Sol Duc Hot Springs

With many of the trails at Olympic National Park still closed due to the wintery weather, we decided to spend our second day inside the park visiting Sol Duc Hot Springs.

a waterfall at the park

The hot springs have staggered entry, so after booking our tickets, we decided to have a picnic lunch and take a walk along the on-site trails.

walking along the trail

We enjoyed our short hike along the rainforest trail, though we kept our eyes out for predators along the way. After lunch we used our tickets to enter the Sol Duc Hot Springs.

Dad has his "bear stick"

The Sol Duc Hot Springs inside Olympic National Park are a series of naturally heated mineral pools set within a lush, old-growth forest, offering visitors a tranquil and rejuvenating experience in the heart of the park. 

The Sol Duc Hot Springs, long valued by local Native American tribes for their healing properties, first drew the interest of settlers in the 1880s. A luxury health resort was constructed in 1912 and quickly gained a reputation as one of the premier health and leisure destinations on the Pacific Coast before burning down just four years later, in 1916. 

A more modest resort was opened in the 20s and remained until the 90s when it was once again rebuilt in its current form.

the hot springs

The pools are very hot and smell strongly of Sulphur, which I guess is good for your skin or constitution or something. We enjoyed a dip, but after not too long the water became too hot for comfort and we got out. While I definitely enjoyed the springs, the surrounding nature was the most attractive part of Sol Duc for me.