The 1.4-mile hike to reach the Bagby Hot Springs may be difficult, but once you dip into one of the many tubs nestled into the Mt. Hood National Forest, your worries will melt away. Providing guests with access to three bathhouses tucked into the forest, the Bagby Hot Springs is an oasis among the trees.
History
In the 1800s, Bob Bagby, a local hunter in the area, discovered these natural hot springs. Roughly 30 years later, a man by the name of Phil Putz built the first cabin near the springs and then added additional facilities in the 1920s.
Unfortunately, these buildings disappeared, but, most recently, The Friends of Bagby decided to create and manage the current bathhouse, allowing visitors to enjoy this natural forest paradise.
Hot Spring Pools
There are three main springs at Bagby Hot Springs, with additional smaller ones scattered throughout. The biggest spring hovers around 138°F or 59°C with a flow rate is around 24 gallons per minute. The two smaller springs are 136°F and 120°F, or 58°C and 49°C, with the water trickling at 15 gallons per minute and 3 gallons per minute, respectively. The water is cooled before soaking in to lower temperatures.
The springs are open during the day and are maintained between late spring-Labor Day, depending on the weather. Visitors are required to pay a small fee before receiving wristbands for the bathhouses at either the Ripplebrook Store or the trailhead.
For those wishing to visit during the winter, the site is open but forest services highly discourage guests from attempting to reach the springs when snow is present.
Note: Cellphone coverage is non-existent, so getting stuck on your way to the springs could become dangerous.
The Bathhouses
There are three bathhouses at Bagby Hot Springs, with two located next to each other, and the third one positioned upwards, nearly 300 feet away.
The main bathhouse has five private tubs for your enjoyment while the second bathhouse has a community tub next to an open deck, and three private rooms. The third bathhouse also comprises a community tub, allowing guests to converse with one another while relaxing in the warm waters.
Guests are asked to empty their tubs after use and refill them to allow guests to have the best experience possible when visiting.
Some other important things to remember when visiting the Bugby Hot Springs:
- Alcohol and marijuana are not permitted
- Clothing is required
- Oregon’s weather can be unpredictable so bring extra clothes
- Please leave with the items you brought to ensure continuous use
Camping
Camping is not allowed in the area around the springs, so guests wishing to stay overnight will have to travel to the Bagby Campgrounds, 0.5 miles away, and pay a small fee. Visitors can also choose to camp for free in the back-country at Shower Creek, 0.25 miles away from the springs.
Getting There
- Drive up Clackamas River Bason heading southeast on Highway 224 from Estacada.
- Head south on FSR 46 for 4 miles as you pass the Ripplebrook Guard Station
- At junction FSR 63, head south for another 4 miles until you reach FSR 70
- Go west roughly 6 miles and you will find parking at the trailhead for Bagby Hot Springs
No roads lead to the springs so you will be taking a short hike to them. The only access to the springs is through a 1.5-mile hike through the forest.
Details
Address: Mt. Hood National Forest | 40 miles from Escatada, Oregon 97022
Season: Year-round (Day-Time) | Only maintained between late spring- Labor Day | Forest Services discourages winter usage
GPS: 44.936 122.173
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