Boulder Creek Trail to Olympic Hot Springs Out and Back

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Historical Significance · Hot Spring · River/Creek · Swimming · Wildlife

Delightful hike to the natural Olympic Hot Springs where there was once a resort.

The water quality of the hot springs is not monitored and may contain high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. Bathe at your own risk. Nudity is common.

Can be snowbound until early spring. Mostly paved. Does not receive much maintenance so there are times where there are a lot of trees across the trail.

Follow the remnants of what was once a road to a resort for about 2.5 miles on mellow grades, hopping over the occasional stream. Upon arrive at Crystal Creek, the trail descends to a log bridge crossing then climbs up to the former parking lot. At this point, there is a fork in the trail. If you go straight on the singletrack trail you'll head to the Olympic Hot Springs (follow the sulphur odor )or you can continue following the road grade ascending on the right fork, climbing to the Boulder Creek Campground.

The Campground has pit toilets. Water should be gathered from Boulder Creek above confluence of hot spring water and creek. A trail descends off your left down toward the Hot Springs Area, crossing a bridge over Boulder Creek. From here you can explore the springs or loop around the lower trail to the former parking lot. From this point you can return the way you came.

A resort existed on the site until 1966 when its lease with the National Parks expired. Since then the site has not been developed and the buildings that existed have been removed. (From Wikipedia)