Cougar Reservoir 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: Salem
Coordinates: 44.083, -122.233

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About Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs

Cougar Reservoir 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 Cougar Reservoir 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

Terwilliger — four rock-walled pools cascading down a fern ravine, hottest (~112°F) at the top and cooling to ~85°F at the bottom, so you pick your temperature by picking your pool. Developed decking and stairs, a lagoon-side setting near Cougar Reservoir, and an officially clothing-optional policy on site.

Getting there

Trailhead: Signed lot on Aufderheide Scenic Byway (FR 19), just south of Cougar Reservoir
Parking: Limited lot — the site caps around 50 people; overflow lots sit up the road
Road: Paved scenic byway; ices in winter and takes occasional storm closures
Hike: 0.5 mi round trip (easy)
Heads up: Short descent from the road to the pools. Thursday mornings close for cleaning.

When to go

Year-round; fall is the sweet spot — summer weekends routinely hit capacity. The lowest pools cool further when Rider Creek runs high in spring.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: Posted per-person day fee at the trailhead (USFS lists $12 for a 2-hour session; posted rates have varied) — bring cash and read the board
Dogs: USFS says no pets on site; posted signage governs
Hours: Day use only, closed Thursday mornings for cleaning
Camping: Cougar Crossing, Slide Creek, and Sunnyside campgrounds within a few miles; no camping at the springs
Warnings: No alcohol. Pools are shallow (2–3 ft). Don't leave valuables in the car — the lot has a break-in history.

Researched from USFS — Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs · Soak Oregon — Terwilliger guide. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Cougar Reservoir 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.