Washington has 18 hot springs, including 6 free primitive soaks and 12 paid resorts, home to more hike-in Cascades wilderness hot springs than any other Pacific Northwest state, from the boardwalk pools of Olympic National Park to the padlocked-gate community of Goldmyer in the Snoqualmie backcountry. Washington is the only state with a hot spring inside a temperate rainforest National Park (Sol Duc) and one requiring a permit-only reservation with locked-gate access (Goldmyer). Springs cluster in three regions: the Olympic Peninsula (Sol Duc, Olympic Hot Springs in Olympic National Park), the Central Cascades (Goldmyer, Scenic), and the North Cascades (Baker Hot Springs, Kennedy). Flagship sites include Sol Duc, Olympic Hot Springs, Goldmyer, Scenic, and Baker. Washington's thermal activity is driven by Cascade arc volcanism. Surface temperatures range 95-135°F. Land ownership is heavy National Park (Olympic), National Forest (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Olympic, Gifford Pinchot), and private (Sol Duc concession, Goldmyer nonprofit). Access ranges from drive-up (Sol Duc) to committing multi-mile hikes (Olympic Hot Springs, Baker) while Goldmyer requires an advance reservation. Best season is late spring through fall as several sites are snowed in winter. Gateway airports are Seattle (SEA) and Portland (PDX). Clothing-optional at Olympic, Baker, and Goldmyer and swimwear at Sol Duc. Reviewed and updated August 2026.
