14 Oregon Hot Springs That Are Totally Worth the Trip!
There’s something special about Oregon hot springs. Each one is an adventure. And there are certainly lots to choose from. The state’s volcanic geology makes sure of that.
You’re never too far away from one, whether in the Willamette Valley or Oregon’s eastern high desert; we have some awesome hot springs to help with those post-hike aches!
GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
Table of Contents
- 1. Bagby Hot Springs
- 2. Breitenbush Hot Springs
- 3. Wall Creek Warm Springs
- 4. McCredie Hot Springs
- 5. Cougar Hot Springs
- 6. Belknap Hot Springs
- 7. Bigelow Hot Springs
- 8. Umpqua Hot Springs
- 9. Paulina Lake Hot Springs
- 10. Summer Lake Hot Springs
- 11. Hart Mountain Hot Springs
- 12. Alvord Hot Springs
- 13. Snively Hot Spring
- 14. Willow Creek Hot Springs
- Tips for Visiting Hot Springs in Oregon
- More of Our Favorite Places in Oregon
1. Bagby Hot Springs
- 68 miles from Portland
- $5 entrance fee
- Clothing is optional
If you’ve ever thought about going for a soak in Oregon, you’ve probably come across Bagby Hot Springs.
This one-of-a-kind forest oasis can draw a crowd at different times of the year. But at other times, you can have these Oregon hot springs all to yourself!
Bagby consists of three decks with various soaking options. There are a few private stalls, plus a communal deck with additional tubs. The water is brought up through a series of aqueducts, and each tub has its own wooden faucet.
The water can get pretty hot here, but there’s a cold creek nearby with plenty of buckets—don’t be afraid to mix in some cold water if the tub is too hot.
This hot spring requires you to walk a leisurely 1.5-mile hike from the parking lot. If you want a true hike before you soak, you can continue on the trail for over 23 miles. It’s one of the many great hikes near Portland that you can add to your list.
2. Breitenbush Hot Springs
- 106 miles from Portland
- $35 per person
- Reservations required
- Clothing is optional
Breitenbush Hot Springs isn’t your average Oregon hot springs.
You’ll need to make reservations to go here, and the entrance fee is a little steep, but it’s definitely worth the price of admission—these are more than just a couple of holes in the ground!
The facility is a highly maintained retreat center and wildlife refuge. It’s a resort with geothermal hot tubs, sunken springs, a stone labyrinth, a sweat lodge, a library, an artisan gift shop, a sanctuary for meditation, and more.
You can stay overnight in a tent, yurt, or cabin from $112-$302, depending on the time of year and type of lodging. Overnight visitors get three vegetarian buffets and can attend yoga and meditation programs.
It might seem comfy and chic from the description, but it’s actually pretty rustic. The whole facility is off-grid—they generate their own electricity from hydropower and geothermal energy. There’s no TV, cell service, or internet.
3. Wall Creek Warm Springs
- 53 miles from Eugene
- No entrance fee required for this hot spring (Northwest Forest Pass is required to access the Willamette National Forest)
We’re traveling farther south in the Willamette National Forest to find this spot. Wall Creek Warm Springs is a small pool nestled deep in these secluded woods a few miles outside of the town of Oakridge (southeast of Eugene).
People call it the meditation pool, and once you get there you’ll see why. Across, it measures about 8 feet. The temperature can fluctuate from lukewarm to 100+ degrees, depending on how much hot water seeps up from the ground.
This pool is also right next to a stream, so you can go cool off if you get too hot. Once you park at the trailhead, you only have to walk for about 0.3 miles to reach the springs.
4. McCredie Hot Springs
- 53 miles from Eugene
- $5 per vehicle
- Clothing is optional
McCredie Hot Springs is just down the main highway from the turnoff to Wall Creek. You could do these two hot springs in a day quite easily since McCredie is pretty close to its parking area as well.
The McCredie pools are on the south bank of Salt Creek and are sunk into rocks and sand. The creek feels more like a river, and it’s actually a tributary of the Willamette.
These two pools are open year-round, though there can be road closures in the winter. There are a plethora of hiking trails in this area as well if you feel like working your muscles before relaxing them.
5. Cougar Hot Springs
- 55 miles from Eugene
- $10 for 2 hours
Here’s another good one located east of Eugene. Cougar Hot Springs offers 5 rock wall pools that cascade down a slope, and it’s a pretty scenic picture. Also, it’s functional.
That’s because the pool at the top is the hottest while the one at the bottom is coolest. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure hot spring.
This Oregon hot spring had been infamous for break-ins and vandalism until a manned kiosk was installed at the site. Now it’s open every day but closed at night—and it’s patrolled all the time.
Don’t let the tight security scare you away, though. This site offers a serene wilderness soaking experience that’s hard to beat.
6. Belknap Hot Springs
- 58 miles from Eugene
- $10 for an hour or less (guests can access hot springs for free)
Here’s another nature retreat addition to the list. Belknap Hot Springs Resort offers two large geothermal pools that are sure to soothe your joints. The lower pool is large enough to swim laps in, and the upper is just a bit smaller.
Both are professionally built and chlorinated. The larger one is open to the public for a day-use fee, while the upper one is only available to guests.
You can stay overnight in a tent or RV spot for $35-$45 per night or in a luxurious cabin for $150-$550. Also, if you’re a guest, the day-use fees are waived.
Belknap Hot Springs Resort is located just a few miles from Bigelow Hot Springs (below). That means you also have the Tamolitch Blue Pool Trail at your disposal (which is part of the longer McKenzie River Trail).
RELATED: Your Guide to Hiking the McKenzie River Trail
7. Bigelow Hot Springs
- 63 miles from Eugene
- No entrance fee required for this hot spring
Bigelow Hot Springs is also known as Deer Creek Hot Springs. That’s because it’s pretty much in the creek. The pool is sunk into the banks of Deer Creek and is pretty small. It’s only big enough for a few people.
Also, the best times to go are in summer and fall. During the warmer months, the water temperature is a modest 100-104 degrees.
If you venture out in the winter, your legs may go numb even in the hot pool. That’s because the water in the surrounding creek makes this hot spring too cold to enjoy in the winter or spring.
8. Umpqua Hot Springs
- 120 miles from Bend
- $5 day pass or Northwest Forest Pass
- Clothing is optional
The Umpqua Hot Springs are far out, but it’s certainly worth the excursion. This site features three main pools that are stair-stepped into a mineral deposit.
Also, in certain lights, the pools look turquoise while the edges have a yellowish sulfur tint (but don’t expect this during your visit!). As with most spots on our list, clothing is optional. This site also has a pit toilet in the ground as an added amenity.
Most of the year, you’ll just have to hike a quarter mile up from the parking lot. However, snowfall can close the access road and require you to hike in from another spot a couple of miles away.
RELATED: 11 Things to Know Before Going to Umpqua Hot Springs
9. Paulina Lake Hot Springs
- 39 miles from Bend
- No entrance fee required for this hot spring (Northwest Forest Pass is required to access the Deschutes National Forest)
The hot springs at Paulina Lake are five manmade pools dug into the northeast edge of the lake, and you can access them by a short hike from a parking area. But that’s not the full experience.
Paulina Lake is a gorgeous lake. The water is a tropical turquoise and is crystal clear. If you want to get the whole Paulina Lake experience, you’ll start at the campground in the southwest corner.
From here, you can take the Paulina Lakeshore Trail around the rim of the lake. The whole loop is 7.5 miles long and you’ll hit the hot springs about halfway through.
You’ll also see some wildlife and trek over some obsidian and lava rocks. The lake also offers more recreational activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing if you’re so inclined.
The water temps are 90 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the time of year you come. Speaking of which, the lake submerges these “tubs,” so the aim is to come between May and July.
RELATED: Your Guide to Newberry National Volcanic Monument
10. Summer Lake Hot Springs
- 124 miles from Bend
- Day use not available – must be a guest to access hot springs
Summer Lake Hot Springs is another retreat center plus hot springs combo. You can stay in a personal cabin for $130+ per night or tent/RV camp for $25.
The pool is open from 9 am to 7 pm each day, though you might want to camp to stay for the night sky. There’s no light pollution in this area, so you can see the whole Milky Way and beyond.
11. Hart Mountain Hot Springs
- 232 miles from Bend
- No entrance fee required for this hot spring
- Clothing is optional
Hart Mountain Hot Springs is in the middle of the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. Wild and expansive, this high desert plateau looks much like it did a thousand years ago.
There are two pools at this hot spring. However, one of them is a bit hard to find. That’s because it’s not built up at all. You just have to look for the steam rising over the field.
The main pool is surrounded by benches and rock walls. It can fit about six people and is a bit over 100 degrees. Also, be aware that the roads around here aren’t maintained in the winter, so that’s probably not the best time to go.
This stop also features a campground and some pit toilets. The place is very rustic, and you’ll get to see some wildlife while you’re there.
RELATED: A Guide to Hart Mountain Hot Springs & What to Do in the Area
12. Alvord Hot Springs
- 237 miles from Bend
- $8 entrance fee + $5 fee for the access road
Next, we have Alvord Hot Springs. This secluded Oregon hot spring offers dusty travelers a little oasis in the desert, with two large concrete pools that can accommodate many people.
You can come to the pools and soak for a few hours, or stay the night in a bunkhouse or at one of the campsites.
If you’re on the fence about staying, the night sky might sell you on the campsite idea. With few lights dotting the edges of the landscape, the stars really come out to play here in Oregon’s high desert.
Have your own tent and want to literally camp on the playa? Read our guide to camping at Alvord Desert.
We think there’s another reason to camp out too. Why? Because the pools are right at the base of the majestic Steens Mountain.
There’s a lot you can do on Steens Mountain. You can drive to a few different viewpoints—including the summit—on the highest road in Oregon (9,700 ft elevation).
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Camping at Alvord Desert
13. Snively Hot Spring
- 269 miles from Bend
- No entrance fee required for this hot spring
Nestled in a canyon on Oregon’s dusty southeastern border, the Snively Hot Springs is an oasis for adventurers traveling through the desert.
The springs sit at the end of a pretty rough dirt road and you’ll need to take a short walk down from the parking lot to the pools.
The hot springs consist of several pools ranging in size and temperature. While there are no other amenities here, there are incredible views of the desert landscape surrounding the hot springs. What more do you need, really?
Although these Oregon hot springs are kind of in the middle of nowhere, they are pretty popular, so be prepared to soak with strangers (depending on when you visit).
Looking for more adventure in this area? Check out Owyhee Canyonlands, or cross the border into Idaho. There are some cool things to do in McCall, Idaho, and more hot springs like Gold Fork!
14. Willow Creek Hot Springs
- 269 miles from Bend
- No entrance fee required for this hot spring
If you’re looking for an off-beat spot to soak your toes in while roaming Eastern Oregon, Willow Creek Hot Springs might just be the spot for you.
You’ll find two different temperature pools separated by a small barrier. Gaze at hills in the distance as you soak. If you don’t want to leave, just bring your tent and camp out!
Tips for Visiting Hot Springs in Oregon
- Leave all glass bottles at home. No glass allowed near hot springs
- Pack everything out (including biodegradable things like fruit peels, nut shells, etc).
- Bring your own towel! Pack some water and snacks, too, for after your soak.
- Save your alcoholic beverages for AFTER your soak. There is no alcohol allowed at any of the hot springs, and you don’t want to risk dehydration, dizziness, or worse.
- Do NOT use soap or shampoo in the hot springs—they won’t break down and will pollute the water source.
- Many Oregon hot springs allow nudity—check individual policy for each if this is an issue.
- If you’re planning to soak at a wild hot spring, you may want to bring a thermometer to check the temp before venturing in—some can get pretty hot (or pretty cold) depending on the season and water flow.
- Whether you’re bathing at a public or private hot spring, respect the environment and follow the rules!
More of Our Favorite Places in Oregon
Which of these hot springs in Oregon are you running to first!? Be sure to check out some of our other adventures around Oregon.
