Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs - Day-use fee or pay-per-soak in Blue River, OR (2026)
Six terraced pools overlook Rider Creek in dense old-growth forest; hot water cascades from a rock grotto into progressively cooler pools. FS rangers limit soakers to maintain the quiet, clothing-optional vibe.
Terwilliger Hot Springs (also called Cougar Hot Springs) is one of the iconic Pacific Northwest primitive soaks — six terraced pools cascading down a mossy old-growth forest hillside in the Willamette National Forest, southeast of Eugene, Oregon. The Forest Service manages the site with a $10 per-person fee, capacity caps, Tuesday cleaning closures, and a clothing-optional culture that's been the norm for decades. The 0.25-mile walk in from the small parking lot is an easy uphill through dense moss-draped forest. Cell signal is zero; the parking lot fills early on summer weekends.
What to expect
Park at the Terwilliger trailhead off Aufderheide Drive (paved Forest Road 19 from Highway 126). Pay $10/person at the iron ranger. Walk the easy quarter-mile uphill trail to the upper pool, where the source emerges from a small stone grotto. Six pools step down the hillside — hottest at the top, coolest at the bottom. Clothing-optional. No facilities at all. Closed Tuesdays for cleaning. Pack out everything; the Forest Service is strict and bacterial advisories occasionally close the site.
Temperature
95°-107°F
Pools
6 soaking pools
Best season
May-October
Reservations
Walk-up friendly
Dog policy
No pets at pools
Family policy
Adults only
Safety notes
- Closed Tuesdays for cleaning; arriving anyway risks fines.
- Pay attention to bacteria advisories—blue-green algae occasionally triggers temporary closures.
Amenities & etiquette
FAQ
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