Bagby Hot Springs

Estacada, OR

If you ask an avid Oregon hotspringer about his favorites, Bagby and Terwilliger are sure to be mentioned. It is interesting that volunteer, non-profit groups, which continue to manage them, have improved both of these hot springs.

But the similarity between the two stops there. Where Terwilliger seems totally natural and untouched, Bagby is quite organized With a roofed bathhouse, wooden tubs and a deck. But despite the planning behind it, the hot springs still has that rustic, remote feeling to it that brings folks back again and again.

Bagby requires a mile and a half hike to reach. Parts of the trail are slippery and muddy during the spring ... that's the bad news. The rest is all good. The hike is one of the prettiest in Northern Oregon with its beautiful rain forest and many waterfalls and streams. The elevation is about 2,000 feet, so it is accessible most of the year.

First, there is a roofed, enclosed and totally private row of five bathhouses, each with a hollowed-out cedar log for a tub. By removing the wooden plug from each flume, one can quickly fill the tub. Then by adding buckets of cool water (obtained nearby) one can regulate the temperature. Once everything is settled, you can lie back in your private tub and enjoy one of the loveliest spots in Oregon. Warning: If a number of others are filling the tubs at the same time, it may take a bit of time to fill your tub. Just below the private bathhouses is a public, roofed bathing area which has three cedar tubs (each big enough for two) and a round cedar tub which accommodates four. These tubs are filled in a similar fashion. Bathing suits are optional here.

The original bathhouse at Bagby burned in 1979 and has been rebuilt by an organization known as the Friends of Bagby, Inc., a non-profit corporation (P.O. Box 15116, Portland, OR 97215). They restored it as close as possible to the original and continue to maintain the area in cooperation with the Forest Service. Friends of Bagby accepts donations from visitors at a collection box at the entrance, otherwise, Bagby is totally free.

You can picnic on the property, but overnight camping is not allowed. However, there are a number of Forest Service campgrounds in the vicinity, one just a short distance from the trailhead.

Directions: Bagby is one of those hot springs that are well marked on maps and road signs. Even without directions or a map, it is very easy to find. From Estacada, drive south on Highway 224 for about forty miles. Watch for a sign indicating Bagby. The sign leads to Forest Service Road 63. Then watch for Forest Service Road 70. Turn onto Road 70 and go about ten miles to the parking area and trailhead. The last three miles are the hardest as the road turns to gravel and becomes very narrow. From the parking area, signs point to the 1.5 mile trail. The trail can be slippery in the spring, so wear shoes or boots with good traction. One additional word of guidance: Near the end of the trail you will come to an unmarked split in the trail. Go left over the bridge. The hot springs is directly ahead.

Services: Services are available only in Estacada, forty miles north. However, there are many campgrounds in the area, most of them are well maintained and have restrooms.