Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Natural hot springs, free of charge

Oregon has a wealth of natural hot springs, found primarily in the Cascade Mountains and around the deserts of the eastern and southern parts of the state. Some charge a nominal fee for the privilege to soak your bones, but others are completely free of charge.

It hasn’t always been like this – almost all of Oregon’s natural hot springs were once free for public use, but trashing and abuse of the springs by some users has led to action by federal land management agencies, namely the U.S. Forest Service, to crack down by way of charging day-use fees.

That was the case at Terwilliger Hot Springs in 1998, Bagby Hot Springs in 2002 and Umpqua Hot Springs in 2016, which was reportedly plagued by piles of feces and a "Charles Manson attitude." You won't likely find those problems at these free hot springs, though you may run into other weary travelers, just looking for a good soak like you.

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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1. Deer Creek (Bigelow)

Deer Creek, also know as Bigelow Hot Springs, consists of just one small pool, nestled alongside the McKenzie River off Oregon Route 126. A parking area is found just after a bridge over the river. From there, a portion of the McKenzie River Trail leads down to the hot spring. The pool is clothing optional, but its proximity to the highway may be a consideration.

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2. Echo Rock

Found on the southern bank of the Owyhee Reservoir in eastern Oregon, Echo Rock has both a manmade soaking pool and a hot shower in a beautiful desert setting. It's popular with paddlers, but you can also get there by driving to the reservoir and hiking four miles in.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

3. Hart Mountain (Antelope)

Known both as Hart Mountain and Antelope Hot Springs, the concrete soaking pool in southern Oregon is found – appropriately enough – within the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge. The pool is 10 feet by 15 feet, filled by spring water that bubbles up from the gravel bottom. It's open year-round, but the roads are difficult to access in winter.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

4. Juntura

Not always easily accessible, Juntura Hot Springs is beautiful nonetheless, found on an island on the Malheur River, halfway between Burns and Ontario. The pool is a mile walk from a parking area along the river, and can be located by following a big orange arrow painted onto a rock. Look for an island when the river makes a wide oxbow bend and you'll find the pool.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

5. McCredie

Those looking for an easily-accessible hot spring with high temperatures will be at home at McCredie Hot Springs. There are several big pools along the side of Salt Creek near Eugene, which can get crowded throughout the year. Temperatures generally range from 98 to 114 degrees, according to a website that keeps tabs on Oregon hot springs, but some there exceed that heat.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

6. Newberry Caldera

While not particularly hot, the hot springs at Paulina and East Lakes at the Newberry Caldera are certainly scenic. Part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument south of Bend, the lakes are in the shadow of Paulina Peak, an 8,000-foot summit formed by the Newberry Volcano. Temperatures are scalding underground, but much cooler by the time the water surfaces.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

7. Snively

The rock-constructed pools at Snively Hot Springs in eastern Oregon ensure a crucial mix of the scalding hot water that bubbles up from underground, and the cold water of the Owyhee River. The hot spring is located at a recreation site run by the Bureau of Land Management, and comes with a large parking lot and restroom.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

8. Willow Creek

Found in far southeast Oregon, the Willow Creek Hot Springs feature two side-by-side natural pools. The land here is also run by the Bureau of Land Management, and features the Willow Creek Campground accessible just south of Whitehorse Ranch Rd. It's a great place to wash away the dust that inevitably coats everything in that corner of the state.

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Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management

Northwest Travel

Oregon's hot springs are a great way to get out to see the state, but there are so many other great things to see along the way. Check out the 12 national monuments of the Pacific Northwest or go explore the lost Oregon Coast National Park. Follow our journeys around the region at oregonlive.com/travel. Happy trails!