Bagby Hot Springs - Mount Hood | Cascade Range

Managed by Forest Service, Bagby Hot Springs is nestled in the lush old-growth Mount Hood National Forest, 38 miles southeast of Estacada and 67 miles southeast of Portland. This scenic getaway destination with primitive facilities is available for use 24 hours a day all year-round.

There no parking near the hot springs. From the Bagby Trailhead, you'll hike for about 1.4 miles through the truly amazing ancient rainforest along the bank of the Collawash River. It would take about 45-60 minutes of a refreshing and relatively easy hike. After crossing three bridges, you will arrive at Bagby Hot Springs with fairytale-like wooden structures located in the dense magical forest.

The hot springs, emerging from two sources at 136-degree Fahrenheit, flow through wooden flumes to the big open-sided tub, private and lower bathhouses. The flumes are made from 10-foot long hollowed-out cedar logs. The mineral water is too hot for soaking. So, before bathing, the geothermal water should be mixed with cold water from cold springs.

The main bathhouse has five cedar wood tubs, each of them is in a private room. The lower open-deck bathhouse contains three smaller log tubs and one big family tub. Αbout 100 yards from the main bathhouse, you will find an open bathhouse with one big tub capable of holding from six to eight people. Nudity is permitted in the private rooms of the main bathhouse only.

Alcohol is prohibited at Bagby.

Bagby Hot Springs can be crowded during weekends and holidays. Waiting time for the tubs varies depending on how many people are visiting Bagby.

The hot springs were named after a hunter Bob Bagby, who discovered the area in 1880.

In 1913, the Forest Service Guard station was built near the hot springs to use it during the summer seasons. In the 1920s, a bathhouse and cabins were constructed nearby. In 1974, the guard station was moved to Oak Grove, but the bathing structures were still in use. The original Bagby Guard Station had been renovated and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, the public does not have access to this building.

In 1979, the bathhouse was burnt to the ground when one of the bathers accidentally left a candle burning. It took over five years to build new bathhouses.

Location: 38 miles southeast of Estacada • Oregon Cascade Mountains • USA
Open: Year-round, 24 hours
Development: Semi-developed, rustic bathhouses, and wood tubs
Clothing: Required in public places
Amenities: No services are available; a pit toilet.
Accommodations: Campsites - 0.25 miles; Kingfisher Campground - 4 miles east; Motels in Estacada - 38 miles west
Hiking distance: 1.4 miles
Road Access: Any vehicle
Day-use: Yes with fees, kids under 11 - free
Managed by: US Forest Service

Elevation: 2,280 ft (695 m)

Water T°: 120°F (49°C) - 138°F (59°C)
Water acidity level: Alkaline (pH=9.7)
Springs Type: Mixed
Flow rate: 26 gallon/min (100 l/min)
Chemical used: None

Average dissolved solids: 260 Mg/L

Cations
Silicon (Si)- 81.5 Mg/L
Sodium (Na)- 54 Mg/L
Calcium (Ca)- 3.7 Mg/L
Potassium (K)- 0.8 Mg/L
Boron (B) - 0.6 Mg/L
Magnesium (Mg)- 0.1 Mg/L

Anions
Carbonate (CO3)- 68 Mg/L
Sulfate (SO4)- 30.7 Mg/L
Chloride (Cl)- 14.6 Mg/L
Bromide (Br)- 5 Mg/L
Fluoride (F)- 0.68 Mg/L

From Salem,

Drive along Highway 213 to Molalla
Turn right onto Highway 211
Before Estacada, turn right onto Highway 224
Drive on Highway 224 east for 26 miles from Estacada to the Ripplebrook Ranger Station
Highway 224 becomes the road 46 after Ranger Station
Continue for 3.5 miles to Forest Road 63
Turn right onto Forest Road 63
Drive 3 miles to FR 70, turn right onto FR 70
Follow next 5.5 miles to Bagby Trailhead
Bagby Trailhead and parking facility are on the left.

Phone: 503-630-6861

GPS (Trailhead): N 44°57.263' W 122°10.228' | 44.9544, -122.1705

GPS (Hot Springs): N 44°56.120' W 122°10.422 | 44.9353,-122.1737