympic Hot Springs vs. Sol Duc — which should you visit?

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is the easy in-park choice: managed mineral pools at $19 per adult for 90-minute sessions, first-come in-person, open seasonally. Olympic Hot Springs costs only the park entrance fee but demands a ~21-mile round trip and the water is untested — go only if you want a long adventure, not a relaxing soak.

Last verified: September 20, 2026

Sources

Status can change with weather, washouts, and park management decisions. Confirm on the NPS conditions page before driving out.