Hot springs in Oregon: 11 soaks, from Cascades to desert

Umpqua Hot Springs

A steep 0.4-mile trail climbs to a series of tiered pools overlooking the North Umpqua River, a signature stop in the Umpqua National Forest. As of April 1, 2026, the trailhead moved to cashless day-use payment: visitors display an America the Beautiful pass or pay $5 through the Recreation.gov app before heading out, since there's no longer a pay station on site. The site is day-use only, sunrise to sunset. A winter road closure on Forest Road 3401 was rescinded in March 2026 after storm damage was repaired, so check current road status before a cold-season trip. Full trail and payment details are on the dedicated Umpqua Hot Springs page.

Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs

A 0.4-mile trail from the parking area on Aufderheide Drive reaches a set of pools terraced above Rider Creek in the Willamette National Forest. Entry is $12 per person, paid at the trailhead, with a two-hour soaking limit and a 50-person cap at the pools (posted Willamette National Forest rules, checked August 2026). Day use runs sunrise to sunset, with a Thursday-morning closure for cleaning. No reservations; first-come, first-served only. Full fee, hours and cap details are on the dedicated Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs page.

McCredie Hot Springs

Rock-lined pools sit on both banks of Salt Creek about 8 miles east of Oakridge off Highway 58. The north-side pool is a short 0.2-mile walk from the main day-use parking area; most visitors prefer the south-side pools, reached via Shady Gap Road and a one-lane bridge, then a 0.3-mile trail downstream. Free, day-use only with a nighttime closure enforced. Water temperatures in the pools range roughly 98–115°F, with some spots running hotter. Full trail directions are on the dedicated McCredie Hot Springs page.

Wall Creek Hot Springs (Meditation Pool)

A well-maintained 0.3-mile trail off Forest Road 1934, also near Oakridge, leads to a main pool and a smaller, cooler "Meditation Pool" alongside it, both fed by Wall Creek. Free, no day-use fee, managed by the Willamette National Forest with limited trailhead parking.

Belknap Hot Springs

A full-service resort on the McKenzie River near McKenzie Bridge, with two commercial-sized in-ground pools fed by piped mineral water. Walk-in pool access runs $12 per person per hour, with no full-day pass currently offered. Lodging on site runs from riverside campsites to lodge rooms and cabins.

Breitenbush Hot Springs

A worker-owned retreat center on 154 acres along the Breitenbush River, about two hours east of Portland inside the Willamette National Forest. Seven mineral soaking pools run 100–110°F, clothing is optional in the pools and sauna, and every visit, day pass or overnight, requires an advance reservation through the resort. Day passes run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and regularly sell out weeks ahead, especially on summer weekends and retreat dates.

Alvord Hot Springs

On the edge of the Alvord Desert playa in Oregon's remote southeast corner, this privately owned spring charges a day-use fee of roughly $20 per person, with children 12 and under free and camping available for an additional fee. It's private property, and the operator recommends calling ahead to confirm current rates and conditions before the long drive out. Full details are on the dedicated Alvord Hot Springs page.

Crystal Crane Hot Springs

About 25 miles southeast of Burns, Crystal Crane centers on an outdoor mineral pond open for day-use soaking, plus private cedar bathhouses and a range of overnight accommodations from tent sites to teepees. Day use is open to the public for a fee; calling ahead is recommended since the resort can prioritize overnight guests during busy periods.

Summer Lake Hot Springs

A resort near Paisley in Oregon's high desert, built around a large geothermal pool with mountain views. The resort's posted policy doesn't allow walk-in day use: soaking access comes with an overnight stay (cabins, RV and tent sites), and capacity limits on the property are strict, so call ahead rather than counting on a same-day soak.

Hart Mountain (Antelope) Hot Springs

Inside the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, about four miles south of refuge headquarters near the Hot Springs Campground, this is a free, undeveloped soak with a main pool roughly 8 by 11 feet and 4 feet deep, plus a smaller secondary pool nearby. Camping at the adjacent campground is free and first-come, first-served. The refuge has closed roads here during extreme fire danger in past summers, so check current conditions with refuge staff before a trip in fire season. Full details are on the dedicated Hart Mountain Hot Springs page.

Paulina Lake Hot Springs

Inside the Newberry Caldera, part of Newberry National Volcanic Monument, informal soaking areas sit along a stretch of the north shore known as Hot Springs Beach, reached by a 1.2- to 2.3-mile hike along the Paulina Lakeshore Trail depending on which trailhead you start from. A $5 day-use fee (or Northwest Forest Pass/America the Beautiful pass) covers entry to the monument. The springs are most accessible in summer; winter access requires a Sno-Park permit. Full trail directions are on the dedicated Paulina Lake Hot Springs page.

This guide was compiled from public land-manager sources (the U.S. Forest Service districts for the Umpqua, Mt. Hood, Willamette and Deschutes national forests, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge), the NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive, resort and operator websites, and published trail reports. We haven't visited these sites ourselves. Fees, reservation systems and access rules change (Oregon's forest springs have shifted payment methods more than once in recent years), so verify current requirements with the land manager or operator before you go. Last checked August 2026.