Mooncrow's Naturist Pages: St. Martins on Wind

Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002
From: Terry M <terry_outdoors@hotmail.com>

Wind River was the 1st Hot Springs that I ever went to, stopped by last month. Was nervous at first to be nude in public, but after the warm
welcome from the other people there...I've been back almost every week.

There were three pools there, the closest to the falls (fish ladder) was the hottest!

Week days are the best time to go, if you want to have a quite soak all to yourself. Was there on a Saturday and it became very crowded by noon. Also had some local kids stop by one weekday making comments about people nude, but they are young and might figure it out someday.

Highly recommended!!!

Terr

Subject: St. Martins on the Wind/Directions
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001
From: tim williams (lateoneoct@hotmail.com)

Visited St. Martins June 16, 2001. These hot pools are as good as the reviews say they are. On my visit late in the afternoon I found 5 or 6 hot pools. I was only able to try 3 of them due to the number of people. At times there were as many as 20 to as few as 10 folks enjoying the water. The pool furthest from the falls felt lukewarm. The 3rd pool had me sweating in ten minutes and the adjacent one was a bit cooler. I had a great time and will return as often as time permits.

It took me 15 to 20 minutes to reach the hot pools from the parking area. I followed the trail until it became too challenging. So I then walked along the river upstream over big rocks and bigger boulders. I'm in my thirties and in good shape and was walking and climbing as fast as I could. The pools are downstream from and in sight of the falls.

I found the directions in the '93-'94 revised edition of "Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest" by Jayson Loam and Marjorie Gersh useful in getting me in the right area but in need of an update. Follow the instructions north off of WA 14 onto Berge Rd.(do not confuse it with Bergen Rd!). Drive 3/4 mile up Berge Rd. On the left there is a sign and a road, Indian Cabin Rd. Turn left onto Indian Cabin Rd. At 1/2 mile the road will take you under a large power line and next to a power line tower. Keep going down. The road goes down to the river. At the river the road turns very sharply to the left,DO NOT GO TO THE LEFT. That way leads away from the hot pools. Where the road goes down to the river there is a gate on the right that on June 16,2001 was marked 'private property no trespassing'. This gate was open and against my better judgment I drove past the gate. The road led over a bridge and curved to the left to a parking area on the left that held 7-10 vehicles. At the corner of the parking lot was a fee box and the walking trail to the pools.

These instructions differ from the ones in the book and those I've seen on the internet. Where the Loam and Gersh book instructs to park 1/2 mile down Indian Cabin Rd. under a power line and look for a posted sign with further instructions I found nothing, however as I mentioned earlier my copy of the book is nearly ten years old.

Thanks to the St. Martin family, and to Loam and Gersh maybe its time I bought your latest book.

Subject: review of wind river HS in WA
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000
From: Kris murphtall@uswest.net

I loved this spring. It was raining when we went, but warm and fun
anyways. It costs $3/car + $2/extra person but we paid. The Trail was
slippery and scary at times but we made it. Here is my pict of the
springs. We found it via Evie Litton's book.
Kris Murray

Big M
dragontail
murphtall@uswest.net(noSpam)

Subject: wind river
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999
From: fageruud@webtv.net (rick johnson)

Spent a wonderful lunch at St Martins today. The fee is now 4.00 and a gate is locked past dark according to the signs. Thanks for the tip. Directions were good and the hike to the pools was beautiful. There were salmon in the river also. Very nice!

Subject: St. Martin's Wind River Hot Springs Visit
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998
From: Otrab@aol.com

Just spent a beautiful afternoon at the Wind river hot-spring (October 23). I had hiked only 10 minutes past the trail head, when I found a 4-person size hot-spring (apparently one-third as far as the main springs). The temperature was great (about 97 degrees F), the depth was about 3 feet. Someone is building a trail, down the embankment on the other side of the river, from this pool. I wonder if Mrs. St. Martin would accept an annual fee, for access to these springs? This IS a beautiful spot. I plan on spending many late fall and winter Friday afternoons here. Thanks for your cool website.

Date: Thu, 16 May 1996
From: EJRobins@aol.com
[Photo copyright by Dennis Williams]

St. Martins on the Wind is without a doubt the finest hotspring in Washington state.

It is located on the Wind River in southern Washington. The springs consist of several natural pools located on the edge of the Wind River. The actual number of pools and the temperature varies with the time of year and the height of the river.

The setting is what makes this such a memorable location. The Wind River itself is beautiful and the river banks in the area of the hot springs are made up of solid rock. The river flows down a small canyon with tall trees on both sides. The warm sun shines down into the canyon most of the day. The only sounds to be heard are the call of birds in the area and the rush of the river.

The springs themselves bubble up through sandy bottomed natural rock pools located at the rivers edge. If you get too warm, splash in the river for a quick cool off. If you start turning into a prune, find the perfect rock and bake in the sun for a while.

This is a very peacefull location. The roar of the river drowns out any sounds of civilation. It is easy to completely lose yourself in this setting. On a sunny summer weekend, when the site receives the greatest number of visitors, it is still not crowded.

St. martins on the Wind is located on the wind river aproximately 50 miles east of Vancouver, WA near the town of Carson. To visit the hot spring, drive east from Vancouver on SR 14 and continue past the turnoff for Carson. Pass milepost 49 and cross the Senator Al Henry bridge over the Wind River and then turn left onto Berge Road. Follow Berge Road for 3/4 mile and then turn left onto Indian Cabin Road. Follow Indian Cabin Road 3/4 mile to the very end. At the end of the road you will find a parking area. Park here. There is a parking fee of $2.00 per vehicle plus $2.00 per person.

The trail to the hot springs is aproximately one mile long and starts out as a legitimate trail, but quickly disintegrates, at which time it is best to drop down to the rivers edge and follow the river. Be very carefull! The river bank is strewn with boulders and you will find yourself climbing up, down and around as you find your way upstream. The footing is often unsure and the route can be treacherous.

The experience is well worth the hike. This is the most peacefull location I have found.

St. Martins on the Wind River, WASHINGTON

[Photo courtesy of EJ Robinson]