Longmire Mineral Springs

Pierce County, Washington · Near Buckley
46.7520°N, 121.8140°W · 2,758 ft
77°F 49°F air · Good soaking weather 2,758 ft Open Short Walk National Park Service Camping nearby (1.4 mi)

Longmire Mineral Springs are a cluster of mineral seeps inside Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington. The reading on file puts them in the high seventies, warm to the hand and nothing more. This is a spring to look at. Access is open, and the closest town in the record, Buckley, is about thirty miles off.

Location

The springs sit a few hundred feet off the Longmire-to-Paradise Road, on National Park Service land. Elevation is moderate, under three thousand feet, on the lower part of the mountain. The climate is the wettest kind: ninety inches of precipitation with a winter snowpack measured in hundreds of inches, according to the record.

Cougar Rock Campground is about a mile and a half away. Winter months are rated best on file, but the Longmire-to-Paradise Road sees heavy snow, so check if the park has it open. National park rules apply. The chemistry sample, from 1983, found the water mildly acidic with iron and sulfate present. No burn risk at these temperatures.

History of Longmire Mineral Springs

Longmire sits within Mount Rainier National Park, and USGS holds a site record for the springs that includes a water sample from September 1983.

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 Longmire Mineral Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Longmire Mineral Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Longmire 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
577 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
97 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 43% 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
34°
Jan
32°
Feb
36°
Mar
40°
Apr
48°
May
54°
Jun
62°
Jul
64°
Aug
57°
Sep
47°
Oct
37°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 90.2 in Annual Snow: 311.6 in
Best Time to Visit
February Air 32°F · Water 77°F · +45° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 77°F · +45° contrast
January Air 34°F · Water 77°F · +44° contrast
February offers 32°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
49°F
NNE 0.0 mph 99% Good soaking weather
Today 57° Low 44° Chance Light Rain 27% precip
Spring is +20° warmer
Wednesday 71° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +6° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +3° warmer
Friday 72° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +5° warmer
Saturday 75° Low 51° Mostly Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +2° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1983-09-02

The water at Longmire Mineral Springs is slightly acidic (pH 5.8). It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), and sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration).

pH 5.8 Slightly Acidic
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 500 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 190 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 710 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 30 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 940 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 70 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Cougar Rock Campground 1.4 mi away

Overview Cougar Rock Campground, on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, is conveniently located near Paradise. Individual campsites are reservable on this page. Group campsite reservations can be made via Cougar Rock Group Campground.  Paradise is the most popular destination in the park, with a lodge and visitor center, many miles of hiking trails and a commanding view of the mountain-the highest in the state and Cascade range. The main attraction at Mount Rainier National Park...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
77°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 77°F (25°C)
Avg Air Temp 45°F
Above Ambient +32°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Longmire-to-Paradise Road
Distance to Road 433 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency National Park Service
Designation National Park
Unit Mount Rainier National Park
Manager National Park Service
Protection 1 - Permanent protection, natural state
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Longmire Mineral Springs?
Longmire Mineral Springs has a water temperature of 77°F (25°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Longmire Mineral Springs located?
Longmire Mineral Springs is located in Pierce County, Washington at 2,758 feet elevation, near Buckley. Coordinates: 46.7520°N, 121.8140°W.
How do I get to Longmire Mineral Springs?
Longmire Mineral Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Longmire-to-Paradise Road (433 ft from the road).
Is Longmire Mineral Springs free to visit?
Longmire Mineral Springs has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Longmire Mineral Springs?
Yes, Cougar Rock Campground is located nearby (1.4 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Longmire Mineral Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 5.8 (slightly acidic).
Sources: USGS NWIS