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Olympic Hot Springs is located in Olympic National Park,
/ref>Alpenglow Ski Mountaineering History Project
/ref> Since then the site has not been developed and the buildings that existed have been removed.
The spring is accessed by using the Appleton Pass Trail which is about a relatively easy hike. In the past, one was able to drive and park at the trailhead. However, due to the removal of the
National Park Service ''Boulder Creek Campground''
outdoor.com, ''Washington, Olympic Hot Springs Trail''
{{Coord, 47, 58, 36, N, 123, 41, 19, W, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark_region:US-WA Bodies of water of Clallam County, Washington Hot springs of Washington (state) Landforms of Olympic National Park Protected areas of Clallam County, Washington
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
, United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The springs contain 21 seeps near Boulder Creek, a tributary of the Elwha River
The Elwha River is a river on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. From its source at Elwha snowfinger in the Olympic Mountains, it flows generally north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Most of the river's cou ...
. The temperature varies from lukewarm to .
History
Olympic Hot Springs were used by the Klallam Tribe for centuries as a place for vision quests. With the help of a Klallam friend, Andrew Jacobsen in 1892 was the first person of European descent to make it to the hotsprings. They were rediscovered in 1907, after which a trail was blazed to the springs and a resort was built. A resort existed on the site until 1966 when its lease with the National Parks expired.Francis E. Caldwell, ''Beyond the Trails''. Port Angeles, WA: Anchor Publishing, 1998./ref>
/ref> Since then the site has not been developed and the buildings that existed have been removed.
Description
The spring is accessed by using the Appleton Pass Trail which is about a relatively easy hike. In the past, one was able to drive and park at the trailhead. However, due to the removal of the Glines Canyon Dam
Glines Canyon Dam, also known as Upper Elwha Dam, built in 1927, was a high concrete arch dam built on the Elwha River within Olympic National Park, Clallam County, Washington.
It was located upstream from the mouth of the Elwha River at the S ...
and subsequent road washout, the road ends at the Madison Falls Trailhead and you must hike an additional 8 miles to the Appleton Pass trailhead. Another hot spring in the area is the developed Sol Duc Hot Springs
Sol Duc Hot Springs is a resort located in Olympic National Park, Washington state, that is best known for its soaking pools, hot tubs, and a swimming pool that are heated with the nearby hot springs. The resort is situated in a valley carved by ...
. The springs lie on a fault and it is likely that the breaks in the rock allow surface water to be heated and driven back from the hot interior of the Earth. However geologists say they are uncertain of the mechanism that produce the springs.
The depth of the pools averages around one foot. Some pools are deeper due to rocks being placed to block the exit of the spring water.
A sign at the Olympic Hot Springs trailhead reads:
See also
*Boulder Lake (Washington)
Boulder Lake is located in the Olympic National Park in Washington. It is accessible by the Olympic Hot Springs Trail and the Appleton Pass trail. The hike is about round trip and has about a elevation gain. At the lake there are a few camp ...
*Boulder Peak (Washington)
Boulder Peak is a peak located in Washington state, in Olympic National Park. The mountain is accessible by using the Olympic Hot Springs Trail and the Appleton Pass trail. These two trails lead to Boulder Lake located at the base of Boulde ...
References
External links
National Park Service ''Boulder Creek Campground''
outdoor.com, ''Washington, Olympic Hot Springs Trail''
{{Coord, 47, 58, 36, N, 123, 41, 19, W, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark_region:US-WA Bodies of water of Clallam County, Washington Hot springs of Washington (state) Landforms of Olympic National Park Protected areas of Clallam County, Washington