Bagby Hot Springs

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Category: Oregon, View All

Less than an hour’s drive from Estacada, Oregon lies historic Bagby Hot Springs – Oregon’s most popular hot springs. Surrounded by the lush Mount Hood National Forest, sun dapples in through old growth trees along the 1.5-mile hike (stroll) to reach Bagby Hot springs’ three soaking options.

Bagby Hot Springs Soaking Pools

The first soaking option is located on the Private Deck which houses five hollowed-out logs, each enclosed within a private room. The Private Deck is partially covered to allow sky views and keep your belongings dry. Please note the Private Deck is closed during a restoration project until Summer 2019.

The second option is the Public Deck, featuring three hollowed-out log tubs salvaged from the 1979 fire and one whiskey barrel style tub.

A short distance from the Public Deck lies the third option – the Upper Deck, which was constructed by the Friends of Bagby. This large deck is home to another whiskey barrel soaking tub, which holds around eight people (or so). At Bagby Hot Springs, the Public and Upper Decks are shared, communal soaks.

Fees at Bagby Hot Springs

Soaking Fee: $5.00/person – Bagby wristbands can be purchased on-site with cash or with a credit card at the Ripplebrook Guard Station. No parking or day use fee, just to soak.

Alcohol Ban
In 2002 the Forest Service banned alcohol at the hot springs, please be respectful of this rule, and remember to always pack out what you pack in!

Bagby Hot Springs Camping

Car camping is available at the Bagby Hot Springs trailhead and a mere quarter mile beyond the hot springs at Shower Creek Campground for backpackers. No camping is allowed along the trail or at the hot springs.

Season
The campground is closed after Labor Day until May or April depending on weather conditions.

Camping Fees
Single sites are available for $15/night and double occupancy sites for $24/night.

Nearby attractions include Shower Creek Falls and Silver King Lake (6 miles from Shower Creek CG).

Bagby History Lesson

Hunter and prospector, Bob Bagby, discovered the hot springs back in 1880. Not much is known about what happened between then and 1913 when Phil Putz of the Forest Service Guard built a cabin that is still present today. In the 1920s, facilities were expanded to house a small fire crew and in 1974 a new guard cabin was erected.

Over the course of many years, a volunteer group known as The Friends of Bagby designed and constructed the current bathing facilities at Bagby. Upkeep was maintained by the Forest Service until the management of Babgy was turned-over to a private organization that presently manages the hot springs. Learn more on the Forest Service website.

Winter Hot Springing Warning

The Forest Service does not maintain the roads and trails into and around Bagby during the winter season and strongly discourages attempting to reach the hot springs if there is snow on the ground. Every year multiple soak seekers end up getting stuck and having to contact the Sherrif for assistance.

Since there is no area cell phone coverage, visitors considering a visit to Bagby during the winter season are encouraged to either call or stop by the Ripplebrook Guard Station before attempting to reach the trailhead.

Driving Directions

  1. From Estacada, drive 26 miles up the Clackamas River Basin South East on Highway 224.
  2. Turn South on FSR 46 just past Ripplebrook Guard Station.
  3. Continue on FSR 46 for 4 miles along the Collawash River until you reach a junction with FSR 63.
  4. Follow FSR 63 South for 4 miles to a junction with FSR 70.
  5. Take FSR 70 South West for 6 miles to the parking area and trailhead for Bagby Hot Springs. The campground is to the left and Bagby Hot Springs Trailhead on the right upon entering the parking area. There is also an outhouse, trash bin and information booth on-site.

Conservation Efforts

As one of Oregon’s most popular hot springs destinations, Bagby sees a lot of use. Please pack out all of your belongings and all trash encountered. This special place needs all the help it can get. The Forest Service has a resource for outdoor safety and ethics that all hot springers should be well acquainted with. Bathing with soap or shampoo including biodegradable soap or shampoo is not only frowned upon, but is also illegal. Don’t be THAT person.

Bagby Hot Springs Soak Stats:

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall (access road often closed during winter)
Type: Hike (1.4 miles Bagby Hot Springs Trail #544)
GPS: 44.936 122.173
Map Quad: BATTLE AX 15 (or Mount Hood National Forest Map)
Elevation: 2,250 ft
Land: Public – Official Page (Picnic Site)
Fee: Yes – $5/person (wristbands for soaking can be purchased on-site with cash or with a credit card at the Ripplebrook Guard Station)
Restrictions: Day use fee, no camping at springs or along trail
Usage: High
Visibility: Low
Temp: 102-105
Water Clarity: Semi-Clear
Odor: n/a
pH: n/a
Area Features: Shower Creek FallsSilver King Lake
Closest Food/Gas: Estacada
Trash: High
Bugs: Moderate
Wildlife: Moderate
Camping: Paid at trailhead/parking area, backpack camping past hot springs, other nearby NF campgrounds
Clothing Optional: Only in private bathhouse
Pit Toilet: Yes

Responses

How to Collect Spring Water

Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.

The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.

FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.

Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.

Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug

When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.

When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.

How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.

How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.

I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.

Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.

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