Ohanapecosh Hot Springs

What to expect

Ohanapecosh Hot Springs is not a place to soak. It is a set of small warm seeps on a forested bench above the Ohanapecosh River, in the low, old-growth southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park. Warm water seeps out of the ground, runs across a grassy patch and drains toward the river. A boardwalk carries the Hot Springs Nature Trail over the wettest part, and signs explain what used to stand here.

Bathing is not allowed. The park’s position, stated in its own Nature Notes as far back as 1984, is that the springs do not produce enough water for anyone to bathe without major alteration of the site. Older guidebooks that described soaking here are out of date. Stay on the trail and boardwalk.

The water is genuinely hot at the source. In 1984 a ranger found a new spring on the bench running at 115 to 120°F46 to 49°C, while the river below was 43°F6°C. You will see warm runoff, mineral staining and the odd wisp of steam on a cold morning, not pools.

It is worth the stop if you are already driving SR 123 or hiking to Silver Falls. Do not make the trip expecting a soak.

History

The springs drew visitors long before the park reached them. A commercial tent camp was running at the site by about 1912. The Forest Service issued a development permit in 1921, and in 1924 a small hotel and two bathhouses were built. Dr. A. W. Bridge became sole owner in 1926, and the property sold again in 1947.

The park boundary was moved in 1932 to include the springs, and the resort carried on at a small scale. The concession contract ended on December 30, 1960, though some accounts have the resort operating until 1963. By 1967 the National Park Service had removed the buildings and let the area return to forest. The nature trail now runs past the former lodge site.

Getting there

Ohanapecosh is on State Route 123, about 3 miles north of the park’s southeast boundary and about 42 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance by park roads.

• From Packwood: Drive about 8 miles east on US 12, then turn north on SR 123 and continue about 3.5 miles to the Ohanapecosh area.
• From the Paradise side: Take Stevens Canyon Road east. Ohanapecosh sits near where Stevens Canyon Road meets SR 123.
• From the north (Enumclaw or Yakima): Come over Cayuse Pass on SR 123.

In a normal season, day-use parking is in the Ohanapecosh Campground, and the nature trail starts by the visitor center. In 2026 that does not work: the campground, visitor center, bathrooms, picnic area and amphitheater are closed for a rehabilitation project through November 2026, and the Silver Falls Trailhead inside the campground is closed too. The park says you can still reach the Hot Springs Nature Trail from the Silver Falls Trail, which you can join from Stevens Canyon Road or SR 123. It can no longer be walked as a loop from the campground this year.

The nature trail itself is a 0.4-mile loop with about 50 feet of elevation change.

When to go

The Ohanapecosh area is only reachable when SR 123 and Stevens Canyon Road are open, roughly late May to fall. In October 2026 the park listed Stevens Canyon Road as scheduled to close on October 26 and SR 123 as likely to close in mid to late November, depending on weather. Neither reopens until the snow is cleared the following spring.

Summer weekends are busy across the park, but this corner is quieter than Paradise or Sunrise. Mount Rainier does not use timed entry reservations in 2026, so you only need an entrance pass.

Rules and etiquette

• No soaking, wading or bathing in the springs or runoff.
• Stay on the trail and boardwalk. The ground around the seeps is soft and easily damaged.
• Entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person on foot or bike, each valid for seven days. The $55 Mount Rainier annual pass and America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
• No dogs on park trails.
• Do not collect rocks, plants or mineral deposits.

Where to stay nearby

• Ohanapecosh Campground normally has 185 sites and opens from late May to early October. It is closed for all of 2026 for rehabilitation, so plan on it again from 2027 and check the park site first.
• Packwood, about 11.5 miles away via SR 123 and US 12, is the closest town, with motels, cabins, a few restaurants and fuel.
• The lodges at Longmire and Paradise, on the west side of the park, are the nearest in-park rooms; check which park campgrounds are open before you go. Longmire also has historic mineral springs of its own, which are a viewing stop rather than a soak.

Safety notes

• Hot water: Some seeps run well above body temperature. Keep hands and feet out of them.
• Footing: The boardwalk and forest trail can be slick with rain, moss and leaves.
• Wildlife: Black bears and elk use this valley. Keep food in your car, not on picnic tables.
• Old-growth hazards: Big trees drop limbs in storms. Avoid the forest in high wind.
• Grove of the Patriarchs: The popular trail across the river has been closed since a November 2021 flood damaged its suspension bridge. Bridge replacement is not expected to start before 2027. Respect the closure signs.

Nearby stops worth adding

Silver Falls is the natural pairing. The Silver Falls Trail follows the Ohanapecosh River to a waterfall that drops into a narrow gorge, and in 2026 it is also your route to the hot springs. Box Canyon, a short drive west on Stevens Canyon Road, has a deep, narrow slot where the Muddy Fork runs far below a bridge; it has no potable water or flush toilets in 2026. Farther up Stevens Canyon Road, Reflection Lakes is about 19 miles west of Ohanapecosh.