Garland Mineral Springs

Snohomish County, Washington · Near Gold Bar
47.8920°N, 121.3420°W · 1,560 ft
84°F 50°F air · Good soaking weather 1,560 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (1.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Garland Mineral Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Garland Mineral Springs
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Garland Mineral Springs is a warm spring in the Snoqualmie National Forest, Snohomish County, Washington, about sixteen miles from Gold Bar. The water is in the mid eighties. Forest Service land with public access listed as open. A USGS site number is attached. OpenStreetMap carries the same name. San Juan Campground is about a mile away.

Location

From Index-Galena Road it is a short walk, about a tenth of a mile. The elevation is around fifteen hundred feet. This is the wettest and snowiest spring in the batch, about ninety-nine inches of rain and snow a year and over thirty feet of snow. Forest Service land, National Forest designation.

Winter is the rated season, but the snow is extreme, so expect the road to be closed or difficult for months. A short walk from the road. San Juan Campground is about a mile off. Access is open. No chemistry is on file.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Garland Mineral Springs.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
877 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
115 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 66% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
32°
Jan
31°
Feb
35°
Mar
40°
Apr
49°
May
54°
Jun
61°
Jul
63°
Aug
56°
Sep
46°
Oct
36°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 99.0 in Annual Snow: 392.4 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 30°F · Water 84°F · +54° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 84°F · +53° contrast
January Air 32°F · Water 84°F · +52° contrast
December offers 33°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
50°F
NE 3.6 mph 99% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 53° Low 44° Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain 20% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Wednesday 64° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +20° warmer
Thursday 66° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +18° warmer
Friday 64° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +20° warmer
Saturday 66° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +18° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
San Juan Campground 1.2 mi away

A nice combination of sun and shade, this campground offers exploration of the North Fork of the Skykomish river when you're not sitting by the campfire roasting marshmallows.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
84°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 84°F (29°C)
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Above Ambient +40°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Index-Galena Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Snoqualmie National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Garland Mineral Springs?
Garland Mineral Springs has a water temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Garland Mineral Springs located?
Garland Mineral Springs is located in Snohomish County, Washington at 1,560 feet elevation, near Gold Bar. Coordinates: 47.8920°N, 121.3420°W.
How do I get to Garland Mineral Springs?
Garland Mineral Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Index-Galena Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Garland Mineral Springs free to visit?
Garland Mineral Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Garland Mineral Springs?
Yes, San Juan Campground is located nearby (1.2 miles away).