Public Hot Springs
Public Hot Springs
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Olympic Hot Springs

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Warning Road closed to vehicles beyond Madison Falls Trailhead

From the National Park Service, checked Oct 12, 2026
Olympic Hot Springs
Photo by Andrew Kvalheim, Wikimedia Commons (free to reuse with credit)

Olympic Hot Springs is a $15 to $30 wild soak in the Olympic National Park, Washington, about 157 minutes' drive from Seattle: 118 F water at the source (1980 survey), a 10.5-mile walk (agency figure) from Madison Falls Trailhead, snow likely December to March.

  • $15 to $30
  • Wild
  • Walk 10.5 mi
  • No pets
Directions
Drive timecomputed

about 2 h 37 min
95.1 mi from Seattle, no traffic

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water
118 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry OLYMPIC HOT SPRINGS
Walk
10.5 miles one way from Madison Falls Trailhead (agency figure)
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 12, 2026
Fee
"Private Vehicle $30.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Per Person $15.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Individuals fifteen years or younger are admitted free."
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 12, 2026
Permit or reservation
"Camping is permitted near the hot springs but backpackers must follow wilderness camping regulations and acquire a wilderness use permit before their trip."
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 14, 2026
Clothing
Not posted by the agency
Checked on the National Park Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Dogs
"These springs are only accessible by foot and no pets or bicycles are permitted."
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Snow
Likely December to March
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Managed by
National Park Service, Olympic National Park
Closures
Park Service current conditions
Last checked
October 2026

Trail and trailhead

Madison Falls Trailhead

The National Park Service says:

"After reaching the Boulder Creek Trailhead at the end of the road, visitors must hike an additional 1.5 miles to reach the hot springs."

Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Distance
10.5 mile one way
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 12, 2026
Climb
About 1930 ft up and 200 ft down, one way
Computed from USGS 3DEP elevations at 27 points on our route, Oct 14, 2026 (rough)
Start
Madison Falls Trailhead
48.04103, -123.59006

Water temperature

118 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 OLYMPIC HOT SPRINGS

Fees and rules

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

Yes.

"Private Vehicle $30.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Per Person $15.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Individuals fifteen years or younger are admitted free."

Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 12, 2026

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

"Camping is permitted near the hot springs but backpackers must follow wilderness camping regulations and acquire a wilderness use permit before their trip."

Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Clothing and dogs

Clothing

Not posted by the agency.

Checked on the National Park Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Dogs
"These springs are only accessible by foot and no pets or bicycles are permitted."

Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely December to March at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

Road and gate closures: check Park Service current conditions.

Before you go

  • Fee: Private Vehicle $30.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Per Person $15.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Individuals fifteen years or younger are admitted free.
  • Camping is permitted near the hot springs but backpackers must follow wilderness camping regulations and acquire a wilderness use permit before their trip.
  • Snow likely December to March.
  • Road closed to vehicles beyond Madison Falls Trailhead
  • Dogs: These springs are only accessible by foot and no pets or bicycles are permitted.
  • Check Park Service current conditions before you drive.

Getting there

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

Seattle, WashingtonHot springs near Seattleabout 2 h 37 min95.1 mi
Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, Madison Falls Trailhead, not at the pool.

Olympic

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

Camping near Olympic Hot Springs

"Camping is permitted near the hot springs but backpackers must follow wilderness camping regulations and acquire a wilderness use permit before their trip."

Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Nearby hot springs (2)

Sol Duc Hot SpringsClallam County, Washingtonabout 59 mindriveScenic Hot SpringsNear Seattle · Washingtonabout 3 h 52 mindrive

All 6 hot springs in WashingtonPacific Northwest hot springs (36)

Questions

Is Olympic Hot Springs free?

No.
"Private Vehicle $30.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Per Person $15.00, valid for seven consecutive days. Individuals fifteen years or younger are admitted free."
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 12, 2026

How long is the hike to Olympic Hot Springs?

10.5 miles one way from Madison Falls Trailhead, as posted (agency figure).

Is Olympic Hot Springs clothing optional?

Not posted by the agency.

Can I bring my dog?

"These springs are only accessible by foot and no pets or bicycles are permitted."
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Can you camp at Olympic Hot Springs?

"Camping is permitted near the hot springs but backpackers must follow wilderness camping regulations and acquire a wilderness use permit before their trip."
Quoted from the National Park Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

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
  • nps.gov/olym/hot-springs.htm: walk, permit or reservation, clothing (not posted), dogs, trail, campingChecked Oct 11, 2026 and Oct 12, 2026 and Oct 14, 2026
  • nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/fees.htm: feeChecked Oct 12, 2026
  • Drive times from Seattle: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
  • Snow months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar): 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: Andrew Kvalheim, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Checked by eye Oct 12, 2026

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