Scenic Hot Springs in Washington: Complete Guide

Washington has no shortage of epic mountain hikes, but few can claim to end at a steaming hot spring. That’s exactly what makes Scenic Hot Springs special as a two-mile uphill trek that ends at a natural hot spring pool tucked into the forested mountainside.

Scenic Hot Springs was recently renovated and has traded its old black plastic tubs for a beautiful stone pool. But getting there isn’t exactly simple. Since the springs are on private land, you’ll need permission from the owner and a small donation to visit.

And if you’re dreaming of soaking in the springs while surrounded by snow, be prepared for an even bigger adventure.

In the winter, deep snowfall blankets the area, and just reaching the trailhead can be a challenge. That’s exactly what we did when we hiked through the snow to have a steaming hot soak in the middle of a frozen wonderland.

But in my opinion, the biggest barrier to visiting Scenic Hot Springs is securing a spot. Only 15 visitors are allowed per day, so it’s often booked out months in advance.

When you book your slot at Scenic Hot Springs, the owner will provide you with detailed instructions on how to get there. They ask that you don’t share specific directions to the hot springs since it’s located on private land.

However, in this article, I’ll provide a general overview of what to expect on your way to Scenic Hot Springs so you’ll be prepared for your adventure ahead.

Scenic Hot Springs Complete Guide

Scenic Hot Springs is a privately owned hot spring tucked away in the Cascade Mountains, just off Highway 2 in Washington State. A visit requires booking in advance with the owner and paying a $20 per person donation. Reservations are limited and are often booked out months ahead, so it’s wise to secure your spot early.

Getting to Scenic Hot Springs involves a challenging 2-mile uphill hike. The trail goes through a forest, then follows a powerline clearing, and then returns to the woods before ending at the hot springs.

The hike to Scenic Hot Springs takes about 1 to 2 hours, depending on trail conditions. In winter, the trail is typically covered in snow. At a minimum, microspikes are necessary, but snowshoes may be required depending on snowfall levels.

In 2024, Scenic Hot Springs was renovated. The three plastic tubs were replaced with a spacious stone pool. A new restroom and changing room were also added for visitors.

When we visited Scenic Hot Springs in February 2025, the facilities were clean and well-maintained. The water temperature was just right, and we spent over three relaxing hours soaking in its warmth, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the mountains.

How to Get to Scenic Hot Springs

Scenic Hot Springs is located off US Highway 2 in Washington, just west of Stevens Pass. Because of its elevation, the area tends to receive quite a bit of snowfall in winter.

After securing your reservation at Scenic Hot Springs, the owner will send you a PDF guide with all the details you need for your visit, including parking instructions and a GPS trail map.

In winter, you’ll need to park at the designated location marked in the instructions and walk a short distance along the highway before reaching the entry gate for the hike.

The trail to Scenic Hot Springs is well-marked, with small green signs indicating shortcuts and occasional markers displaying the remaining distance to the hot springs. While the route was relatively easy to follow, having the GPS trail map from the owner was extremely helpful, especially with the snow covering everything. It gave us confidence that we were on the right path the entire way.

To give you a better idea of the location, the map below shows the designated winter parking area for Scenic Hot Springs. From there, you’ll need to walk along the highway for a short distance before reaching the entry gate for the hike.

Scenic Hot Springs: Our Experience

The day before our Scenic Hot Springs reservation, the area was hit with heavy snowfall. With snow dumping down, we were a bit nervous about the road conditions. Would the highways be closed? Would we even make it to the parking area? We packed our snow chains just in case and headed out, hoping for the best.

Fortunately, the snowfall slowed overnight and our drive along Highway 2 was smooth until we reached the turnoff for the parking area. We crossed a small bridge over a river, then went over some train tracks. A few inches of snow covered the ground, but our car made it in without any problems.

From the parking area, we followed a short trail through the woods, then walked alongside the highway for a brief stretch to reach the gated entry to the private property. Walking next to speeding cars was a bit unnerving, but thankfully, it was a short distance.

Once we passed the gate and got on the trail, the real challenge began. The owner warns visitors that the hike is entirely uphill. And they aren’t kidding. While the 2-mile trek isn’t especially long, the constant incline combined with the snow made the hike much harder than I expected.

The hike to Scenic Hot Springs can be thought of as three parts:

The first part of the hike follows a snow-covered road through the trees. This section served as a nice warm-up for what was ahead.

For the second part of the hike, we emerged into an open clearing under massive power lines. The sweeping mountain views were incredible, but the lack of tree cover meant the snow here was much deeper. In some spots, the powder was nearly a foot deep.

I made the mistake of wearing too many layers. As the hike went on, I kept peeling them off until I was down to just my base layer and a light rain jacket.

The trail was steep in places, and at one point, I lost my footing and fell into the snow. Thankfully, no harm. Just a cold surprise!

This section under the powerlines felt endless, so I was relieved when we finally reached the tree-lined road for the last stretch.

The third and final part of the hike was similar to the first, winding through the forest. But as we got closer to the hot springs, the incline became noticeably steeper. We had to stop a couple of times to catch our breath, but our excitement kept us going. We were so close, and we didn’t want to burn ourselves out before even reaching the pools!

What It Was Like at Scenic Hot Springs

We made it to the hot springs and the first thing I saw was a small changing room and an outhouse. Both are fairly new and well-maintained. With everything outside covered in snow, it was nice to have a clean, dry place to change into my swimsuit.

I slipped into the hot spring, and as I sank into the steaming water, the crisp winter air melted away. I’m used to hot springs being too hot, but this one was the perfect temperature.

One end of the stone pool had the hot spring water trickling in, so that was the warmest spot. I found myself switching sides depending on whether I wanted a hotter or cooler soak.

Next to the large stone pool, there’s a smaller black plastic tub. It appears to be the same style of tub that was used in the hot springs before, but now there’s only one. This tub is a more private area, perfect for two people.

For the first 30 minutes, we had the springs entirely to ourselves until another group arrived. We were glad to have company and we chatted away, swapping stories about hikes and adventures around Washington. It was a great conversation in a relaxing setting.

Before we knew it, three and a half hours had passed! We dried off, layered up, and ate our lunch to prepare for the hike back down.

Our hike out was much faster than our hike in. Since it was all downhill, we didn’t need breaks, and we knew exactly which way to go.

In some ways, the descent was even more scenic. We could finally take in the views without the uphill struggle. We made it back to the car in under an hour, and ended our day stoked about the adventure we just had.

How to Book Scenic Hot Springs

Booking a visit to Scenic Hot Springs is straightforward but requires advance planning. Due to its popularity, this isn’t a place you can visit on a whim.

We booked our reservation in early December, and the earliest available spot was two months later in February. So plan ahead!

Here’s what you need to know:

• A $20 per person donation is required to secure a spot.
• Only 15 people are allowed per day.
• Groups of 8 or more must book a private party reservation.
• Kids 6 years and older are technically allowed, but given that nudity is permitted, I’d personally recommend leaving them at home.

How Long Does It Take to Hike to Scenic Hot Springs?

The time it takes to reach Scenic Hot Springs depends on the season. If you’re visiting when there’s no snow, expect the hike to take at least one hour.

In winter, the hike takes significantly longer due to deep snow and icy conditions.

When we visited Scenic Hot Springs, it took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to hike through the snow to the hot springs. We didn’t need snowshoes, but we did use microspikes, which helped with traction. If the snow had been any deeper, snowshoes would have been necessary.

When is the best time to visit Scenic Hot Springs?

The best time to visit Scenic Hot Springs depends on your personal preferences, but here’s my recommendation:

• Winter is my top choice. The cold, snowy surroundings of the mountain create a perfect contrast with the warm, steamy springs. It’s a cozy vibe in a surreal atmosphere.
• If you’re not a fan of snow, early fall is another great time to visit. The trail will be snow-free, but the air will still have a nice, crisp chill. Perfect for a hike and hot spring.

As for the best time of day, I suggest going in the morning before other groups arrive. We started our hike at 9 AM, and we were the first ones at the hot spring. We had it all to ourselves for 30 minutes before another group showed up.

When we visited, only 9 people showed up, even though there were 15 booked. I’m guessing some groups may have backed out because of the snowstorm the night before.

What to Bring to Scenic Hot Springs

Below I will provide a list of things that I think are important to bring to Scenic Hot Springs that you might have not thought of:

• Slippers/flip flops: This is one thing that I wish I brought because getting out of the water to use the restroom and walking over the cold snowy ground was painful! The second my feet touched the snow, they went numb with cold.
• Extra Socks: If you hike through the snow your first pair of socks may get wet on the way up. I recommend bringing an extra dry pair of socks to change into for your hike down.
• Towel: My quick-dry towel was perfect for packing light while still drying off efficiently. It fit easily into my small pack and worked great.
• Extra drinking water: Soaking in hot springs can dehydrate you faster than you think. I brought an extra liter of water beyond what I’d normally carry for a hike of this length, and I’m glad I did because I drank it all!

The Scenic Hot Springs Website also has an official list of allowed and prohibited items.

The Wild History of Scenic Hot Springs

Scenic Hot Springs has a fascinating past. While Native American tribes in the area almost certainly knew of the springs, its documented history dates back to the 1880s when railroad workers building the first train route over Stevens Pass used them to relax during their off-time.

However, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that Scenic Hot Springs became well-known with the opening of the Scenic Hot Springs Hotel. Water was piped down the mountainside for over two miles to the hotel, but by the time it arrived, it had lost all its heat and had to be reheated before guests could bathe. Despite this, the hotel became a popular retreat, with visitors from Seattle taking the train over to experience its relaxing baths.

But that all stopped in 1929 when the hotel was forced to close when construction of a tunnel for the Great Northern Railroad dumped massive amounts of rubble next to the property. As compensation, the hotel owners were granted ownership of the land containing the mountainside hot springs.

For decades, the springs faded into obscurity until they were rediscovered by the public in the 1970s. Volunteers built makeshift tubs and pools to soak in the natural hot water. By the 1980s and 90s, the site had become infamous for wild drug- and alcohol-fueled parties. The area was different back then, as there was no gate to the property so most people just drove up. Those were wild times.

The landowner eventually caught wind of what was going on. In 2001 they got the help of law enforcement to shut the springs down and demolish the pools and wooden decking. For a while, it seemed like Scenic Hot Springs was lost once again.

That changed when a new owner took over, with a new vision to reopen the hot springs in a controlled manner. Today, visitors can once again enjoy Scenic Hot Springs but only with prior permission and a donation to help maintain the site. This system has proven to be a success, allowing people to experience the springs while preserving the area’s natural environment.

More Hikes Near Highway 2 in Washington

We’re based in Seattle and have done a ton of hikes all along Highway 2 in Washington. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best trails we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.

• Our Favorite Highway 2 Hike: Lake 22
• Classic Washington multi-waterfall hike: Wallace Falls Hike
• Quick hike to a wooden tower: Heybrook Lookout
• A front-row seat to a massive, misty waterfall: Bridal Veil Falls Hike
• Trail through dense mossy forest to an alpine lake: Heather Lake
• Hike to a steamy hot spring in the forest: Scenic Hot Springs

Looking for More Winter Adventures in Washington?

Leavenworth is a Bavarian-themed town that looks like it’s straight out of a Christmas postcard! And it’s only 45 minutes from Scenic Hot Springs!

We visited Leavenworth in Winter and created a guide sharing all the amazing things you can do there. You can check it out by clicking the link below.

I hope you enjoyed our guide to Scenic Hot Springs in Washington! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸