Hot Springs Near Seattle: Where to Soak in Washington

Why Seattle soak-seekers head into the Cascades

The close-in options divide cleanly: a short, steep climb off US-2 near Stevens Pass, or a longer, flatter approach in the forest north of North Bend. Scenic Hot Springs is the one you can pair with a Leavenworth weekend because it sits right on the route east. Goldmyer is the one you book when you want a half-day walk each way and a quieter setting.

Treat Scenic as a half-day commitment and Goldmyer as most of a day. Scenic's round trip runs 4.4 miles with 1,100 feet of gain, so plan four to five hours including soak time, while Goldmyer's flat 4.5-mile walk takes longer on the trail itself, plus roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle.

Scenic Hot Springs: getting there from Seattle

Scenic Hot Springs takes its name from the tiny Stevens Pass community and lies on private property on a pine-covered slope. The trailhead is under ten minutes west of Stevens Pass, about an hour and a half east of Seattle, and roughly 45 minutes west of Leavenworth, which makes it an easy stop on a US-2 crossing.

Parking depends on the season. When the private road is clear, you park about a third of a mile up the highway near a gate on the property's unmarked road; when several feet of snow bury that road, you use the Surprise Creek Trailhead instead. The owner sends detailed directions and asks for your license plate and a description of your car in advance, and parking on the highway shoulder is both illegal and a break-in risk.

Scenic Hot Springs permits and pricing

Every visitor needs a permit for the date of the visit because the springs sit on private land. A permit costs $30 per person, and a whole-day buyout that reserves the springs for your group runs $300. Only ten permits are issued per day, so weekends can book out several months ahead and you should reserve as soon as your dates are firm.

Arriving without a permit is not a workaround: the property has been closed to visitors in the past over overcrowding, and cars parked without a registered plate risk being towed. Book through the owner's permit page rather than improvising a roadside park-and-walk.

The Scenic Hot Springs hike

The route climbs about 500 feet per mile through pine forest on the property's old road, passing under power lines at a clearing before turning steeper up a ridge with wide mountain views. Two switchbacks later the grade eases, then drops down steep stone steps to the pools, which get slippery when wet. Wear real hiking boots rather than sneakers.

From late October through May expect snow on the trail. Fresh snowfall calls for snowshoes, while hard-packed snow usually means microspikes, which make the icy descent far safer. Bears have been reported along the trail, so carry bear spray in addition to your soak gear.

The pools at Scenic Hot Springs

The soaking area has been rebuilt into two natural rock pools, a larger one that holds around six people and a smaller one for about three, with two small plastic tubs below catching overflow from the rock pools. Because the daily cap is ten people and visitors come and go through the day, you can usually find room even if you are not alone.

Nudity is permitted at the springs, so expect it, especially on quieter weekdays. Kids over six are welcome, and there is no camping on the property, so plan a nearby base for the night. Pets are not allowed, and while alcohol is fine in moderation, glass bottles are banned at the pools.

When to go to Scenic Hot Springs

The springs are open year round, and summer brings snow-free trail and mild weather. Winter is the better trip for many: the pines hold snow, the water steams harder, and snowfall hides old piping and building material scattered around the site. Late November and December work especially well if you want to pair the soak with Leavenworth's holiday lights.

Start early whichever season you choose; even a photographer aiming for an empty pool found someone had beaten them there. Midweek dates also ease the permit crunch, since the ten-per-day cap fills fastest on weekends.

Goldmyer Hot Springs: the approach

Goldmyer Hot Springs lies in the forest country north of North Bend, reached by a flat and easy 4.5-mile hike after roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle. That combination makes it a longer day than Scenic but far gentler on the legs, with no ridge climb to manage.

Reservations are required, so lock in your date before you build a weekend around it. With a long walk in and out, carry enough water and food for the full day and start early enough to finish the return leg in daylight.

Camping and lodging bases

Scenic has no camping, but the Beckler River Campground in Skykomish sits about 15 minutes west and charges a nightly rate for a standard site, a sensible base for an early trail start. On the east side, Leavenworth has plenty of hotels, including the Bavarian Lodge and Hotel Pension Anna, under 45 minutes from the springs.

For Goldmyer, the North Bend area and the forest roads along the North Fork put you close to the trailhead the night before, cutting the long drive out of your morning. Book cabins and motels in North Bend early in summer, when the gateway town fills with hikers.

Matching the spring to your group

Hikers who want a workout and a snowy soak should pick Scenic, especially if the trip combines with a Leavenworth stay. Couples get the best of it on a weekday, when the ten-person cap leaves the rock pools nearly empty. Families with children over six can go, but nudity is permitted, so talk it through first.

Anyone who prefers walking distance over elevation gain, or who is bringing a group that spreads out on trail, will find Goldmyer easier to manage. Winter soakers with snowshoe and microspike experience get the most dramatic version of Scenic, while beginners should aim for summer.

What to pack for a Cascades soak

Bring a swimsuit you do not mind risking, plus a quick-dry towel and a trash bag for wet gear on the hike out. Real hiking boots matter on Scenic's steep sections, and from late October to May add microspikes or snowshoes depending on whether the snow is fresh or packed.

Carry more water than you think you need, warm layers for the cold hike down, and bear spray on Scenic. A headlamp earns its place if you start late, since both approaches take hours and the forest darkens early in winter.

Leave No Trace at hike-in springs

Both of these soaks are hike-in, so pack out every scrap of trash, including wet wipes and food scraps, and bring an extra bag to carry out what others left. Keep soap, shampoo and dogs out of the water; nothing but people belongs in the pools. Stay on the established trail and steps rather than cutting new paths through the forest.

Nearby soaks for a longer Washington road trip

Once you have done the US-2 and North Bend springs, widen the loop using a full overview of the hot springs in washington for drive times and access notes. The Olympic Peninsula adds a very different day at Sol Duc Hot Springs, where developed pools sit inside Olympic National Park and make an easy family stop on a coast trip. If you are heading south instead, the hot springs in Oregon make a natural next leg on the same soaking trip.

East of the mountains, Carson Hot Springs has drawn bathers on the edge of the Columbia River Gorge for generations, and Bonneville Hot Springs sits nearby for a second overnight option. Loop through the Columbia Plateau toward Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort on the way to the hot springs near spokane if you want a multi-day soaking itinerary.

Plan Your Seattle Hot Springs Day

Choose Scenic Hot Springs when you want a steep, short climb, a permit-controlled crowd and a Leavenworth stop on the same trip, and book months ahead for a weekend. Choose Goldmyer Hot Springs when a flat 4.5-mile walk and a required reservation suit your group better than 1,100 feet of gain.

Watch the weather in the weeks before you go and confirm trail and road conditions with the property owner or the managing land agency, then pack boots, layers and enough water for the full round trip.