Scenic Hot Springs

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The Scenic Hot Springs are a privately owned natural hot spring in Washington State that is not open to the public. Located high on a steep northwest slope, it is south of US Highway 2 , about 8 mi (12.9 km) west of Stevens Pass and adjacent to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness . Nearby, the Great Northern Railway had a stop for travelers to visit the source.

A cabin called Madison Hot Springs was built near the railway line in the 1890s to accommodate visitors to the hot springs who traveled by train from Seattle . The name was later changed to Scenic Hot Springs and survived as a commercial enterprise until 1928. When the Great Northern Railway built an 8 mi (12.9 km) tunnel under Stevens Pass, debris fell into the forecourt of the hut, causing its destruction. Largely forgotten until the 1980s, this later became a popular gathering point for mineral water bathers who built several pools with different temperatures.

In October 2001 the King County Sheriff closed the springs after the owners requested it and threatened all bathers with arrest for entering. Apparently the owner was unaware of what was going on on the property. The activity at the wells presented a liability risk and the fact that the area was protected and that no building permits had been issued was seen as a reason to demolish the roofs.

It is not clear whether the sources will ever be available again in the form prior to the 2001 events. A lot of vandalism and bad weather have resulted in a depreciation. The bottom line is that federal and state restrictions make it difficult to restore the sources to their original state. Since February 2018, conditional access to the springs has been granted to those who have received permission from the owner. Access requests can be made via the Scenic Hot Springs blog. It is not public land, although it is surrounded by it. As it is private property, owner consent is required. Hikers who enter the hot springs without prior contact with the owner risk having their car towed or have to pay an entry fee retrospectively.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gordy Holt: Hot springs bathers left high and dry . In: Seattle Post-Intelligencer , October 27, 2001. 
  2. ↑ Scenic Hot Springs Blog
  3. ^ Scenic on NorthWest Hotsprings

Coordinates: 47 ° 42 ′ 25 "  N , 121 ° 9 ′ 18"  W.