The Ultimate Guide to Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon (Toketee Hot Springs)
Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon (also known as Toketee Hot Springs) are probably the coolest springs I’ve ever had the opportunity to experience. I mean, terraced, riverside, blue-green, natural pools in the heart of nature–what more could ya ask for? No wonder this Oregon gem is so dang popular! I get it. I’m obsessed. And you’re about to be too. Here’s everything to know before visiting Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon yourself! Let’s dive in! But don’t dive in to Umpqua–they’re way too shallow for that.
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Table of Contents
Hot Springs Etiquette
Shower beforehand, if possible. Hot springs are very delicate, and it's super easy to accidentally introduce foreign bacteria that can disrupt its delicate chemical balance. Showering before entering can help their long-term health.
Keep it down. We visit hot springs to relax, and while Rainbow Kitten Surprise is calming for you, your neighbor might not agree. Read the room.
Never use soap. Again, hot springs are very delicate, and any foreign substance can hugely alter its natural balance. This includes biodegradable soaps and shampoos!
Stay hydrated! Hot springs are, well, hot, and can cause serious dehydration if your'e not careful. It's important to drink lots of water to ward off those "fainting spells" hot springs are known to cast. When it's time to leave, get up slowly. I never visit a hot spring without my 34-oz reusable, insulated water bottle.
Leave the glass behind. Breaking glass is (hopefully) never intentional, but accidents happen, and when they do, it can be dangerous, and broken glass can be nearly impossible to see.
Avoid peak times. Overcrowded springs aren't fun for anyone–it increases the negative impact on the springs, increases the chance of COVID exposure, and you could end up without a spot. Try to visit on weekdays if possible, and mornings are always best.
Pay the fee. Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon costs $5 per person. The Northwest Forest Pass and America the Beautiful pass are also accepted.
Check road conditions. Wilderness springs, while amazing, can be pretty grueling to get to. Check to make sure the roads are open and the trail conditions before visiting. Safety first!
Pack out what you pack in. Hot springs see a lot of visitors, and we all have our little luxuries we like during a hot soak, but all of those cans, snack wrappers, and underwear (this is more common than you think) need to accompany you back home as well. Do your part, respect the land, treat it as if it were your own property, and keep it clean and pristine for future use.
Don't pee in the springs! Just like pools and hot tubs, peeing (or pooping) in public springs is so not okay. Pools at least have chlorine and a cleaning system in place. Hot springs are as natural as can be, and any foreign substance can throw it off balance. We all know hot water loves to test our bladders, so consider peeing before getting in. (Make sure to pack out your toilet paper too!)
Leave your fur puppies at home.
Umpqua hot springs camping is not allowed.
Leave it better than you found it!
Umpqua Hot Springs at a Glance
Where is Umpqua Hot Springs?: Umpqua National Forest
GPS Coordinates: 43.2951225, -122.3658739
How much does it cost to go to Umpqua Hot Springs?: $5 day use fee, or a Northwest Forest Pass (The America the Beautiful pass is a national parks pass and a Northwest Forest Pass in one!)
Hours: Year-round, daylight only. Open sunrise to sunset.
How long is the trail to Umpqua Hot Springs?
Summer: 0.5 miles RT.
Winter: The road is closed to vehicles, which turns the adventure into 4.4 miles RT. You can either hike down the road, or take the trail for a more scenic route. Choose your adventure!
Toilets: Pit toilets in the day-use parking lot.
Number of pools: Roughly 6-9 pools (depending on what you define as pools) of varying temperatures. Although, the ones toward the bottom are chilly, especially in the winter. The source is at the top.
Water clarity: Murky and a beautiful shade of blue-green.
Smell: There’s a slight sulphur smell but not terrible!
Water temperature: Up to 115ºF
Clothing: Optional
Check AllTrails for current trail reports.
What to Bring:
Swimsuit – I layer my one-piece under my clothes to get in the pool as fast as possible.
Changing poncho. I loveeee my Nomadix microfiber changing poncho for adventures like these! They’re quick to absorb, warm, and make changing back into my clothes so easy in public!
Water – I like to bring along my Hydroflask insulated water bottle follows me on all my hot springs adventures. Stay hydrated, friends!
Snacks – Something fresh like an orange (pack out those peels!) tastes 10x better when enjoyed in a spring.
Rumpl Everywhere Mat – I throw my clothes on top of my Everywhere Mat to keep my clothes dry while soaking.
Spikes – This trail can get slipper in the winter. Spikes can make all the difference!
Trashbag – For your trash and others'!
** Don't forget to pack everything out with you!
How to Get to Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon
Distance from Eugene: 130 miles, 2 hours 25 minutes
Distance from Bend: 121 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes
Distance from Salem: 192 miles, 3 hours 20 minutes
Distance from Portland: 234 miles, 4 hours
Distance from roseburg: 64 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes
Find your way onto Oregon 138 (N Umpqua Highway), turning left onto Toketee Rigdon Rd if you’re coming from the west. This is also where you’ll find Toketee Falls! If you have a sec, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s such a sweet waterfall and just a 0.8-mile RT walk! Toketee Rigdon Rd will quickly turn into NF-34/N Umpqua Rd. After about 2.2 miles after turning off of 138, veer right onto NF-3401. You’ll see a forest service gate.
Now, in the summer, this gate will be open and you’ll be able to drive the last 2 miles to Umpqua Hot Springs’ day use area on the left. Umpqua Hot Springs is just a 0.5-mile walk from the lot.
In the winter, however, this gate will be closed and you’ll need to park on the side of the road in front of it. The walk from the gate is about 2.2 miles one-way (4.4 RT), and you can choose to either take the road, or opt for the more scenic trail through the forest. We did both, hiking in on the trail for some lush greenery, and back on the road since it’s more of a straight shot.
Know Before You Go
These are some of the most popular hot springs in Oregon. If you’d like to avoid the crowds, I’d recommend going on a weekday at sunrise.
Don’t forget to check road and trail conditions before you go! You’ll take a paved forest road to get here, but snowstorms can often disrupt traffic (both on road and on the trail). Check road conditions here, and read up on recent trail reports on AllTrails.
Leave the glass and alcohol n the car. It’s not permitted in or around the pools for safety reasons.
There’s no cell service, so plan accordingly! I always download a trail map either on AllTrails or Gaia (you’ll need the Pro versions to download it for offline use).
It’s a clothing optional hot spring, so expect some nudity. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be in your birthday suit in public, now’s your chance! It’s so freeing!!!
Where to Stay by Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon
Camping isn’t allowed at the trailhead, but there are a few nearby options to consider!
Camp for free on National Forest land. Umpqua Hot Springs is located in Umpqua National Forest, which means there are tons of free dispersed camping options available incredibly close to these hot springs. Check out resources like iOverlander, Freeroam, Campendium, and more! I wrote a blog post about how to find these epic free sites here if you’re interested!
Book an established campsite. Toketee Lake Campground is the closest established campground to the hot springs. There are 32 spots and all are reservation only, so make sure you book that reservation on Recreation.gov to save your site! Established spots fill up quickly in the summer months, so book in advance if you can! There are also plenty along the river on highway 138 too if Toketee is already full.
Glamp in a decked out tent or book a tiny cabin at Umpqua’s Last Resort! We opted for a bed and a free hot shower and decided to this route this time. We stayed in a tiny cabin that had more amenities than we imagined! Popcorn, a microwave, coffee, creamer, and even shampoo and conditioner. This was above and beyond for what we paid and expected!
The Short Umpqua Hot Springs Hike
The hike from the parking lot is short but steep. You’ll start the river via a metal bridge. Then you’ll gain elevation pretty quickly (160’ total) along a wooden fence for part of the way. You’ll reach a graffiti’d pit toilet (I’d use the ones in the parking lot, though!) before hanging left in the trees. If you choose to hike from the gate, walk until you see the car bridge, then take a left onto the trail before you reach the bridge. It’s a beautiful hike that leads you through lush greenery and over a river before you intersect the trail from the day-use parking lot.
Ignore the yellow point of interest dot on the AllTrails map–it says the pools are up on the hillside before the end of the trail. This is not true. Continue down the trail until you arrive at the pools.
The Pools at Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon
Umpqua Hot Springs has multiple terraced pools (about six), all of varying temperatures, sizes, and depths, but the one at the very top is by far the hottest. It’s also the biggest and can fit up to five pretty comfortably! The epic, more beautiful pools are cliffside– if you’re visiting in the colder months, I’d recommend starting here to enjoy the view, snap a few photos, and if you get too chilly, head up to the top to warm up. I couldn’t sit in there for long, though. It was wayyyy too hot for me, even in January!
On the warmer days, the cliffside pools are exactly where you want to be. If you’d like a bit more privacy and maybe more of an adventure, I’d suggest climbing down the rope to the left (if you’re facing the river) to find a pool that’s been built in the riverbed, which makes it super easy to hop between river water and the springs.
I was super impressed with how private each of the pools felt and the water color was a gorgeous blue-green! The photos don’t lie, people!
Leave No Trace
Always remember to leave no trace–pack out what you pack in, leave what you find, prepare for every adventure, and respect the outdoors and each other every step of the way. Learn more about how to leave no trace here.
And if you do decide to venture out, drop a comment below or shoot me an email to tell me how it went!
Happy adventuring!
