Kennedy Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
DESTROYED — the historic 1927 lodge, both bridges, and the hot spring itself were buried under ~5 ft of mud and debris when the White Chuck River blew out in the Oct 21, 2003 flood; rusty mineral water still seeps through the rubble but there is NO soakable pool, and the site deep in Glacier Peak Wilderness is now reachable only by a long trek on the PCT (from Red Pass or Vista Creek) or the barely-navigable Lost Creek Ridge/White Chuck route. Go for the wilderness, not a soak.
Field notes — checked August 2025
- Hazard: Unbridged glacial river fords (Kennedy Creek, White Chuck River, Pumice Creek) — can become uncrossable
- Hazard: Obliterated/unmaintained trails — navigation skills required
- Hazard: Massive blowdown and debris fields from the 2003 flood
- Hazard: Remote wilderness — no rescue nearby; FR 49 access was closed by fire in 2021 (check road status)
- There is NO hot spring to visit — buried under ~5 ft of flood debris since Oct 2003; only mineral-stained seepage through the rubble remains ('gone forever' — WTA)
- White Chuck Road (FR 23) has been closed to vehicles since the 2003 flood — the old roadbed is a walk/bike route; the road will never extend back to the old trailhead
- USFS no longer maintains the White Chuck River Trail or Milk Creek trails — expect washouts, blowdowns, and hard river fords
- No bridge over Kennedy Creek on the PCT (gone, no plans to replace) — glacial-silt ford that can rise fast and dangerously
- Modern access: PCT from Red Pass (N. Fork Sauk trailhead, ~10+ mi) or Vista Creek, then ~1.3 mi down the unmaintained Lost Creek Ridge Trail junction — 'extremely difficult to navigate'
- Glacier Peak Wilderness backcountry — self-reliant multi-day travel only
Current status
DESTROYED — the historic 1927 lodge, both bridges, and the hot spring itself were buried under ~5 ft of mud and debris when the White Chuck River blew out in the Oct 21, 2003 flood; rusty mineral water still seeps through the rubble but there is NO soakable pool, and the site deep in Glacier Peak Wilderness is now reachable only by a long trek on the PCT (from Red Pass or Vista Creek) or the barely-navigable Lost Creek Ridge/White Chuck route. Go for the wilderness, not a soak.
Checked August 2025 · based on recent visitor reports · 4 sources ↓
About this spring
Formerly one of Washington's most beloved backcountry hot springs below Glacier Peak — DESTROYED October 2003 when a record flood buried the springs under ~5 ft of silt, destroyed the historic guard-station cabin and took out the trail. Nothing soakable remains; listed for historical reference. DESTROYED in 2003 — no soaking exists; historical record only.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
Washington geothermal context
Washington's springs are split between Cascade volcanic valleys and the rain-soaked Olympic Peninsula. The Olympic Hot Springs sit inside a national park with permit rules and seasonal road closures; Cascade sites hide under mossy old-growth forest reachable by trail. Winter storms routinely close access roads — check forest-service alerts October through May.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Washington Trails Association — Kennedy Hotsprings hike page ('buried in a 2003 flood... now inaccessible') |
Kennedy Hot Springs FAQ
Is Kennedy Hot Springs open right now?
DESTROYED — the historic 1927 lodge, both bridges, and the hot spring itself were buried under ~5 ft of mud and debris when the White Chuck River blew out in the Oct 21, 2003 flood; rusty mineral water still seeps through the rubble but there is NO soakable pool, and the site deep in Glacier Peak Wilderness is now reachable only by a long trek on the PCT (from Red Pass or Vista Creek) or the barely-navigable Lost Creek Ridge/White Chuck route. Go for the wilderness, not a soak. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked August 2025.)
Can I soak at Kennedy Hot Springs?
DESTROYED — the historic 1927 lodge, both bridges, and the hot spring itself were buried under ~5 ft of mud and debris when the White Chuck River blew out in the Oct 21, 2003 flood; rusty mineral water still seeps through the rubble but there is NO soakable pool, and the site deep in Glacier Peak Wilderness is now reachable only by a long trek on the PCT (from Red Pass or Vista Creek) or the barely-navigable Lost Creek Ridge/White Chuck route. Go for the wilderness, not a soak.
Where can I check access to Kennedy Hot Springs?
Check Washington Trails Association — Kennedy Hotsprings hike page ('buried in a 2003 flood... now inaccessible'): https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/kennedy-hotsprings
Sources & references
- Washington Trails Association — Kennedy Hotsprings hike page ('buried in a 2003 flood... now inaccessible') — community · 2024
- WTA trip report — Lost Creek Ridge/Kennedy Hotsprings/PCT loop (site reached Aug 17, 2025) — community · 2025-08
- PCT Washington — Kennedy Hot Springs history (1927 lodge, Oct 21, 2003 flood) — community · 2023
- WTA — 'White Chuck Road Reopens' (road history; spring 'gone forever'; FS won't maintain White Chuck/Milk Creek trails) — community · 2013
- PCTA — Kennedy Creek trail condition (bridge washed out, not being replaced) — community · 2024
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction