One of the most beautiful bathhouses still in existence in the United States. No walk-in was accepted, and silence was maintained. Difficult to Reach Summer Lake Hot Springs is located in the high desert of Oregon's backcountry along State Highway 31. It is about a two-hour drive south from the nearest city, Bend. Walk-in is not accepted, so online reservations for overnight stays must be made through the official website. Lodging options include RV spots, campgrounds, and cabins. Note that as a general rule, reservations for cabins must be made for two consecutive nights. This difficulty in reaching it is the flip side of the lack of excessive crowding. It is believed that humans began to live in this area at least 14,000 years ago. The name comes from John C. Frémont, the first Republican presidential candidate and explorer, who passed through this area in 1843 and named the lake just north of the hot springs Summer Lake. The hot springs, which have gushed out naturally since ancient times, were mainly used for irrigation and soaking by local residents. In 1997, the current owner, Duane Graham, purchased the land containing the hot springs. Duane, who owned a building contracting business renovating vintage houses, saw great potential in the RV park with geothermal water, which were small at the time. Under his leadership, the resort was expanded, with cabins added and new outdoor pools built, while retaining the historic buildings. I stayed in a rustic cabin called “PONDER”. It was fully equipped with two queen-sized beds, ...
