Olympic Hot Springs facts for kids

Olympic Hot Springs, October 2007

Olympic Hot Springs are natural warm pools found in Olympic National Park in Washington, United States. Imagine water bubbling up from deep underground! There are about 21 different spots where this warm water comes out, near a stream called Boulder Creek. The water temperature can be different in each spot, from just warm to about 59 degrees Celsius (138 degrees Fahrenheit).

A Look Back: History of the Hot Springs

For hundreds of years, the Klallam Tribe used Olympic Hot Springs as a special place. They would go there for important spiritual journeys.

In 1892, a man named Andrew Jacobsen, with help from a Klallam friend, became the first person of European background to reach the springs. Later, in 1907, the springs were "rediscovered." After that, a path was made to the springs, and a resort was built there.

The resort stayed open until 1966. That's when its agreement with the National Parks ended. Since then, the area has been left natural, and all the old buildings have been taken away.

Exploring the Hot Springs

You can reach the hot springs by hiking on the Appleton Pass Trail. It's usually an easy hike of about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers).

During winter, there's often a lot of snow. This means the road closes further away, adding about 4 more miles (6.4 kilometers) to your hike. It also means you'll walk uphill more. Another well-known hot spring in this area is Sol Duc Hot Springs, which has been developed for visitors.

How the Hot Springs Work

The hot springs are located on a crack in the Earth called a fault. Scientists think that rainwater seeps deep into the ground through these cracks. The water then gets heated by the hot rocks inside the Earth. After heating up, the water is pushed back up to the surface, creating the hot springs.

Even though they have ideas, geologists (scientists who study rocks and the Earth) are still not completely sure how these specific springs work.

The Pools

The natural pools at Olympic Hot Springs are usually about one foot (30 centimeters) deep. Some pools might be deeper because people have placed rocks to help block the water from flowing out.

Images for kids

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  A section of Olympic Hot Springs Road that was washed out by the Elwha River.