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Situated just north of the Oregon-Washington border, outside of the town of Carson, Wind River Hot Springs is a set of two primitive hot springs positioned directly adjacent to the Wind River. Being that the water level of the river is only low enough to cross during the late summer, access to the springs can be tricky, but the geothermally heated mineral water is sure to be worth the trouble.

Hot Spring Pools

For those who manage to reach the Wind River Hot Springs, a private Washingtonian oasis is all but guaranteed.

Due to the tricky access, the hot springs are generally not crowded. During the fishing season and weekends, locals sometimes make use of the pools, but otherwise, the springs are usually vacant.

Image of a creek running through the forest in Washington
Although primitive, and difficult to reach, the Wind River Hot Springs are worth the journey. Photo by: Matthew Warner

The hot springs are made up of two natural bedrock pools. They’re both fairly large, and can accommodate four or five people each. One pool maintains tempearture around 105°F, while the other stays at a slightly cooler 102°F. When combined with the freshwater of the nearby Wind River, this contrast provides the opportunity for relaxing hot/cold therapy.

Camping

There is no free, public camping nearby, but a small campground is located on the private property that abuts the springs. This campground, Wind Wood Rivers, features five sites, two of which are able to accommodate large RVs.

Image of tents in the forest in Carson, Washington
While camping is not permitted at the springs, the Wind Woods River campsite is located nearby. Photo by: Todd Nappen

There are no hookups, and the campsites are definitely primitive. The only facilities are a few basic port-a-potties, but all of the campsites are private and located in beautiful woods near the Wind River.

Getting There

The springs are set below the high water point of the Wind River, giving the public lawful access to them. However, private property abuts the high water line, making it difficult to access the springs without trespassing.

Image of rafters on the Wind River in Washington, home to the Wind River Hot Springs
Getting to the Wind River Hot Springs is tricky, but there are three routers you can take to get there. Photo by: Zachary Collier

There are three distinct ways of accessing the beautiful springs, all of which have their own potential drawbacks.

  1. Park at the nearby Carson Hot Springs Resort for a small fee: From here, it is just a short hike to the river. The Wind River must be crossed to access the hot springs and it moves very quickly, making this option potentially dangerous for unseasoned swimmers.
  2. Park, for free, on some of the neighborhood roads in Carson: From here, visitors can hike to and cross the river. There is a small footbridge that is located on public land, but it is illegal to use and some visitors have reported being ticketed after crossing the bridge.
  3. Park, for free, on the side of Indian Cabin Road: The river can be accessed from this road, and, assuming the water is low enough to not trespass above the high water line of the Wind River, the hot springs can be reached fairly easily.

Details

Address: Carson, Washington 98610 | Adjacent to the Wind River

Season: Late Summer

Camping: Nearby

GPS: 45.736871,-121804191