Breitenbush Hot Springs

If you're passing

Is it plungeworthy?

—temperature

A natural thermal spring.

Scale30/60

Documentation14/20

Character10/20

The details

Soak: Temperature unrecorded
Area: Bend
Coordinates: 44.782, -121.975

Get directions →

About Breitenbush Hot Springs

Breitenbush Hot Springs is a natural hot spring in Oregon.

At that temperature it's temperature unrecorded — check current conditions and always test the water before getting in.

Plungeworthy rates Breitenbush Hot Springs 5.4/10 — if you're passing. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

A worker-owned retreat on the Breitenbush River where 180°F source water is tempered into three rock-lined meadow pools, four spiral tubs ending at a cold plunge, and a cedar steam sauna built over a capped geyser. Everything is clothing-optional, quiet-spoken, and reservation-only — the opposite of a party spring.

The 2020 Lionshead Fire burned most of the historic buildings; the rebuild has been ongoing since 2021 and the grounds keep improving year over year.

Getting there

Parking: Gated lot at the retreat, ~10 miles east of Detroit via FR 46 (last mile-plus gravel)
Road: Paved then gravel; traction devices advised November–April
Hike: 0 mi round trip (easy)
Heads up: Pools are a short walk on developed grounds. Don't confuse it with the free primitive Lower Breitenbush springs on public land nearby — different place, different rules.

When to go

Open 365 days. Day passes sell out weeks ahead for weekends — book, don't drive up. Winter soaking here, with snow on the meadow, is the version people write about.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: Reservation required, no walk-ins. 2026 day use: $40 weekday / $50 weekend (13+), $20 kids 5–12; optional lunch add-on.
Dogs: No pets anywhere on the property
Hours: Day use 9am–6pm; quiet hours from 10pm for overnight guests
Camping: On-site tent and platform camping through the retreat; USFS Breitenbush Campground a couple miles back down FR 46
Warnings: Strictly substance-free and fragrance-free; no cell service or wifi; over an hour from a hospital.

Researched from Breitenbush — Day Use · Breitenbush — policies. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Breitenbush Hot Springs recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.