Want to soak in some soul-soothing thermal pools, play some pickleball or hike above a high-desert canyon before retiring for the night in an awesome tepee? The new and improved Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, which is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs north of Madras, offers all of that — and more.
Located on the outskirts of Warm Springs, about 100 miles southeast of Portland, this storied resort closed in 2018 but reopened in July 2024. After much renovating and rebuilding, the new version of Kah-Nee-Ta — commonly pronounced as “ka-NEE-da,” the name of a woman who once lived in the area — couldn’t be better. New thermal pools steam with naturally heated water rich in minerals. A hotel on-site features all newly renovated rooms while additional places to RV camp or sleep in a tepee sit on the green and leafy property. There’s a menu list of exciting activities to do, from river tubing to fishing excursions with a tribal guide.
You can come for the day, but it’s really worth it to stay overnight. Either way, here is what not to miss.
Soak in the Hot Springs and Relax in a Cabana
Despite all that lies ahead, you don’t want to rush the drive to Kah-Nee-Ta. The resort sits tucked along the Warm Springs River surrounded by rolling hills that make for a pleasant drive. Almost immediately upon arrival, you’ll see the mist rising off the thermal pools, all open to day-use and overnight visitors.
Today there are four mineral baths, each one about the size of a small swimming pool with plenty of room for more than a dozen soakers each. Sometimes in the mornings you can catch a water-aerobics class here. A kid’s pool runs a little cooler at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while two adult wellness pools simmer up to 104 degrees.
A fourth pool has accessible features like a lift and waterproof wheelchairs that allow people with mobility issues to enjoy the warm water that comes from deep within the earth. If things get too hot, take a dip in a chilling 37-degree plunge pool.
Overlooking the pools, you’ll find private cabanas with daybeds, couches, tables and a refrigerator, all set riverside. Some VIP cabanas even come with their own private soaking tubs, one of which is ADA-compliant.
There’s also a spray park and a lazy river, along with a sporty pool with a basketball hoop and a volleyball net. Rent a tube or a kayak and go for a 3-mile float down the cool currents of the river. A shuttle will bring you back.
If angling for feisty rainbows is more your style, sign up for a half or full day of fishing with a tribal guide, who can take you to spots closed to non-tribal members.
Play Pickleball or Go for a Hike
Soaking and waterplay aren’t the only ways to have fun here. There’s a putt-putt golf course with all the trick shots and a bocce ball court for heated matches of the popular Italian ball-tossing game. You can challenge your friends to cornhole and horseshoes or shoot some hoops. Bring your best pickleball paddle and dink the afternoon away on the courts.
A mostly paved, flat path runs along the resort for about 6 miles for a pleasant evening bike ride or stroll. The surrounding landscape is classic Central Oregon — think scruffy hills, whispering grasslands and rocky canyons. The resort provides all the information you’ll need if you’d like to head out on trails that wind through surrounding wildlands. Horse fans should sign up for a one-hour guided horseback ride on mustangs. The Orange Trail runs for about a mile total and includes a stint along a ridge with views into Charley Canyon and the Mutton Mountains to the north. More ambitious hikers should try the Yellow Trail that climbs to the top of the 2,200-foot North Rim. Be on the lookout for two resident ravens, Lenore and Nevermore.
Make the Most of Your Stay
If you opt to spend a night or two — and you really should — you’ll find the 30-room hotel has been completely redone. Nearly two-dozen rustic tepees provide room for four to sleep inside, provided they bring their own cots and bedding. Each has a picnic table and fire pit; sit among the trees at this kid’s dream come true. You’ll also find 70 RV spaces in a park with showers, restrooms and a laundry facility. Be sure to take a drive into Warm Springs to visit the excellent Museum at Warm Springs, where exhibits will bring you up to speed on the history, traditions and modern lives of the people who make up the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Nearby you’ll also find the locally owned and operated Indian Head Casino.
Coming winter 2024-2025, a table-service restaurant will open on-site while a smaller cafe near the pools serves frybread, burgers and other snacks. The Kahneeta Morning and Night Buffet serves breakfast and dinner, while the Appaloosa Drink and Coffee Bar will get your day started right. The whole property is cashless, and guests wear scannable wristbands that keep track of what they buy.
One last thing to keep in mind when the snow begins to fall: Kah-Nee-Ta sits only about 50 miles away from the ski slopes on and around Mt. Hood (and about 90 miles from Mount Bachelor). If you’re looking for an awesome place to soak and stay after a day in the snow, Kah-Nee-Ta will be hard to beat.
