Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs: fee, hours and capacity
Terwilliger Hot Springs, better known locally as Cougar Hot Springs, is a half-mile hike from a trailhead on Aufderheide Drive near Blue River, with cascading pools terraced above Rider Creek in the Willamette National Forest. It's a paid, capped site with a two-hour soaking limit, unlike most of the free forest springs in our hot springs in Oregon guide.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Blue River, Oregon |
| Access | Hike, 0.4 mile one way from the parking area on Aufderheide Drive (Forest Road 19) |
| Fee | $12 per person, paid at the trailhead |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Capacity | 50-person cap at the pools, per posted Willamette National Forest rules |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset; closed Thursday mornings for cleaning |
| Reservations | None; first-come, first-served |
| Legal status | Public, Willamette National Forest |
| Temperature (source, historical) | The NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive lists this location, recorded as "Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs," at 111°F (historical estimate, base year 1980) |
| Temperature (pools, recent) | Roughly 85–112°F across the cascading pools, hottest at the top and coolest at the bottom, per current visitor reports |
Fee, hours and capacity
Entry is $12 per person, paid directly at the trailhead, with a two-hour soaking limit once you're at the pools and a posted 50-person capacity for the site. There's no reservation system: access is first-come, first-served, and popular summer days can mean a wait if the pools are at capacity. The site is open sunrise to sunset and closes every Thursday morning for cleaning, so plan around that closure window if a Thursday visit is your only option.
The pools
Four to six rock-walled pools cascade down a ravine above Rider Creek, each step cooler than the one before it. The uppermost pool runs hottest, close to the 112°F upper end of current visitor reports, while the lowest pool cools to around 85°F. That range brackets the NOAA archive's 111°F historical estimate for the source, consistent with a system where temperature drops step by step rather than mixing all at once.
How this guide was researched
This page draws on posted Willamette National Forest rules and road notices, the NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive, and published visitor reports. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Fees, capacity rules and road access can change; verify current details with the Willamette National Forest before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How much does Terwilliger Hot Springs cost?
$12 per person, paid at the trailhead. There's no separate parking fee beyond the entry charge.
Is there a time limit at Terwilliger Hot Springs?
Yes, two hours per visit, with a posted 50-person capacity at the pools.
Do you need a reservation for Terwilliger Hot Springs?
No. It's first-come, first-served, though popular summer days can mean waiting for space within the 50-person cap.
What are the hours at Terwilliger Hot Springs?
Sunrise to sunset, with a closure every Thursday morning for cleaning.
Is Terwilliger Hot Springs open right now?
As of August 2026, yes: the springs are operating normally, and the access road from Highway 126 reopened in May 2026 after bridge construction. Road status changes more often here than the springs' own rules, so check current forest alerts before the drive.
How hot are the pools at Terwilliger Hot Springs?
Roughly 85–112°F across four to six terraced pools, hottest at the top of the cascade and coolest at the bottom.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.