Olympic Hot Springs facts for kids

Olympic Hot Springs, October 2007

Olympic Hot Springs is located in Olympic National Park, Washington, United States. The springs contain 21 seeps near Boulder Creek, a tributary of the Elwha River. The temperature varies from lukewarm to 138 °F (59 °C).

History

Olympic Hot Springs were used by the Klallam Tribe for centuries as a place for vision quests. With the help of a Klallam friend, Andrew Jacobsen in 1892 was the first person of European descent to make it to the hotsprings. They were rediscovered in 1907, after which a trail was blazed to the springs and a resort was built.

A resort existed on the site until 1966 when its lease with the National Parks expired. Since then the site has not been developed and the buildings that existed have been removed.

Description

The spring is accessed by using the Appleton Pass Trail which is about a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) relatively easy hike. In winter, due to snow, the road is closed near former Lake Mills and adds 4 miles (6.4 km) to the hike, and more elevation gain. Another hot spring in the area is the developed Sol Duc Hot Springs.The springs lie on a fault and it is likely that the breaks in the rock allow surface water to be heated and driven back from the hot interior of the earth. However geologists say they are uncertain of the mechanism that produce the springs.

The depth of the pools averages around one foot. Some pools are deeper due to rocks being placed to block the exit of the spring water.

Images for kids

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  Washed out section of Olympic Hot Springs Road on the Elwha River