Scenic Hot Springs – The Best Hot Spring Adventure in Washington
Scenic Hot Springs in Washington State is a hiking / snow shoeing adventure where you end at three steaming hot tubs located deep in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest.
You might have seen these hot tubs on social media, but have no idea how to get to them and whether you need to book or not. The answer is yes, you do need to book a spot at the hot springs to visit, but more on that later in this guide.
Scenic Hot Springs are some of the best hot springs in Washington but they are also some of the hardest to find! As the hot springs are located on private property, there is a bit of a process that you will need to go through to get there.
All of these details are provided in this guide so that you will have everything you need to go on your own Scenic Hot Springs adventure!
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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, Tye Haus which was only around a 10 minute drive from the trailhead.
From Seattle, the drive to the hot springs trailhead is about 2 hours.
You will receive the exact directions of where to park for Scenic Hot Springs and where the trail starts once you book a 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! A list of fun things to do in Leavenworth is located in our guide.
Dreamy Places to Stay Nearby
There are some absolutely gorgeous cabins to stay near the hot springs so I highly recommend making a fun weekend trip out of it!
Retro A-Frame Cabin – This 2 bedroom A-frame cabin is GORGEOUS and perfect for an adventure getaway!
Money Creek Lodge – If you have a larger group, this 5 Bed 2 Bath Vacation home in Skykomish is perfect! It has an outdoor hot tub and fire pit and a BBQ on the deck!
Sky River’s Edge – This cabin is located right on the river. Your hot tub views literally look out over the river! It is also a great cabin for large groups and sleeps 8 people.
For a larger list of dreamy cabins, click here!
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. As there are only 10 people max on the trail per day, the snow can get quite deep and slippery.
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
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.
There are 3 hot tubs in total, with the first one being warm, the middle quite a bit hotter and the furthest is the hottest. 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 fill out a form, 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 has changed this year and has become much more easy to navigate on the owners website.
Step 1. Complete the Form
Click on Reserve your visit on the owners website. First you will need to complete a form with your contact details before moving onto the date and number of people that you want.
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.
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
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 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 sign saying you agree.
You will then be taken to a PayPal link where you will need to pay the fee of USD$10 per person.
Step 4. Booking confirmed!
Once you have provided proof of payment, 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 we brought with us 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 – Smartwool hiking socks are our favourite
- 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 – 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 and bear spray.
For a full guide containing all of the things we take hiking, check out our hiking gear guide!
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