Olympic Hot Springs

It is an 11-mile round trip. From the Boulder Creek trailhead, the closed Olympic Hot Springs Road is 8.5 miles each way (bikeable for much of it). A bypass foot trail of 2.5 miles handles the section where the bridge washed out. Many visitors bike the closed road segments and walk the bypass and final forest trail. Most do it as a long day hike (start by 9 AM) or as an overnight with free dispersed camping permits from the park's Wilderness Information Center.

Yes, no admission to the springs themselves and no reservation. The Olympic National Park entrance fee ($30 per vehicle for seven days, or America the Beautiful pass) applies if you do not already have a park pass. Free dispersed camping permits are available from the Wilderness Information Center for overnight stays; these are required and free of charge. The original Olympic Hot Springs Resort closed decades ago and the buildings have been removed.

Roughly 21 documented natural geothermal seeps scattered across the old resort area along Boulder Creek. The pools are not formal: they are rock-shaped natural pools that visitors maintain informally. Temperatures vary widely; the hottest pools near source vents can hit 110 F and should be tested with a hand before entering. The lowest pools downstream sit at 85 to 95 F. Pool water flow varies with rainfall and season.

Officially no per NPS regulations, in practice yes at the more remote pools. The lower pools, closer to the trail, have more swim-attire compliance. The upper pools host universal clothing-optional culture. Most visitors who hike the 11-mile route are wilderness-comfortable and prepared for both. The site is managed by the National Park Service but day-to-day enforcement is minimal given the remoteness.

Inside Olympic National Park, in the northwest corner of Washington state. From Port Angeles (the closest town with full services) the trailhead is 25 miles, 45 minutes via US-101 west and then Olympic Hot Springs Road to the Boulder Creek trailhead. From Seattle the trip is 140 miles via the Bainbridge ferry and US-101, three and a half to four hours. The 11-mile hike from trailhead to springs is the meaningful access cost.

Both work; overnight is more rewarding. A long day hike (11 miles round trip) lets you experience the springs but is rushed. An overnight at a Boulder Creek dispersed camp (free permit required, food storage rules apply, bears use the area) gives you sunrise and sunset soak windows in the wilderness. Most Olympic-hike veterans recommend the overnight version. Pack out everything including food waste.

Same national park, different products. Sol Duc is the developed concession resort with three mineral pools, cabins, restaurant, and paved road access. Olympic Hot Springs is the wild abandoned-resort version reached by 11-mile round trip on closed road and washed-out-bridge bypass trail. Sol Duc for the comfortable mineral soak; Olympic for the wilderness backpacking version. Many Olympic Peninsula visitors do both on multi-day trips.