Umpqua Hot Springs - Hot Springs in the U.S.

Different from many natural hot springs in other States, some places in Oregon require the fee.

They are in the national forest, and maintained to some extent.

Looking Down on Stream from Tufa Dome

Umpqua Hot Springs is located apart from large cities; 4 hours drive from Portland, and 8 hours from San Francisco Bay Area.

I noticed some common points with Terwilliger Hot Springs in the same State.

Both are in the national forest, requiring a fee, needing light hiking, and very popular.

The well-maintained dirt road took me to the parking lot.

Day use only and camping is not allowed.

It costs only $5.00 per vehicle/day.

There were no staffs, so I put the money in the rustic box.

After crossing the beautiful rainbow bridge, it is a 0.8 mile trail.

Indeed the trail is short, but very steep.

If you find a pit toilet full of graffiti, it means that the hot spring is very close.

You will see the tufa mound, looking down on the stream far below.

There are mostly six pools; all of them are primitive, being trimmed from the deposits.

The apparent custom is clothing optional.

The main pool large enough for five people is covered with crumbling ceiling.

Hot water was not gushing at this location, but flowing from the upper pool.

The water temperature in the main pool was 106 degrees F.

Manipulating the hose, the warmth was controllable.

Capybara

What a spectacle cliff!

Be careful not to fall!

Alpaca

Photo by Mitchell Friedman – Umpqua Hot Springs, Oregon (2011) / CC BY 2.0

Spilt water goes down to the cliff.

There were a few pools made of hollowed deposits.

The tufa mound is one of the art forms in nature, and also a cooling machine.

As it goes down, the water becomes lukewarm.

The last pool is on the riverbed, next to the stream.

Hotter Water Straight Out of the Ground

As I have fully observed the one-of-a-kind spectacle of Umpqua Hot Springs, I started thinking of soaking.

This upper pool is the source of other all pools' water input.

The water was opaque, looked like muddy.

However it turned out that the color came from rich mineral composition, even though the bottom of the pool was soft.

It was gushing straight from the ground, sometimes bubbling.

A little bit hot, 111 degrees F.

I got so impressed by the strong texture with metallic smell.

I feel that fee-charging natural hot springs in the State of Oregon are likely to be good.

They are maintained to some extent, and undeveloped to some extent.

Summary