Olympic Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Olympic Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Port Angeles, Washington. Reported soak temperature: 95°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open but a serious undertaking — Olympic Hot Springs Road has been closed to vehicles since 2021 at Madison Falls, so it's ~9 mi bike/hike on the closed road (with a washout bypass trail) plus ~1.5-2.5 mi on foot; pools are unmaintained wilderness seeps used at your own risk.
Checked August 2026 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Road access restricted — confirm via NPS — Hot Springs (Olympic).
- Cost: Fees reported — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 95°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: Park entrance fee for day use; free wilderness use permit (reservable via Recreation.gov) needed for overnight camping
- Best time to go: Weekdays; bike the road section to cut effort. Springs are most reliable in cooler months
- Clothing reality: No official code; mixed — NPS warns pools are unmaintained, and both swimsuits and nudity are customary.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Closed road is wheelchair-navigable only ~0.8 mi past Madison Falls to the washout bypass; the actual springs are not accessible
- Road closed to vehicles since May 2021 (washout) and still closed as of Aug 2026 — park at Madison Falls Trailhead
- Bikes/e-bikes allowed on the closed road to Boulder Creek TH; bikes must be left there — no bikes or pets on the final ~1.5 mi trail
- Dogs allowed ON LEASH on the road section only — prohibited on the trail to the springs
- NPS: pools are untested/unmaintained wilderness seeps that 'may contain harmful bacteria' (fecal coliform warning) — soak at your own risk
- Olympic NP entrance fee applies ($30/vehicle/7 days or interagency pass); wilderness permit required for overnight camping near the springs
- Hazard: Untested water — bacterial contamination risk (NPS warning)
- Hazard: ~20+ mi round trip; remote with no facilities beyond the trailhead toilet
- Hazard: Washout bypass trail and wilderness trail conditions
About this spring
Series of shallow natural hot water seeps and user-made pools along Boulder Creek in the Elwha River valley — site of a demolished 1926 resort. Unmaintained wilderness pools (roughly lukewarm-to-warm). The Elwha road is washed out: park at Madison Falls Trailhead, then ~8-9 mi by foot/bike up the closed road plus ~2 mi trail — ~11 miles each way. Fee: Olympic NP entrance fee. NPS: pools unmaintained and may contain harmful bacteria — soak at own risk, don't submerge head. Road washout makes access hard. No dogs on NP trails. Current approach is ~10.5 mi each way — Olympic Hot Springs Rd is closed to vehicles beyond Madison Falls Trailhead; hike/bike ~9 mi on the road (washout bypass) to Boulder Creek Trailhead, then 1.5 mi on foot. Unmaintained seeps; bacteria risk.
Olympic Hot Springs is located in Olympic National Park, Washington, United States. The springs contain 21 seeps near Boulder Creek, a tributary of the Elwha River. The temperature varies from tepid to 138 °F (59 °C).
Text from the Wikipedia article “Olympic Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
From Port Angeles, US-101 W to Olympic Hot Springs Rd; park at Madison Falls Trailhead; walk/bike ~8-9 mi on the closed road (bypass around washout) to Boulder Creek Trailhead, then ~1.5-2.5 mi to springs.
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.
Best time to visit
May – October (Spring through Fall)Pacific Northwest springs are framed by lush temperate rainforests. Summer brings dry, sunny trail conditions, while autumn provides vibrant foliage and crisp soaking weather.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 95°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Fees reported |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NPS — Hot Springs (Olympic) |
Olympic Hot Springs FAQ
Is Olympic Hot Springs open right now?
Open but a serious undertaking — Olympic Hot Springs Road has been closed to vehicles since 2021 at Madison Falls, so it's ~9 mi bike/hike on the closed road (with a washout bypass trail) plus ~1.5-2.5 mi on foot; pools are unmaintained wilderness seeps used at your own risk. (Status verified against an official source, last checked August 2026.)
Is Olympic Hot Springs free?
Olympic Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Port Angeles. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Olympic Hot Springs?
Olympic Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 95°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Olympic Hot Springs clothing optional?
Olympic Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Olympic Hot Springs?
Olympic Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Port Angeles
Port Angeles is a town stay before or after the long Elwha bike/hike. The road is closed to cars at Madison Falls.
Port Angeles is about 15 mi from the spring (straight line).
Check current NPS road, trail and water advisories before committing to the trip.
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Sources & references
- NPS — Hot Springs (Olympic) — official · 2026
- NPS — Current Road Conditions (Olympic Hot Springs Rd closed to vehicles) — official · 2026-08
- NPS — Alerts & Conditions — official · 2026
- Washington Trails Association — Olympic Hot Springs — community · 2026
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
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