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Olympic Hot Springs, WA

3/8/08

It was supposed to be a snowshoe trip and although there was plenty of snow, it was old and packed down to the point that it was easy enough to walk on without wearing the baskets. Mary, Micah and I drove up from Port Angeles to the end of the Elwha River road and got started by 10 AM. Skies were blue and the air was warm, for March.

The trail to the springs is more like a road, which is what it is, really. Washouts and debris have closed the road to vehicles, but it's still paved most of the way. We walked for about a half-hour before hitting the snow, and the amount of snow grew as we continued to climb. By the time we got to the summer parking area and the permanent road end, the snow covered the road completely.

Micah rode in the kids pack, no problems. He's a great little traveler! After about 2 hours, we arrived at the hot springs. There was only one other person there, in one of the lower pools. (There are between 5 and 8 separate pools that make up the hot springs. Each year, the terrain changes as a result of slides and fallen trees, and people often augment the pools by building up the rock walls to hold in more water.) We continued up to what was, at one time, the main pool of the Olympic Hot Springs Resort at the turn of the last century. It has become two separate pools now, but you can still see the timbers protruding from the ground that outline where the pool used to be.

The best pool is the top one. About 100 feet up from the others and at the end of the snow-covered trail, this beautiful clean-water pool commands a view across the valley through the heavy forest cover. This is also the hottest pool (as you climb, the temperature of the water increases), about the same temperature as a hot tub. Perfect. There is a slight sulfur smell to the springs but the odor doesn't stay on the skin.

On the way out we passed almost 20 hikers in several different parties who were on their way in. Our timing, and the entire day, was ideal.

I already want to go back.

Ken Campbell