Located in Mount Hood National Forest, Bagby Hot Springs lies within the Cascade Mountains at elevation 2,280 feet. These mineral-rich hot springs are a relatively well-kept secret in Oregon that only a few visitors have the opportunity to soak in each year.
Here is everything you need to know before visiting Bagby Hot Springs in Oregon.
Getting to Bagby Hot Springs
Just 65 miles south of Portland, Bagby Hot Springs is a short 1.5 hour drive from Oregon’s largest city. The closest town to the hot springs is actually Estacada which is about 45 minutes away.
Bagby Hot Springs Directions
To get to Bagby from Estacada, take Highway 224 along the Clackamas River Basin for 25 miles. Turn right onto NF-46 just after the Ripplebrook Guard Station and continue for another 3.7 miles. At junction NF-63, take another right and continue for 3.5 miles. One more right onto Bagby Rd/NF-70. Stay on here for 6 miles and then you will arrive at the Bagby Hot Springs Trailhhead.
Bagby Tailhead
Follow the trail from the Bagby Trailhead for 1.5 miles to the hot springs. The hike to the hot springs is scenic as you will be walking through the Late Successional Reserve Forest and along the Collawash River.
The hike to the hot springs in relatively easy and should take the average person under 45 minutes.
Bagby Hot Springs History
In 1880, Bob Bagby, a hunter and prospector, discovered Bagby Hot Springs. Since then, theses Oregon hot springs have seen multiple improvements and destructions.
A Forest Service guard named Phil Putz built the historic cabin at Bagby in 1913 which is still standing today. Although they don’t exist today, other improvements were built such as a barn, dam, and shelter.
The Forest Service built a new guard’s cabin in 1974. Between 1983 and 2003, volunteers built and rebuilt the current bathing facilities at Bagby.
Bath Houses at Bagby
While Bagby Hot Springs technically has two main hot springs that feed three bath houses, only two bath houses are open at this time.
- The first bath house features one large 6 foot tub. This uppermost bath house sits on an open deck.
- Although closed at the time of this writing, the second bath house accommodates a single person. This bath house is closed as it has been “deemed unsafe for human occupancy due to structural concerns”.
- The third and lower bath house has one large 6 foot round tub and three smaller cedar tubs.
Bagby Hot Springs Water Temperature
The large bathhouse spring at Bagby Hot Springs has a pretty consistent water temperature of 138ºF at the source. The water here flows at 24 gallons per minute.
Usually around 136ºF at the source, the second hottest spring at Bagby flows at 15 gallons per minute. The water temperature of the third spring is120ºF and flows at 3 gallons per minute.
Bagby Hot Spring Water Minerals
According to the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the water at Bagby Hot Springs contains the following minerals in parts per million.
- Silica 80.0
- Sodium 51.0
- Sulfate 45.0
- Carbonate 36.0
- Chloride 13.0
- Calcium 3.4
- Hydroxide 1.0
- Potassium 1.0
- Fluoride 0.8
- Magnesium 0.1
- Arsenic 0.01
- Lithium 0.026
- Strontium 0.014
- Nickel 0.004
Analysis of the water at Bagby Hot Springs found no silver or copper.
Bagby Hot Springs Price
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the following fees are in effect at Bagby Hot Springs.
- Parking Fee: There is no day-use fee to park at the Bagby Trailhead.
- Soaking Fee: There is a $5 per person soaking fee to soak in the hot springs. Soaking wrist bands can be purchased from the Ripplebrook Store or at the trailhead.
- Camping Fee: It costs $16 per night single and $24 per night double to camp at Bagby Campground.
Bagby Hot Springs Camping
Although camping is not allowed at Bagby Hot Springs, there are two other camping options at Bagby.
- Campsites at the Bagby Trailhead: Located near the trailhead
- Campsites at Shower Creek: Located a 1/2 mile beyond hot springs
Hot Spring Rules
Mt. Hood Recreation Services established some basic rules to make Bagby Hot Springs enjoyable for everyone.
- No nudity: Soaking in the hot springs in the nude is not allowed
- No alcohol: Consuming alcohol is strictly prohibited. This includes everything from the trailhead all the way to Shower Creek.
- No littering: Please take your trash with you and leave no trace behind.
Bagby Resources
There is a great deal of misinformation about Bagby Hot Springs on the internet. A prime example of this is bagbyhotsprings.org—an old, unmaintained website with outdated information.
The most reliable source of information is the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service which is where most of the content for this guide was compiled from.
Are you planning on visiting or have you already visited Bagby Hot Springs? I’d love to know how your experience was. Let us know in the comments below, and check out some of my other hot springs blog posts for more natural mineral water goodness.