A Short Hike Leads To Some Of Oregon's Warmest Hot Springs Surrounded In Forest Beauty

You get a lot of bang for your buck at the Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon. To reach the springs, all you have to do is hike 0.6 miles. Yes, it still qualifies as a "hike," because you're walking on a trail through forest, and there's an elevation gain of 147 feet, which is nothing to sneeze at. Once you take a steel footbridge over a frothing stream, the scenery consists of girthy evergreens and loamy slopes, which extend for miles through the surrounding Umpqua National Forest. But after a quick walk, you'll arrive at the thermally heated springs, which dribble water into a small pool. 

The pool has been created naturally out of travertine deposits, but humans have also delicately shaped the edges to act like a tub. It's situated on the side of a steep hill, with splendid views of the forest and nearby Surprise Falls. Like the springs, Surprise Falls simply emerges from the ground, pouring down mossy rocks. You can also hike right up to the falls and admire their striated cliffs.

Fit hikers could get to the springs and back in about 20 minutes, but most visitors will bring swimsuits and maybe snacks. The pool sustains temperatures of 100 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which are the warmest in this already volcanically active state. The price for a day-visit is only $5 per vehicle, which can be paid online via QR code. Oregon is full of beautiful hikes, but this one is brief, budget-friendly, and rewarding. 

The hot springs are a favorite destination for many, but there's quite a bit more to Umpqua National Forest: the park sprawls across nearly one million acres. The park is named after the Umpqua Indigenous people, and the word literally translates as "thundering waters." True to its nomenclature, Umpqua National Forest has numerous established cascades, much like the incredible waterfalls in this popular West Coast park. Umpqua's most iconic feature is Mt. Thielsen, a dormant volcano that rises 7200 feet above sea level and is nicknamed the "lightning rod of the Cascades" — partly because of its spiked summit, and partly because it is frequently struck by lightning.

Umpqua's obscure location is a double-edged sword: on one hand, it's hard for out-of-staters to get to the springs, as the trailhead stands more than four hours by car from Portland International Airport, the most common place for travelers to land. Even Eugene is about two-and-a-half hours away by car, so you really have to want to visit. That said, Umpqua National Park receives a reasonable 735,000 visitors each year, who take advantage of the area's 530 miles of trails, 40 developed campgrounds, and three full-on wilderness areas. In short, you're unlikely to ever have to elbow through a crowd.

If you're the type who loves hot springs but could live without sleeping on the ground, note that Umpqua National Forest has seven rental cabins, and if you drive about an hour-and-40-minutes back toward civilization, you'll find a good number of hotels and motels in the town of Roseburg, most of them costing under $100 per night. This makes a great stop on your scenic road trip to Oregon's hidden gems and top attractions.