Taking a dip in the Sol Duc Hot Springs in Olympic National Park is an amazing experience. This is one of the top bucket list things to do in Olympic NP.
Sol Duc Hot Springs
Taking a dip in the Sol Duc Hot Springs should be on every visitor's to-do list when visiting Olympic National Park.
Located next to the cabins at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort you can stay and play in this gorgeous part of the park
Sol Duc Hot Springs is located in Olympic National Park near the Sol Duc River on the Olympic Peninsula and offers the opportunity to soak in amazing hot pools.
When you think of hot springs you may picture a natural pond surrounded by rocks that you have to hike out to. One of the really cool things about Sol Duc Hot Springs is the pools look like normal swimming pools.
You don’t have to hike farther than walking from the parking lot into the main building and through to the pool deck to enjoy these hot springs.
There are three hot springs at Sol Duc Resort and regular cool water swimming pool. The hot water is fed into the pools directly from the hot springs.
The three pools range in temperature from 98 to 104 with varying temperatures based on how many people have been in the pools, time of day, and season.
- Mineral Water Wading Pool: approximately: 98F / 37C / 6-8' deep
- Large Mineral Fountain Pool: approximately 101F / 38C / 3' deep (meets accessibility standards)
- Medium Mineral Pool: approximately 104F / 40C / 3' deep
- Freshwater Pool: Varies seasonally between 50F - 85F / 10C - 30C (universally accessible)
As a guest, you can enjoy moving between the pools easily to find the one that is just right for you.
It is worth remembering to bring a water bottle with you so you do not get dehydrated soaking in the hot pools.
There is an hot springs restaurant that offers full dining and drinks next to the pools. It is a great place to take a break from the hot pools for a few minutes and grab something to eat.
Locker rooms are available onsite with showers and lockers.
There is a gift shop right when you enter the main entrance that has great gifts and products.
Guests of the Sol Doc Hot Springs Resort have entrance to the hot pools included in their room rates which is a great benefit for staying in this part of Olympic National Park.
We loved that the resort offers access to the mineral hot spring pools. It was such a great way to start our day before heading out to explore the nearby hiking trails and old growth forest.
Travel Tips
Pack flip flops or slip-on shoes for walking on the pool decks.
Don’t forget to pack a water bottle to stay hydrated. There is no glass allowed on the pool deck so make sure you have a plastic water bottle
Plan to spend at minimum a few hours at Sol Duc Hot Springs. It is so relaxing soaking in the hot pools you will not want to leave.
Sol Duc Hot Springs History
Sol Duc Hot Springs is a natural hot spring located within the Olympic National Park. The hot springs have a long history of use by the Native tribes who inhabited the region for thousands of years. Later the springs were used by European settlers and tourists.
The native Quileute and Makah tribes have a long history of using the hot springs for medicinal and spiritual purposes. They believed that the hot springs had healing properties and would often visit the springs to bathe and seek spiritual guidance.
In the late 1800s, a European settler was shown the springs, thus beginning more than 100 years of tourism to the site. In the early 1900s, the hot springs became a popular tourist destination, with the construction of a hotel and bathhouse at the site.
The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, as it came to be known, opened in 1912. It was a popular destination for tourists seeking to relax and rejuvenate in the hot springs.
Although the original resort was built in 1912, it is not the resort you see today. The original building burned down in 1916. It was rebuilt in the 1920s, operating until the mid-1960s when the property was purchased by the National Park Service.
The Legend of Sol Duc Hot Springs
The name of the Hot Springs, Sol Duc, is a Quelliette term that translates to ‘sparkling water.’ The Native tribes who lived in Olympic National Park long before the first Spanish explorer discovered the region, told tales of the origin of the healing hot springs.
The legend of how the spring came into being tells of two dragons who lived in the Sol Duc and Elwha Valleys. Neither dragon knew that the other existed, until one day they met on a ridge between the two valleys. The dragons fought, outraged that the other had dared trespass on their land.
Both dragons were equal in strength and skill, so one could not beat the other. The dragons eventually admitted defeat, leaving the ridge to cry in caves in their territories. According to legend. It was these hot tears that created the warm waters of the Sol Duc Hot Spring.
Sol Duc Hot Springs as a Tourist Destination
For over 100 years people have sought out the supposed natural healing waters of the springs. The first European to be shown the hot springs by the Quileute tribe was Theodore Moritz. He had settled on the Quillayute River. After being shown the springs in the 1880s, Moritz filed a homestead claim on the property that is now home to the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.
Moritz built a simple bathhouse on the site, tents with wooden floors for visitors, and a dining room. It was not until 1912 that a more elaborate resort was constructed by a wealthy timberman.
Visitors to the springs drank from the mineral rich spring and soaked in its warm waters believing it could cure any illness or any aches and pains. One visitor in particular was so impressed by the healing properties of the mineral dense waters of the spring, that he decided to buy the property. A wealthy timberman by the name of Michael Earles believed the spring had cured him of a serious illness.
In 1909 the timber baron became the owner of the land when Moritz died. Earles built an elaborate and luxurious hotel at the site. Earles spent over half a million dollars on the resort. Upon completion in 1912, the four-star Sol Duc Resort boasted 165 rooms, a 100-room sanitorium, a large bathhouse, tennis courts, a gymnasium, and more.
People traveled from across the United States to visit the impressive resort, some visitors even made the trek from Europe for the sole purpose of drinking and soaking in the healing waters of the hot spring.
The Resorts of Sol Duc Hot Springs
Sadly, in 1916 a fire ripped through Earles grand resort, caused by a faulty chimney. The fire virtually leveled the resort. The fire did not end the tradition of tourism at the Sol Duc Hot Springs, but none of the resorts that have followed rival the grandeur and luxury of Earles hotel.
In the 1920s another resort was built on the site, aimed at middle-class families. The modest resort operated until the 1960s when the National Park Service acquired the property. The NPS rebuilt the resort in 1989. Today, Sol Duc Hot Springs remains a popular destination within the Olympic National Park.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Address - 12076 Sol Duc-Hot Springs Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363
Entrance Fee
Passes are available for purchase on site.
| Adults (Age 12+) | $15.00 |
| Children (Age 0-3) | FREE (with limited pool access) |
| Children (Age 4-11) | $11.00 |
| Senior Citizens (62+), Disabled, or Military | $11.00 |
| Twilight Hour Pool Rate (Last 2 Hours of Daily Schedule) | $11.00 |
| Book of 10 Pool Passes | $110.00 |
| Season Pass | $150.00 |
| Locker Rental | FREE |
| Towel Rental (Towels are for rent as available) | $3.00 |
| Groups (25+ guests) Adults | $11.00 |
| Groups (25+ guests) Children ages 4-12 | $10.00 |
Sol Duc Hot Springs Pool Hours
| Spring | April 24 - May 21 | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Summer | May 22 - September 6 | 9:00 am - 9:00 pm |
| Fall | September 7 - October 25 | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Winter | Starting October 26 | Closed |
Closest Lodging
Closest Camping
Sol Duc RV Campground
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
Nearby Olympic National Park attractions
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Additional Olympic National Park Articles
Olympic National Park Lodging Guide
Olympic National Park camping guide
Check out all of the Washington National Parks along with neighboring Oregon National Parks, Idaho National Parks, National Parks in Hawaii, and National Parks in Alaska
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply