Baker Hot Springs

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Baker Hot Springs is a wild soak in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, about 143 minutes' drive from Seattle: 108 F water at the source (1980 survey), a 0.28-mile walk from National Forest Development Road 1144, snow likely October to April.

Wild
Walk 0.28 mi

Directions

Drive timecomputed

about 2 h 23 min
110.2 mi from Seattle, no traffic

From your town or ZIP

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water: 108 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry BAKER HOT SPRING
Walk: 0.28 miles one way from National Forest Development Road 1144
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route · start 48.76485, -121.66986
Fee: Not paying a recreation fee is prohibited, and the fine for a first offense of nonpayment may not exceed $100. Forest Service general rule
No fee posted for this spring that we found (checked Oct 13, 2026)
What the Forest Service says
Exact wording: Forest Service rules page.
Permit or reservation: None posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026
Clothing: Being publicly nude is prohibited on a national forest only when an order says so; the regulation lists it among the things a forest order can prohibit. Forest Service general rule
What the Forest Service says
Exact wording: Forest Service rules page.
Dogs: At Forest Service developed recreation sites, an animal other than a service animal must be crated, caged, on a leash of 6 feet or less, or otherwise under physical restrictive control, and may not be brought into a swimming area. Forest Service general rule
What the Forest Service says
Exact wording: Forest Service rules page.
Snow: Likely October to April
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Managed by: USDA Forest Service, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Closures: Forest Service alerts, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Last checked: October 2026

Trail and trailhead

National Forest Development Road 1144

Distance: 0.28 mile one way
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route
Climb: About 60 ft up and 20 ft down, one way
Computed from USGS 3DEP elevations at 14 points on our route, Oct 14, 2026 (rough)
Start: National Forest Development Road 1144
48.76485, -121.66986

Water temperature

108 F at the source, from NOAA's Thermal Springs List (1980 survey). That is where the water leaves the ground; the pool you sit in is cooler.

Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry BAKER HOT SPRING

Fees and rules

Do you have to pay to go to Baker Hot Springs?

No fee posted for this spring that we found (checked Oct 13, 2026). Forest Service general rule

Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Do you need a permit or reservation for Baker Hot Springs?

None is posted. not posted

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Clothing and dogs

Clothing

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Dogs

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely October to April at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

Road and gate closures: check Forest Service alerts, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Before you go

No permit or reservation is posted.
Snow likely October to April.
Check Forest Service alerts, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest before you drive.

Getting there

Drive times from each town's center, no traffic (computed).

Seattle, WashingtonHot springs near Seattleabout 2 h 23 min110.2 mi

Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, National Forest Development Road 1144, not at the pool.

Washington. Tap the map for directions. Outline: US Census, public domain.

Nearby hot springs (2)

Scenic Hot SpringsNear Seattle · Washingtonabout 3 h 11 mindrive Goldmyer Hot SpringsNear Seattle · Washingtonabout 3 h 52 mindrive

All 6 hot springs in Washington Pacific Northwest hot springs (36)

Questions

Is Baker Hot Springs free?

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

How long is the hike to Baker Hot Springs?

0.28 miles one way from National Forest Development Road 1144, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route.

Is Baker Hot Springs clothing optional?

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Can I bring my dog?

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Sources and last checked

Page last checked October 2026 (the oldest date below).

ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso: water temperatureChecked Oct 11, 2026
Walk: 0.28 mi, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route (FOSSGIS routing, foot profile) from 48.76485, -121.66986Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Drive times from Seattle: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
Snow months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr): computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasonsMethod page explains the rule
Climb: computed from USGS 3DEP elevations along our OpenStreetMap foot routeComputed Oct 14, 2026
Photo: gordon hunter, Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0Checked by eye Oct 12, 2026

Report a correction