Some Thoughts on Winter Visits ...

Winter is certainly the best time to visit and soak in a natural hot springs but there are some considerations you should examine before you make a request to come on up.  Please think these over in deciding whether you want to make an attempt to hike up in winter snow conditions.  Remember that you accept responsibility for conditions, expected or unexpected.  We do not control the weather.

To Make Your Request a Little Smoother ...

Check the calendar in the sidebar.  Get an idea of how many people have requested access.
We have a limit of the max. number of visitors per day.  When we approach 10-12 we will cut off any further requests.
Give us time to respond.  We both have day jobs and often cannot respond to last minute requests.  We must have a Release From Liability statement from anyone wishing to visit Scenic Hot

Another Great Trip Report

Thank you for giving me and my wife permission to visit the hot spring! We've always enjoyed soaking in hot springs before but that was in Asia. After
going to your hot spring, all of our wonderful memories came back and the
best part was that we didn't have to fly overseas!

This was our first snowshoe hike this season, and we are also kind of out
of shape, so the steep hike was quite

Hot Spring Trip Report

We love to receive trip reports from our visitors . . . and we especially love to receive positive reports like Jeff's:

Thanks for giving Kevin and I permission to go! It was a great experience. I had not expected the hike to be as challenging as it was, even though I was prepared to face snow and stay warm, I still was not prepared mentally for it. Once we started walking to the gate we

Snow Coming

Some weather reports have a early winter storm bringing one to two feet of snow to the Central Cascades this weekend.  Be prepared ..

Alcohol & Soaking

This past week we again had to assist an group of soakers get safely off the hot springs property due to irresponsible use of alcohol.  Two young men and a woman went up to the springs (without permission).  When they were encountered up there it became not so much a matter of asking them to leave . . . but a recognition that once again people are under-estimating their ability to deal with

A Quick History of Scenic Hot Springs

Often requested is a short history of the springs.  The history of the springs is fascinating . . . inextricably tied to the railway and the early history of Washington . . . at then, still a territory.  The story begins with the original federal land grants to the railroad and magnates like James Hill of the Great Northern Railroad (now BNSF) and Frederick Weyerhaeuser of timber fame.  The

Cold Temps Are Coming

Scenic traditionally gets its first snowfall around the middle of October each year.  I suspect that this year will be no different and, in fact, forecasts are predicting a wetter and colder winter season this year.  Already, the nighttime lows for Stevens Pass are dipping into the below freezing range.  Stevens Pass is at 4,000 ft . . . the hot springs are only 500 ft lower (at 3,500 ft).  It

Late Night Trespassers

A continuing problem and one we are going to deal with, involving law enforcement.  Two samples from last week . . . if this is you, you are not welcome at Scenic.  If we catch you at Scenic we will have charges pressed.


I'm particularly concerned with the individual carrying what appears to be a shotgun . . . accompanied by half a dozen dogs and inadequately dressed accomplices.  Are these

Soaking in Wet Weather

Autumn is upon us with cooler weather . . . soon to be cold weather.  A sensible precaution from Matt . . . carry a couple of large trash bags with you and use them to keep your clothing and other belongings dry while you soak.  The plastic trash bag will keep your clothes safe and out of the rain . . . and also prevent the huge amount of humidity near the springs from dampening your clothes and

Scenic Clean Up Party this coming Saturday (Oct 1st, 2011)

This coming Saturday we will be having one of our last improvement events of this season in preparation for the winter weather.  We need to do some serious brush and vegetation clearing about halfway up the trail in preparation of an alternative trail route and a staging area for old construction material.



Matt will host this event starting at 11am at the gate off the highway.  What is needed

Cameras at Scenic

There is a rumor being spread locally that there are cameras all over the place at Scenic.  While that is somewhat true, those cameras are located in the lower areas focusing on the parking area and the trailhead.  They are there to deter trespassing and vandalism . . . and hopefully to prosecute criminal activity that used to take place in the past.



We want to assure all guests and legal

Clean Up Party this Saturday (Sep 17th 2011)

This Saturday is the makeup day for the cancelled clean up last weekend.  I know it is short notice so I hope some of you can make it.

Matt will be hosting the clean up around 11am and the goal of this event is to clear brush and vegetation on the short spur road halfway up to the springs.  This spur will be used later as a staging area for debris above the springs, and also as an alternative

This Saturday's Clean Up is Cancelled

Due to a family emergency, the clean up scheduled for Saturday, Sept 10th, 2011, is cancelled due to a family medical emergency.  Thanks to all those who offered to help.  We will try to schedule another clean up next week on the following Saturday.

Caution: Moose on property

There are reports of a single aggressive moose wandering the clearcut of the property.  Please be cautious and aware, and make plenty of noise so as not to startle the moose should it be around.

Some pics from Tony (who was helping out on the property at the time).  his words:  Here are the best pictures we could get of the moose at scenic,  since
all we had was a cell phone.   I think they do

Scenic Cleanups Coming Up

Two cleanup parties are scheduled at Scenic Hot Springs in the near future:


Wednesday, Sept 7th, 2011 hosted by Rick and,
Saturday,  Sept 10th, 2011 hosted by Matt


Wednesday, Sept 7th, 2011 at 11am

This coming Wednesday promises to finally bring some really nice, warm weather . . . something we've missed on the last two cleanups.  This cleanup will start at 11am with sign-in at the gate.  

Scenic Access, Cleanups & the next Clean Up

Thanks to everyone who dropped by on the previous two cleanups at Scenic.  We made some major progress in clearing vegetation that was beginning to crowd the trail and at this last clean up, made a huge dent in organizing that large pile of debris left over from the destruction years ago.  For those of you who have been up to Scenic, that pile of rubbish left over from the county demolition was

Scenic clean up this Wednesday

Scenic Hot Springs is closed this Wednesday for a clean up event.  Those not participating will be turned away.

Short notice weekday event.  We need to get a start of that large debris pile on the bench above the hot springs.  What we would like to do is classify and sort some of the stuff and move the more useless stuff lower on the trail for easier disposal.

Also need someone with a chainsaw

Scenic closed for the Scouts Aug 19 & 20th

The Hot Springs have been reserved exclusively for a Boy Scout camping and community service event on Friday and Saturday (Aug 19th and 20th until 4pm).  Please respect this event and let the scouts enjoy their weekend.  Matt and myself will be making spot checks this weekend to insure their enjoyment.

Earn an Annual Pass

Participate in four cleanup events during the season at Scenic Hot Springs and get an annual pass good for a year.  Washington State Parks offers an Discover annual pass after 35 hours of volunteer work.  We offer a chance to visit and soak up at Scenic . . . subject to availability . . . after only four participating events averaging six to eight hours (or 24 to 32 hours of volunteering your

Wednesday's Clean Up Party

Well, we have an ambitious agenda for this coming Wednesday but we don't have to accomplish everything . . . there are plenty of more sunny days for additional clean-up parties.  What we would most like to accomplish is trash pickup and vegetation removal on the trail.  Anything else is a bonus.



This springs will be closed to visitors all day Wednesday.  It would be nice if we could get some

Scenic Clean Up Party this coming Wednesday

There will be a clean-up party at Scenic Hot springs this coming Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 starting around 11am.  More details will be posted soon.  Hope many of you can attend and help keep this serene location beautiful and enjoy the comadre of friends.  More details by tomorrow.

Scenic Hot Spring Conditions (as of May 30th)

In general:  The snow melt has dropped the temps of the Lobster Feeds to very cold.  Therefor that pool's feed has been redirected.

The other pool is fed from a different set of hot springs sources and those temperatures are remaining good.  The water in the Bear Den Pool is around 105F and a good soak.



A large tree has fallen just off the FS road near the gate



First evidence of snow just

Scenic Hot Spring Conditions

Addendum:  Since this post conditions have changed drastically in the Cascades.  The predicted La Nina snow has arrived and we have had winter storm alerts for the Cascades for most of the past week and into this coming week (Feb-Mar).  


New snow of 12-15 inches, compacted to the ground.  Snowshoes are not necessary, even off trail.  There are some areas of melt and freezing producing ice

Expected Scenic Conditions

There have been a lot of questions posed about the conditions of Scenic Hot Springs.  I'd like to offer some clarification of what we expect the conditions to be, considering the unseasonable weather we have been having.



Scenic in Feb 2006 during the last La Nina 

What is happening is that the Northwest is in an unstable La Nina cycle.  As OnTheSnow.com reports:
It appears to be La Nina's

Winter Storm Damage at Scenic Hot Springs

Four feet of the road edge gone after slide from Honeymoon Creek from above
This winter turned out to be warmer than expected and we have received significant early rainfall that coupled with the snow on the ground as fully saturated the mountainside.  After the last major rainstorm at the beginning of this month, the hillside at Honeymoon Creek slid down across the BPA access road, taking out

The construction of the Bagby bathhouses in 1983-86

From Mike Rysavy: A treat on the history of Bagby Hot Springs.

As some may know, Bagby has recently been threatened with being turned over to a private concessionaire as well as threats to enforce the No Nudity rules of the Forest Service.  These two issues are still under consideration with both AANR and TNS involved.  For the meantime, reports are that the Forest Service has no intention of