A Pocket Guide to Pacific Northwest Hot Springs

From a one-hour drive from Portland to a weekender destination, beat winter chill with a soak at one of these eight natural hot spots.

The rain drums against the roof, the wind yanks the last damp leaves from the trees—and all the snuggies in the world can’t seem to insulate you from winter creep reaching deep into your bones. It’s time to soak out the chill—and revive your spirits—at one of the Pacific Northwest’s beautiful natural hot springs. We’ve got your guide right here, whether you’re looking for a quick half-day trip or a DIY mineral treatment much farther afield.

Soak-on-the-go? From Portland, these two hot springs are one or two hours by car.

Bagby Hot Springs
Take your time on the easy 1.5-mile hike in to Bagby, which feels shockingly lush even for native Northwesterners who grew up drinking in the greenest of hues. The three partially covered bathhouses, which house hand-hewn tubs fed by cedar plumbing, sit at the mouth of two underground springs that gush about 25 gallons of 136-degree mineral water every minute. Exhibitionists rejoice! Clothing is optional on the bath decks.

Breitenbush Hot Springs
These hot springs double as a retreat for those who could use a more focused vacation from the city. The Breitenbush Retreat and Conference Center offers community events that center on mental and physical wellness, such as yoga and meditation workshops. Reservations at their year-round cabins include three hearty vegetarian meals per day and the best sleep of your life.

Pack an overnight bag for these mini getaway spots: each three to four hours from Portland.

Cougar Hot Springs
Also known as the Terwilliger Hot Springs, these five pools have a temperature for everybody. Each rock-walled pool feeds into another below it to create a descending gradient of heat: at the top, a scalding 112 degrees; the bottom, a comfortable 90 degrees. Play Goldilocks and dip your toe into each bowled terrace to find that one that’s “just right.” (For a weekend trip, stay nearby at the McKenzie River Mountain Resort.)

Newberry Caldera Hot Springs
Newberry is classified as an active volcano, which means that it’s not a question of if, but when it will erupt again. Don’t let that deter you from exploring its caldera, though. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument features two lakes, Paulina and East, both of which have blissfully hot springs on their banks. Be warned that these springs are for the slightly more adventurous set—you may have to dig out your own soaking tub, and the sulfuric smell is not for the faint of heart.

Hot Lake Springs
After a 1934 fire that destroyed the original building near La Grande, Hot Lake Springs Resort lay mostly in ruin for seven decades, during which it changed hands many times. Today, the beautifully restored bed-and-breakfast complex houses not only the springs but also an art gallery and coffee shop. (Along with the mineral springs, make sure to soak up a little of the Oregon Trail at their history center while you’re there.)

Take a few sick days (we promise you’ll feel better) and head to these far-flung springs, five to seven hours away.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
The breathtaking three-pronged Sol Duc Falls alone are well worth the trip up to the northern edge of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. One option: book a rugged three-day trek on the High Divide Loop trail (including the best view of Mount Olympus) with stay at the resort, where you can regenerate with four onsite soaking pool options. (Temperatures range from 104 degrees to a brisk 50 degrees in the freshwater pool.) A less-intensive way to get your fix of nature? Try a year-round guided trek of the Lake Quinault Rainforest. Want even more? Lodge-hop the whole peninsula.

Crystal Crane Hot Springs
Options abound at Crystal Crane, an “informal” resort tucked in Oregon’s far southeastern corner not far from Steens Mountain. Prepared to rough it in a tent? There’s a campsite. Prefer the luxury of an inn? They have two. Open pond or cozy private tub? Your pick, but insiders recommend an early morning dip in the 102-degree outdoor pool while listening to the distant howls of coyotes as you watch the sun rise.

Alvord Hot Springs
The lure remains at these once-free springs that have turned commercial. Near the eastern base of Steen Mountain, these isolated dipping pools may now feature a parking lot and bathrooms, but nothing can diminish the view of the full moon hanging low over the desert.

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