Scenic Hot Springs WA: Hidden Hot Tubs in the Mountains

Are you dreaming of soaking in secret hot springs tucked away in Washington’s snowy backcountry?

Scenic Hot Springs is one of the most magical hot spring experiences in Washington State, complete with a hiking / snow shoeing adventure, alpine views steaming hot tubs located deep in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest.

Dave and I hiked to the hot springs during Winter, our snowshoes strapped on to help us through the deep snow, and trust me, it felt like stumbling into a fairytale!

But despite it’s dreamy look on social media, Scenic Hot Springs requires a lot of planning to get to and you cannot just show up. The springs are located on private property and require a reservation in advance. They are also kind of tricky to find if you don’t know what you’re doing.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to visit Scenic Hot Springs, including how to book your spot, what to bring and what to expect on the hike in, whether you are going in Summer or Winter. If you’re ready to combine epic views with adventure and a steamy soak, you are going to fall in love with this one.

Couple in Scenic Hot Springs in Washington

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Scenic Hot Springs – The Best Hot Spring Adventure in Washington

Table of Contents

Where exactly are the hot springs located?

Scenic Hot Springs are located near Stevens Pass and Skykomish in Washington State. We visited the hot springs while staying at the Insta famous cabin, Sky Haus which was only around a 10 minute drive from the trailhead so it made the perfect base.

From Vancouver BC: 4 hour drive
From Seattle: 2 hour drive
From Leavenworth: 45 minutes drive

You will receive the exact directions of where to park for Scenic Hot Springs and where the trail starts once you book your reservation to visit the hot springs.

Another fun thing to do whilst you are in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area, is to visit Leavenworth. Leavenworth is a Bavarian style Christmas town that comes alive with Christmas lights and festivities during December! I have a guide with a list of fun things to do in Leavenworth during Christmas.

Dreamy places to stay near the hot springs

There are some absolutely gorgeous cabins to stay near the hot springs so I highly recommend making a fun weekend trip out of it! We stayed at Sky Haus which is beautiful and has a hot tub of its own but a little on the pricey side. Luckily there are some of other cute and cozy cabins in the area.

The Sea Containers Su – This cabin looks sooo freakin cool with a sauna that looks out over the river and I would absolutely love to stay here. It is located in Index so a bit further away (30 minutes drive to the hot springs).

The Treehouse Cabin S – part of the same group as the Sea Containers, the Treehouse is an A frame cabin on stilts! It looks amazing, especially for photo opps!

The A-Frame at SkyCamp – Yes another A Frame but more affordable than Skyhaus and in the same location so only a 10 minute drive to the hot springs!

Visiting Scenic Hot Springs in Winter

You can visit Scenic Hot Springs all year round, however the trail closes if there are dangerous weather conditions such as storms, flooding or avalanche risk.

Visiting these hot springs is one of the BEST things to do in Skykomish, especially in Winter when the forest turns into a magical wonderland!

If you visit Scenic Hot Springs during Winter, I recommend using micro spikes or snow shoes. We opted for snowshoes on this trail and it’s actually the only trail so far in our Winter hiking careers where we’ve found snowshoes helpful.

As there are only 10 people max on the trail per day, the snow can get quite deep and slippery. A lot of the cabins in the area may include snowshoes that you can borrow so check with them before you go and buy yourself a pair.

You can also visit in Summer, Spring and Fall. If you are in Washington during Summer, this is another hike that you should check out while you are there in the Mount Baker area.

girl soaking in Scenic Hot Springs in Winter

Hot Spring Etiquette

When visiting any hot springs, you should abide by a certain etiquette and respect other hot spring soakers.

Clothing is optional in Scenic Hot Springs. This will be included in the information package that you will receive from the owner.
Pack out everything you bring in. There are no rubbish bins at the hot springs so you need to make sure you bring everything back out with you.
Respect others who are trying to relax and enjoy their time in the hot springs.

The trail to Scenic Hot Springs

The trail is 4.4 miles / 7km return to the hot springs with approximately 1,100ft / 335m elevation gain. The trail starts out with a small incline but then progressively gets steeper and steeper. With little to no flat sections, we would rate this trail as medium difficulty.

We are pretty used to hiking and it took us about 1 hour to reach the hot springs in the snow using snow shoes. We found the snow shoes helped ALOT as the snow was quite deep and uneven in sections.

The trail takes you through the forest which is absolutely magical after it has snowed! The last few metres down to the hot springs is a little bit of a scramble so make sure you watch your footing here, especially if you are going in Winter as it will probably be a little slippery. We took off our snow shoes for this section which made it easier.

What to expect at the hot springs

HOT SPRINGS UPDATE

The hot tubs were updated in 2024 which is after we visited so they will look a bit different to our photos. There are now 2 larger stone hot tubs with the old round tubs below them.

At the hot springs there is a small bench for your belongings with some hooks for coats and there is also a pit toilet a little further down the trail.

When we were there, there 3 hot tubs in total, with the first one being warm, the middle quite a bit hotter and the furthest is the hottest. I’m not sure if they are still going to be different temperatures or not now that they have been renovated but I really liked this feature. Make sure you have a bottle of water with you to stop you from getting too dehydrated while enjoying the hot springs.

How to book Scenic Hot Springs

As the hot springs are located on private property, you need to read the conditions of visiting, book a time slot and pay a small fee before receiving instructions from the owner on how to find the hot springs. Only 10 people are accepted to visit the hot springs per day.

If you show up without a booking, you risk your car getting towed which would leave you stranded as the hot springs are pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

The process of booking a time slot to visit the hot springs is WAY easier now that the website has been updated.

Step 1. Choose your timeslot

Choose your time slot on the owners website.

The availability calendar will help you see what dates are availability and how many people have booked so far that day. There are a maximum of 10 people allowed to visit the hot springs each day. After that, the day will show as fully booked.

Once you have found an available time slot, click on it and choose the number of people before hitting book.

You can also book out the hot springs to have them to yourselves for the day with a maximum group of 10 people.

Step 2. Provide the details of your group and vehicle(s)

Next you will need to provide a few extra details to gain access to the hot springs. This is all included in the online form.

Name of Responsible Party:
Contact Phone
Emergency Contact
Number of People
Names of everyone in your group
Provide the make, colour and license number of the vehicle(s) you plan on using

Step 3. Read and sign the terms and conditions and pay the entrance fee

Once you have finished filling out all of your details and chosen your date, you will be taken to the terms and conditions. Everyone in your group should read the terms and conditions and then you will need to click the tick box saying you agree.

You will then be taken to a PayPal link where you will need to pay the fee of USD$25 per person. (This has gone up from $10 per person when we visited in 2023).

Step 4. Booking confirmed!

Once you have paid, you will receive confirmation of your booking with instructions on where to park and how to access the trail along with a map.

Can I bring my adventure pup?

Dogs are not allowed at Scenic Hot Springs due to health concerns and if you are caught with your dog on the property, you will be asked to leave.

What to bring with you to Scenic Hot Springs

When visiting Scenic Hot Springs make sure you are well prepared as the hike is long and the temperatures can be very cold in Winter. This is everything I brought with me when visiting the hot springs in Winter.

Swim Suit
Dry clothes to change into
Layers – a fleece, a puffer jacket and waterproof shell in case of rain or snow
A Beanie
Gloves
Towels
A bin bag for keep your belongings dry if it starts to rain or snow
Hiking Boots
Hiking Socks
Food – the hike is uphill 100% of the way so you will probably get pretty hungry
Water – water is important for not only the hike, but also while you are at the hot springs. Remember to keep hydrated while soaking.
Flip Flops or Tevas – we found these useful for getting from our boots to the water as we didn’t want to walk on the snow
Your booking confirmation – screenshot your confirmation in case you get asked for proof of booking
Snow Shoes – These were extremely helpful for walking in the deep snow
Micro Spikes – If the snow is not too deep, it will likely still be pretty slippery so micro spikes can make the hike much easier.
Hiking Poles – not necessary but if you like hiking with poles, bring them along as the help if the steep uphill.
Safety Items such as a first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, headlamps, a navigation device (Garmin or offline maps) and bear spray.