Washington Hot Springs

Stylized illustration, not a photo — the real place looks different (and that’s half the fun).

Washington is short and access-truth heavy: four verified soaks, three of them Primitive. Sol Duc puts mineral resort pools in the rainforest of Olympic National Park. Olympic Hot Springs is a long road-walk to wild forest pools in the same park; Scenic needs a permit and a steep Cascade climb near Skykomish; Goldmyer is a reservation-only soak in an old mining cave near North Bend. Rainforest resort on one end, limited-access Cascades on the other — check permits and reservations before you point the trip at a soak.

Soak smart: water temps vary and can scald, primitive pools are use-at-your-own-risk, and access, permits, and clothing-optional rules change. Check current conditions and never soak alone in remote spots.