Kennedy Hot Springs Trail NOTE: WHITE CHUCK ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 7/6 THRU 8/5 ABOUT 1.5 MILES BEFORE THE TRAIL HEAD FOR BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. Call Darrington ranger. We had a great hike in the rain. This was my first trip on this trail and my first hike to a hot spring. Rain improves wilderness solitude a lot! We saw only 5 people all day on this the start of the 4th of July Holiday weekend. There were 5 or 6 serious mud holes, 2 or 3 washouts that had been repaired, all downed trees removed, and all bridges in place although the last little bridge just before the hot springs is partially broken. The big bridge over the river is in fine shape. There were a few snow patches on the last mile before the springs but snow in the woods started at 2500 ft. The backpackers that we met at the hot springs had explored up Kennedy Ridge and told us that they didn't hit serious snow until the tree line, just snow patches below. This is a wonderful forest trail. It climbs near the White Chuck river always within sound of the river, and sometimes within sight. There are campsites right on the river bank at 2.5 miles . There is a 3 star waterfall at the crossing of Pumice creek. At about 4.7 miles there is a hard to see waterfall on the river in a deep narrow gorge. Prior to this there are views down to the river from 200 ft or so as the trail traverses a sand cliff. Canadian Dogwood blooms lined the lower trail and Trillium were common singly and in little garden clusters on the upper portion as were Bleeding Heart. I observed about 15 kinds of flowers. It's a big tree forest and the giants are all cedars, 4, 5, and 6 footers up to 200 ft. tall. At lunch next to the hot spring we were visited by a beautiful Hummingbird. Dinner at the Sandwich shop in Darrington was very good and cheap. Also try their hand made chocolates. 11 miles roundtrip , 3 hours up, 2 hr 40 min down, about 2 hours drive from north Seattle.

Snow covered the gravel road around the bridge at the upper entrance so we had to hike across the bridge. The snow ends as soon as you reach the trail. If you want to take a hike that will give you solitude, this hike is the one. The only noise is you, the small streams, and the nearby Sauk River. It has been hot, so bring lots of water.

This trail is in good shape, very little snow and never deep. Only problem is snow on the road the last half mile before the bridge. I did not have 4wd and that still wouldn't have been useful over the bridge. I had to park on a turnout and walk through snow to the trailhead. Otherwise, beautiful views and lots of peace and quiet.

Trail is in excellent condition. 3 Trees down but easy to step over. Crossing of Crystal Creek on a slippery, slanted log. This crossing would be more difficult if a crew of volunteers (Thank you!) had not carved some steps into the slanted log and nailed a piece of expanded sheet metal as anti-skid precautionary measure to another log. As of 1 July 1998, the crossing was not nearly as difficult as an earlier posting of the USFS info on the WTA web site would lead you to believe.