Hot Springs in Oregon

This Gem is a short walk and is listed as a picnic site, not a hot spring.

Some of the best trips in Oregon involve Whitewater Kayaking and Hot Springs! Instead of listing springs, this is more of a informational post about when, why, and how to visit these gems. Oregon's hot springs all have a different character with west cascade hot springs having more visitation than east side springs. Lets face it, hot springs attract people of all different kinds, and most I've been around have been super nice, but some of these folks are.........a little weird. Its not just the earthy, hippie types I'm talking about here. There are some people that are just plain creepy and for some reason you can find a higher concentration of these folks at hot springs than say a park for example. I grew up living on the Clackamas River. My parents took me up to Austin and Bagby hot springs many times growing up. Things have changed since then, but some things remain the same. A lot of the springs around the state that are popular now have groups like "The Friends of Bagby" who volunteer to educate, maintain, and enhance the experience for visitors. In some cases, it was and is needed due to vandalism, and crime. Other springs remain unregulated, and things are much the way they were 30 years ago. Meaning, we've got people who genuinely care about the land, and people who don't care at all about it. The few who don't are the ones who ruin it for everyone else by leaving trash, alcohol bottles, and other debris. Some people drag carpets into the river bed, which irritates me personally.

This spring is 8 ft. deep in a alpine bowl

So here are some tips if you go.
#1 Stay out of springs at night. Weird things happen here at this time. Avoid the springs at night, and reduce your chances of an unpleasant experience.
#2 Go to the springs in the A.M. Criminals and drunks tend to sleep late, thus morning is a great time for solitude.
#3 Go on weekdays if at all possible.

Summer Lake owner Duane has been improving the springs for years

#4 Do not camp at springs. Again, if you camp here, when Bubba and his 4wheel muddin' club come rolling in at 2 A.M., you don't have a lot of options. Camp down the road a spell, and make a shit ton of noise when you enter the springs at 6 A.M. This will sooth Bubbas hangover.
#5 Don't let others intimidate you. Just because someone is in the spring when you get there, doesn't mean you cant have your turn. Ask them if you can join or how long they think they'll be in the spring.
#6 Always be polite.

Private Springs such Summer Lake and Crystal Crane are worth paying for

#7 Take your valuables with you. Use a blanket to throw over you stuff in your car. A nasty pair of undies on my steering wheel, has deterred the most ambitious criminals for me for years. When they take a look inside and see a nice little Hershey's kiss on the steering column, they leave the area!

Crystal Crane

There is a ton of info about hot springs. Oregon has many. Idaho and Nevada are loaded. For the ultimate hot spring experience, check out New Zealand. We were there for three months. Hot springs are everywhere! And we really enjoyed it. I hope you've enjoyed viewing this blog. I am writing on random subjects this summer. Please subscribe to my blog. Keep doing and going. Thanks for reading.