Olympic Hot Springs Trail

From Madison Falls, the first miles follow a broad, mostly smooth road through forest. About 0.9 mile in, take the narrow, uneven path through the trees around the washout, then rejoin the road. At about 2.45 miles you cross a bridge over the Elwha and pass Altair Campground. Glines Canyon Overlook comes roughly 3.5 miles from the start, at the former dam site. It is the strongest stopping point on the approach; after it, the road climbs and runs through madrona and evergreen forest, with few major views for more than seven miles. The last couple of miles narrow into an old roadbed that feels more like trail.

The named foot trail is mostly well maintained, generally flat overall, and has several small stream crossings. Beyond the wilderness boundary, the tread climbs before dropping more steeply past a large landslide to Crystal Creek, where the reported crossing is a log. Climb again, pass the spur for Boulder Creek Campground and its pit toilet, then follow the downhill branch toward the bridge over Boulder Creek. The spring pools are scattered along and just beyond the trail. Pay attention at the campground fork; one branch goes to camp, the other toward the spring bridge.

These are natural seeps, not a resort or maintained bathing pools. The water is not tested or treated and may contain harmful bacteria; temperatures are not monitored, so take care around each pool. Nudity is common. The ground around the pools can be muddy, and some pools sit a little away from the main tread.

Klallam people have lived with the Elwha watershed for millennia. Two dams, Elwha in 1913 and Glines Canyon in 1927, blocked salmon runs without fish passage. After Congress authorized restoration in 1992, both dams were removed by 2014, and salmon were spawning in the park again within months. The overlook gives you a clear place to pause and think about that change before the long climb farther up the valley.

Start at Madison Falls Trailhead, where parking and turning space are limited and an accessible vault toilet is available. Boulder Creek Campground has a pit toilet; if you collect water from Boulder Creek, take it above the hot-spring confluence and treat it. Food service along the route was not found. If the full day is too much, Glines Canyon Overlook makes a meaningful shorter turnaround at about 3.5 miles each way, with the dam-removal story but no springs. Overnight camping in the wilderness requires a permit.