Bagby Hot Springs
Address: Clackamas County, Oregon
Website: BagbyHotSprings
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out 5 stars) Ultimate Hot Springs Rating
Website: BagbyHotSprings
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out 5 stars) Ultimate Hot Springs Rating
General Description: Bagby Hot Springs is situated within the Mount Hood National Forest along the Hot Springs Fork of the Collawash River. Managed by a non-profit organization, the site is reached via a 1.5-mile hike through a magical old-growth forest of Douglas fir and Western Red Cedar. The soaking facilities are a clothing-optional wooden masterpiececonsisting of private and communal tubs hand-hollowed from cedar logs and fed by an intricate gravity-driven plumbing system built by the Friends of Bagby volunteers. The area is designated for day-use only, and access requires a fee per person for a soaking wristband in addition to a required Northwest Forest Pass for vehicle parking.
Location: From Portland, Oregon its about one hour and forty minutes or about 60 miles
Directions: From Portland, Oregon take OR-224 E, S Springwater Rd, OR-224 E and NF-46 to NF-63 in Clackamas County 1 h 22 min (56.7 mi) Drive to NF-70 23 min (9.5 mi)
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Accessibility: The hot springs are accessible by paved road all the way to the parking lot for Bagby. It is a 3.4 mile easy hike round trip to the hot springs. If you park along the road, make sure you are off the fog line; otherwise, you may receive a ticket for obstructing the roadway. No day-use fee is required to park at the Bagby Trailhead. However, there is a soaking fee that can be paid to the attendant or fee box at the trailhead (cash only). A wristband will be given upon paying the fee that you will need to wear while soaking.
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Hot Springs: Bagby Hot Springs is defined by a deeply immersive, clothing-optional vibe that honors the primitive spirit of the Mount Hood National Forest and the freedom of the Pacific Northwest. The soaking experience is powered by all-natural mineral water from three primary geothermal springs and several minor seeps, with the largest source discharging twenty-four gallons per minute at a scalding 138°F, while secondary springs provide fifteen gallons at 136°F and three gallons at 120°F. The main bathhouse features five private stalls containing 200-gallon tubs meticulously hewn by hand from single cedar logs, while the lower community bathhouse offers three additional log tubs alongside a six-foot round wooden vessel. An upper bathhouse provides a single six-foot round tub on an open deck, and a core tenet of the site's etiquette requires visitors to drain their private tubs after use and refill them only halfway to ensure the high-temperature water can naturally cool in the mountain air for the next bather.
Hot Spring Tips: To maximize your experience at Bagby Hot Springs, arrive at the trailhead by sunrise or visit on a weekday to avoid the multi-hour wait times that often occur during peak weekends. Since the source water emerges at a scalding 138°F, the ultimate "pro tip" is to bring a sturdy plastic bucket; this allows you to haul cold water from the nearby creek to cool your tub to a safe temperature instantly and serves as a tool for scrubbing out any forest debris before you fill. Pack a headlamp or flashlight for the 1.5-mile hike back, as the dense old-growth canopy makes the trail pitch-black after dusk, and ensure you have exact cash for the soaking fee and your Northwest Forest Pass displayed on your dashboard to avoid a ticket. Finally, remember to bring plenty of drinking water and leave all glass and alcohol behind, as camp hosts and Forest Service officers strictly enforce these rules to preserve the "magical forest" atmosphere. Please note that pets are not permitted at the springs, which are for day-use only with no overnight stays, and you must pack out everything you pack in to protect this wild sanctuary. Be prepared to see nude people for it is a clothing-optional environment where nudity is permitted exclusively on the bath decks; you are required to remain clothed while on the trails and in the open areas between the bathhouses.
Youtube Video on Bagby Hot Springs is below.
