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 Closure Notice – Yep, It’s Still Closed
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Picture: Bagby Whiskey Barrel Tub
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.
Picture: Bagby Hot Springs Public Deck
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!
Picture: Trail Leading to Bathhouses
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).
Overnight Lodging
View Nearby Overnight Accommodations (Expedia paid link)
Picture: Public Soaking Tubs
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 Bagby was turned over to a private organization that presently manages the hot springs.
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.
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 Videos
A Bagby Hot Springs Moment
This is a slow pan of the community area of Bagby Hot Springs.
Bagby Hot Springs
Hiking and tubing in the mt hood national forest!
Bagby Hot Springs Google Map
Driving Directions
- From Estacada, drive 26 miles up the Clackamas River Basin South East on Highway 224.
- Turn South on FSR 46 just past Ripplebrook Guard Station.
- Continue on FSR 46 for 4 miles along the Collawash River until you reach a junction with FSR 63.
- Follow FSR 63 South for 4 miles to a junction with FSR 70.
- 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.
Bagby Hot Springs Printable Maps
Bagby Hot Springs Soak Stats:
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall (access road often closed during winter – check roads)
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 Falls, Silver King Lake
Nearby Hot Springs: Breitenbush Hot Springs
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 bathhouses
Pit Toilet: Yes
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@Kat,
Have had great times camping there in the past, but it’s been a few years. Just know the camp grounds are by the parking lot and you can’t camp near the springs. Go with a friend or two, stick together, and you’ll be fine. Plus I don’t recommend drinking at the springs unless you like being dehydrated and sickly later. Imho?
Used to be able to camp up by the river close to the springs. Is that still true?
I had a great soak last Saturday. I got to the parking lot around 7:30 and there was only a handful of us soaking all morning. It was very clean and the stewards were super friendly. I hope to return to Bagby from where I live in Washington as it truly was one of the nicest hot springs I’ve been to.
What are the black bugs there, that bite? Should I be concerned. I just went there yesterday and me and a friend were being swormed by them and they were biting
Is the access road closed? Thanks
I don’t think it is. Have not heard otherwise. Best~
Is it safe to hike this alone? The previous reviews are leaving me a little worried. I’d also like to know if cars are still being vandalized or broken into. That’s the last thing I need haha.
As far as I’ve heard, car vandalism is no longer an issue due to the on-site host. Should be fine to go in alone, but would avoid weekend evenings. Planning to do this soon as well. Happy Trails! If you go, let us know how it went!
I’ve had a few scary situations up there in the past (10 plus years ago), they say it’s getting better, but your so far from cell service that I wouldn’t fell safe alone.
I went a few weeks ago and it was trashed. I arrived in the afternoon and by the looks of the crowds heading out from the trailhead I decided it was not my scene. I camped in the campground overnight. It was full of trash. Not sure why people think that food scraps do not need to be packed out. I got up around 4:30 the next morning hoping to get some alone time in the tubs. As I was packing up, two cars raced into the parking lot with guys hanging out of the sunroof racing a ruckus. I went anyway. When I got there the early morning drinkers took the upper tub so I had the lower deck to my self. I ended up with a great solo soak. However, it did take about 2 hours of work. There was trash scattered everywhere even though one of the trash cans was only half full. Some one had taken a shit on the deck right by the tubs and there was a rather larger pile of vomit as well. Seems like the crowd from the night before had a little trouble controlling themselves. There is a pit toilet on site that apparently wasn’t close enough to the tub for those folks. It, as well as the old cabin, was also full of trash. The disrespect the visitors show to this sacred, historical site is disgraceful. I doubt I’ll return. If you choose to go, go early on a weekend morning and you might want to bring a tub stopper as there were not enough to use all the tubs at the same time. Give yourself a few hours to clean the place up and schlep buckets (which there were a few) of cold water from the creek to cool the tubs down once filled. There used to be a cold water tap right by the tubs but some fool busted it. There are two sweet ladies that are camp hosts at the trailhead and they try to haul out trash as they can but without the four wheelers they used to have be fore they were vandalized on their days off, they can only do so much. The forest service has sold the lease to the place to some private outfit in CA and they aren’t not doing it justice. I have never left a hot springs so sad in all of my life.
I miss the old days when you could hike in there, nobody else around and pick a tub all for free. Of course that was the days before the fire a long time ago.
So I guess my old springs isn’t now? where can I go when I visit?
If you have the uncontrollable urge to throw glitter along the trail like an idiotic self entitled forest nymph, at least be sure it’s the biodegradable kind, way to show your connection with nature by polluting the water system, these transplant visitors are as about as useful as used band-aids.
Bathhouse 2 closed until summer due to structural issues. Deets: https://www.kptv.com/news/bathhouse-at-bagby-hot-springs-closed-due-to-structural-safety/article_09dfab2a-f994-11e8-83db-23f2fe1a65a0.html
Latest news on the bathhouse/private deck restoration project: https://goo.gl/8VxhEE