One of Oregon’s most distinctive features is its rugged, mountainous landscape. Those peaks, forged in large part due to volcanic activity and converging fault lines, have helped form one of the West’s most alluring attractions: hot springs. Those steaming pools, whether naturally formed or piped into luxurious private tubs, offer visitors and Oregonians alike a chance to relax and recharge in some of the state’s finest mineral-enriched water. These waters have long been renowned as healing centers for achy joints, bodies and minds. Whether you’re looking for respite or simply a new adventure, here are some favorite hot springs around the state.
The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs
Eastern Oregon
Go for: Serene soaks
Stay: Book a stay at the property’s historic lodge
Season: Year-round
One of the largest springs in the Northwest, Hot Lake Springs offers five outdoor communal soaking pools, just outside of La Grande in Eastern Oregon. Relax in the brick or rock pools, or settle into one of the round tubs, each comfortably seating small groups. The mineral-rich waters have long been used for wellness and relaxation, inviting you to disconnect, unwind and take in the unspoiled landscape stretching for miles around.
Crane Hot Springs
Eastern Oregon
Go for: A high-desert oasis
Stay: Cabins, tepees, RV sites and camping available
Season: Year-round, but check driving conditions to and from the hot springs
A hot-springs resort outside Burns, Crane Hot Springs has changed names over the years, but it has remained a favorite Eastern Oregon soaking destination since at least the 1920s. Visitors here get the option of soaking in an expansive, 5-foot-deep, 101-degree outdoor pond or ponying up a bit more for a private, cedar-enclosed tub available to both day-use and overnight guests (reservations highly recommended).
Paulina Lake Hot Springs
Central Oregon
Go for: A natural Nordic spa
Stay: Cabins, RV sites and camping available in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Season: Summer (with the hot springs best accessed late May through July), unless you packed your snowmobile, skis or snowshoes
Tucked along the edge of a sunken caldera, the Paulina Lake Hot Springs offer a unique soaking experience. After a 1.2-mile hike, a cluster of shallow, hand-dug pools at varying temperatures lie at the edge of Paulina Lake. Hop between more temperate water (variable but around 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and the cooler waters of the lake itself. From October until Memorial Day, the gate to the caldera within the national monument is closed. Visitors can still access the hot springs on foot from that point, or with winter equipment including snowmobiles. The trek adds an additional 4 miles each way.
Belknap Hot Springs Resort
Willamette Valley
Go for: Family-friendly soaks
Stay: Rooms, cabins, RV sites and camping available
Season: Year-round, but check driving conditions to and from the hot springs
This secluded soaking oasis lies just off the McKenzie River. These developed hot springs, piped into a duo of large concrete swimming pools, are an easily accessible and family-friendly trip for anyone ages 5 and up. Overnight guests enjoy access to both the upper and lower pools, which hover between 92 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit (season depending), while day visitors are limited to one hour in the lower pool. Stay overnight to enjoy the acres of nearby gardens and the 26-mile McKenzie River Trail just outside the door.
Breitenbush Hot Springs
Willamette Valley
Go for: A wellness retreat
Stay: Rooms, tent sites and vehicle camping available
Season: Year-round, but check driving conditions to and from the hot springs
A visit to Breitenbush Hot Springs is a much more secluded experience than other off-the-grid resorts on this list. While you won’t have the place to yourself at this highly popular hot spring and sauna, access to the clothing-optional spa is exclusive and available by advance reservation only. Meant for retreat and relaxation, the space has no cell service or internet access; only serves organic, vegetarian meals; and does not allow alcohol, recreational drugs (including marijuana) or pets.
Terwilliger Hot Springs
Willamette Valley
Go for: A clothing-optional retreat in the woods
Stay: Day-use only but nearby campgrounds include Cougar Crossing Campground
Season: Year-round, but check driving conditions in winter to see if the road is passable
Also called Cougar Hot Springs, this lagoon in the Willamette National Forest offers six shallow soaking pools that are accessible via a half-mile hike from the trailhead. The springs are set amidst a backdrop of thick woodland, with light spilling through the treetops and Rider Creek waterfall spilling into the pools — which range from 85 degrees in the lower pool to 112 degrees in the upper pool. The springs are about 90 minutes east of Eugene via the McKenzie River Scenic Byway (Highway 126) and then south on the Aufderheide Scenic Byway (Forest Service Road 19), which is not maintained for snow and ice between November and April, so sections may not be passable.
Summer Lake Hot Springs
Southern Oregon
Go for: Stargazing
Stay: Rooms, cabins, RV sites and tent camping available
Season: Year-round, but check driving conditions to and from the hot springs
Eco-minded soakers hoping to unplug will want to make the trip to Summer Lake Hot Springs resort for its secluded and intentional mindset. The 145-acre resort is home to indoor and outdoor rock pools filled with silky, silica-rich water between 106 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Overnight visitors (no day use allowed) can also enjoy the added luxury of geothermally heated floors in many of the cabins. Summer Lake is located 50 miles from the nearest light pollution, giving stargazers perfectly dark skies to gaze upon the cosmos.
Umpqua Hot Springs
Southern Oregon
Go for: An enchanting forest hideaway
Stay: Day use only, but Toketee Lake Campground is nearby
Season: Year-round, but check driving conditions to and from the hot springs; prepare for a longer hike during winter months due to unplowed roads
If you follow any sort of Pacific Northwest Instagram account, you’ve likely already seen these hot springs — a trio of terraced, murky, jade-green pools carved out of a travertine cliff face overlooking the rushing North Umpqua River. Water seeping from an active fault between 100 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit keeps all three pools consistently balmy, making this hot spring perfect for chillier days, though you’ll need to work harder for it. During snow conditions, the gate along the road leading to the trailhead is typically closed. Visitors can still park at the gate, but the 0.3-mile hike in is extended another 1.5 miles. To avoid more crowded conditions, try to go during weekdays, expect nudity and take care to leave no trace.
Lithia Springs Resort
Southern Oregon
Go for: Relaxing in luxury
Stay: Rooms with private soaking tubs available
Season: Year-round
For a relaxing wellness trip, head to the Lithia Springs Resort. Located northwest of downtown Ashland, the city’s famous mineral-rich water finds its way to your own personal soaking tub, where you can relax in the comfort of your room. An outdoor saline pool and Jacuzzi are also available, weather depending, as well as a spa and library. Enjoy afternoon tea or wine tasting in the garden and complimentary breakfast buffet for all overnight guests.
Hot Springs Etiquette
Like all outdoor activities, proper etiquette is imperative for both the safety of your neighbor and the site itself. Remember:
- Don’t bring anything glass near the pools.
- Pack out all trash, particularly at public hot springs and Summer Lake, which does not have standard trash service. Wherever you soak, aim to leave no trace.
- Don’t drink and soak. Alcohol can make issues like dehydration, dizziness, sleepiness and heat exhaustion worse.
- To avoid contaminating the water, don’t take shampoos or soaps into the springs.
- Note clothing-optional sites if nudity is an issue. If it’s not, you’ll find your people!
- Pack a paper map/GPS if heading to a remote hot spring. Your phone won’t often work in the wild.
