Scenic Hot Springs

What to expect

Scenic Hot Springs sits on a steep, forested slope high above US 2 on the west side of Stevens Pass, in the Cascades of King County. Hot water seeps out of the hillside and fills a small set of stone pools with views out over the valley. The pools are not chlorinated, there is no lodge or bathhouse, and the walk up is a real climb. It feels like a wild spring, but it is private property run on a booking system.

The owners list two natural stone pools and two smaller temporary tubs. The best known is the Monster pool, first dug out of a mud pot by volunteers in 1986, wrecked by vandals in 2016 and rebuilt in natural stone in 2024. Bear Den was restored beside it in 2025. The owners do not publish water temperatures, so test each pool before you get in.

Two things decide whether this is the right spring for you. First, it is reservation only, with no exceptions. Second, it is clothing optional: the owners say nudity is the norm in the pools and often on the trail.

A quick history

Railway surveyors found the springs in 1891, while the Great Northern was pushing its line over Stevens Pass. A hotel went up around 1900, was renamed the Scenic Hot Springs Hotel in 1903, burned in 1908 and was quickly rebuilt. The Great Northern bought it in the 1920s while building the long Cascade Tunnel, and the hotel was eventually destroyed.

For decades afterward the site was largely forgotten, until soakers began hiking up in the 1980s and building their own pools. That era ended in 2001, when King County shut the springs for health and safety violations, three pools and their decks were torn down, and the sheriff began treating visitors as trespassers. That is why many older guides still list Scenic as closed.

Sea to Sky Onsen (USA) Inc. bought the property in 2004. King County allowed three pools to be rebuilt in their historic spots in 2007 and 2008, and the owners now run access through online reservations.

Getting there

The trailhead is on US 2, the Stevens Pass Highway, about 10 miles east of Skykomish and roughly two hours from Seattle depending on traffic. The owners send exact directions and the current parking spot after you book. They use a separate summer and winter parking arrangement, and their condition reports say which one is in force.

Do not try to work out your own route. The land around the springs is private, and the owners say anyone without a booking will be removed.

The trail is about 2 miles each way with roughly 1,100 feet of elevation gain. It is steep and rough, and the owners describe it as requiring decent fitness and proper gear. In winter it is usually under snow. Their condition posts say when you need microspikes, snowshoes or skis.

Highway status: Flooding and slides in December 2025 closed long stretches of US 2 between Skykomish and Leavenworth. WSDOT reopened the highway in stages, with the final section through Tumwater Canyon back to two-way traffic on February 10, 2026. WSDOT warned that permanent repairs at Stevens Pass and Tumwater Canyon could bring further closures, so check WSDOT before you drive. If a highway closure blocks access, the owners let you reschedule.

When to go

The springs are open year-round. Summer and early fall give the easiest hike and the best chance of a dry trail. Winter is beautiful but harder: deep snow on a steep slope, short days, and the rule that you must be off the property by sunset. Reservations fill early on weekends, so book ahead.

Read the owners’ Current Conditions posts before you leave home. They cover trail snow, traction gear and which parking area to use.

Prices and booking

• Book online through the reservation page on the official site. Walk-ins are not permitted.
• Shared public access: a trail use fee, shown when you book.
• Private access: $450 in fall and winter (up to 15 people) or $375 in spring and summer (up to 10). Private slots are only offered when nobody has booked public access for that time.
• Groups of 6 or more must book private access.
• Cancellations, public access: full refund or free reschedule 14 or more days out; 50 percent refund or free reschedule 4 to 13 days out; nothing within 72 hours.
• Cancellations, private access: full refund or free reschedule 14 or more days out; 50 percent refund or free reschedule 6 to 13 days out; nothing within 5 days.
• Weather: no refunds for bad weather, but you can reschedule with at least 72 hours’ notice.

Rules and etiquette

• Daylight only. Be off the property before sunset.
• Age limits: you must be 18 to book, anyone under 18 needs a legally responsible adult, and children under 6 are not allowed.
• No pets. County health rules apply and visitors with pets are escorted out.
• No glass. Move drinks into shatterproof containers. The owners ask that any alcohol be kept to a minimum.
• Clothing optional, with no tolerance for lewd behavior.
• Stay out of the pools if you have open sores, a skin infection or stomach trouble.

Where to stay nearby

There is no lodging or camping at the springs.

• Skykomish, about 10 miles west on US 2, is the closest town, with a few basic services.
• Stevens Pass is just up the highway to the east, with ski area parking and services in season.
• Leavenworth, on the east side of the pass, has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants. It is also home to The Springs, a commercial soaking spot.
• Forest Service campgrounds along US 2 west of Skykomish are an option in summer; check the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest site for current openings.

Safety notes

• Winter travel: The owners ask winter visitors to carry extra layers (no cotton), food and water, two ways to start a fire and a charged phone. Take that seriously on a steep, snowy slope.
• Footing: The trail is steep and rough in any season, and wet rock around the pools is slick.
• Water: The pools are natural and untreated. Keep your head out of the water.
• Car security: Lock your car and leave nothing in sight at the trailhead.
• Signal: Coverage is poor at the parking area, so tell someone your plans before you leave the highway.

Nearby stops worth adding

If you want another reservation-only wild soak near Seattle, Goldmyer Hot Springs is off I-90 near North Bend and needs a longer hike. On the drive home, US 2 follows the Skykomish River west toward Monroe, with plenty of pull-offs.