kennedy hot springs?

Is it possible to get to the kennedy hot springs TH in winter?

Not anymore--FR 23 has been washed out at 1.4 miles since Oct 2003, leaving 9.6 miles to reach the TH. In addition, the White Chuck trail has not yet been rebuilt since then.  From the Mt Baker-Snoq NF website ,

"White Chuck Road 23 Repairs: The Environmental Assessment for Road 23 is ongoing and is expected to be completed this year. Repairs are scheduled for 2007."

"Reconnaissance work on the White Chuck Trail – the most severely damaged trail as a result of the flood – was completed in 2004. A new four mile long trail was staked during the 2005 field season.; Environmental compliance work is in progress. Funding to rebuild the trail is being sought through various granting agencies at this time. Work could commence in 2007 if funding is secured."

See www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/flood-damage-roads/index.shtml and www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/trail-flood-damage-status.shtml .


Despite the difficult access, the route past the numerous road and trail washouts is apparently not completely impassible.  I spoke with a hiker atop Sourdough Mtn (N Cascades) in Sept, who mentioned that he had hiked in that way and spent 4 days backpacking on the W side of Glacier Peak.

I had heard that Kennedy Hot Springs was gone after those 2003 storms. I guess it was buried by mud slides or something.

I had heard that Kennedy Hot Springs was gone after those 2003 storms. I guess it was buried by mud slides or something.

Run a search on nwhikers for Kennedy Hot Springs. There have been a few people that went down there from Lake Byrne and put up TRs. The photos in the TRs should be enough to convince you that the springs are probably gone.
As hot springs go, Kennedy was kind of a downer anyways. Not hot enough, murky, and small.

Every hot spring outside of Termas De Chillan (Chile) is kind of a let down....well, ok, except for some boilers in the Eastern Sierra. Thanks for the info, exactly what I was looking for.

I agree ! Jill and I are heading back to Chile and Argentina this August/September to ski a few volcanos and ski areas we missed back in 2005 and do some more hot spring soaking. The hot springs in Eastern Sierras are plentiful and the views at some are amazing.