• Breitenbush Hot Springs is a rustic resort in the Willamette National Forest
• The resort offers hot springs experience and well-being programs
Situated along the scenic Breitenbush River, Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center is a rustic resort offering bathing in hot mineral-rich water while enjoying the spectacular nature of the Cascade Mountains and the Willamette National Forest.
The mineral water flows out of the source at a temperature of 180°F and higher. The temperature of the soaking pools varies from 100°F to 109°F.
On the upper level, there are three pools with great views of meadow in the foreground and Cascade Mountains in the background. The hottest "Silent Pool" is designed for quiet and relaxing soaking.
On the lower level, you will find four "Spiral Tubs" with temperatures ranging from warm to very hot and cedar tub contains a cold water.
Due to the soaking pools are operated on a constant flow-through basis, no chemical treatments are required.
There is a steam sauna, which uses steam from the thermal water coming through slots in the floor.
Breitenbush offers well-being programs including yoga, EDGU (Spinal Health Exercise), meditation, and massage. Other features of the property include the conference center, library, miles of trails, Stone Labyrinth, and gift shop.
The facility is operated by a worker-owned cooperative.
Brief History of Breitenbush Hot Springs
Breitenbush was named after a hunter Lewis Breitenbucher who explored this area in the 1840s. By the end of the 19th century, the hot springs became a popular destination for people who were looking for healing and rejuvenation.
The upper hot springs which is known as Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center now was separated from the lower area (Lower Breitenbush Hot Springs) and granted to Claude Mansfield by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. Twenty-three years later, Merle Bruckman purchased Breitenbush and built the lodge and health spa. The Bruckman family operated the property for twenty years and sold it in 1957. For the next twenty years, the resort changed a few owners but after two intense floods eventually was closed to the public in 1972.
A new era of revival began when the property was purchased by Alex Beamer in 1977 and then, in 1985, sold to a cooperative that supported Alex Beamer's vision, focused on self-sufficiency, personal growth, and preservation of natural areas.
The lower pools resort that included 35 cabins, a store, bathhouse, and footbridge across and it used to be a popular destination, but after floods in the 1970s, the lower hot springs were damaged and never restored.
In 2020, the largest and most devastating wildfire in Oregon burned the property to the ground. The owners initiated restoration and rebuilding immediately after the fire and, currently, Breitenbush is open again.
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Breitenbush Hot Springs | Facts
Location: 10 miles northeast of Detroit • Cascade Mountains • Oregon • USA
Open: Year-round, for day use from 9 am to 6 pm (reservation required)
Development: Retreat Center, soaking tubs, and sauna
Clothing: Optional
Amenities & Services: Gift shop, dining room, library, massage, yoga, and meditation sessions
Accommodations: Lodge, guest cabins, and campground
Hiking distance: Short
Road Access: Any vehicle, chains are required from November 1st to April 1st
Day-use: Yes with fees (reservation required)
Elevation: 2,225 ft (678 m)
Water T° (source): 180°F (82°C)
Water T° (pools): 101°F (38°C) - 109°F(43°C)
Water acidity level: Neutral (pH=7.3)
Springs type: Sodium Chloride
Flow rate: 898 gallon/min (3,400 l/min)
Chemical used: None
Average dissolved solids: 2,650 ppm
| Cations
Sodium (Na) - 720 Mg/L |
Anions
Chloride (Cl) - 1,300 Mg/L |
More Adventures
Directions to Breitenbush Hot Springs
From I-5,
- Take exit 253 in Salem for OR-22
- Follow on OR-22 east for about 48 miles toward Detroit
- Turn left onto Highway 46 (Breitenbush Road) and continue approximately 9 miles to NF-2231
- Turn right onto a single-lane bridge across the Breitenbush River
- Turn left and drive on NF-890 to Mi Pst
- Turn left, the destination will be on your left.
Use Highway 224 from Estacada during the summer only, since it becomes hazardous and impassable from early fall to late spring.
Address: 53000 Breitenbush Road, Detroit, OR 97342
Phone: 503-854-3320
breitenbush.com
1. "Geothermal Information Layer for Oregon". www.oregongeology.org
2. breitenbush.com
3. Oregon Discovery