Umpqua Hot Springs are a group of geothermal springs located along the

North Umpqua River The North Umpqua River is a tributary of the Umpqua River, about long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains a scenic and rugged area of the Cascade Range southeast of Eugene, flowing through steep canyons and surrounded by larg ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

at elevation. The hot mineral water emerges from several sources to form a series of cascading pools. Eight pools are available for soaking, the larger having a solid rock bottom and the smaller pools have coarse sand bottoms. The larger is five by eight feet and , and is covered by a wooden enclosure. The upper pool is smaller but slightly warmer, measuring four by five feet and . Both pools are approximately two and a half feet deep. Umpqua is clothing optional. The hot springs are for day use only. The nearest camping is at Toketee Lake.

History

The hot springs were historically used by at least four separate indigenous tribal groups. The springs were used for spiritual and healing purposes and were considered a no-conlict zone by the tribes. "Umpqua" means "dancing water" in the local indigenous people's language. Archaeological evidence indicates that Indigenous people settled in the Umpqua River area at least 8,000 years before the arrival of Euro-American settlers. Native groups in the area include the Southern Molalla who spoke the

Molala language Molala (Molele, Molalla) is the extinct and poorly attested Plateau Penutian language of the Molala people of Oregon and Washington. It is first attested along the Deschutes River, and later moved to the Molalla and Santiam rivers, and to the ...

, who lived in the area near the headwaters of the

South Umpqua River The South Umpqua River is a tributary of the Umpqua River, approximately long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains part of the Cascade Range east of Roseburg. The river passes through a remote canyon in its upper reaches then ...

. The Kalawatset, also known as the Lower Umpqua tribe, lived on coastal lands along the Umpqua Esturary, the Smith River and from the

Siltcoos River The Siltcoos River is a stream on the central coast of the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at Siltcoos Lake, which straddles the border between Douglas and Lane counties. The river meanders generally west to the Pacific Ocean. It is located abou ...

to Tenmile Creek. They spoke a variant of the language spoken by the Coos and Siuslaw tribes. The Upper Umpqua people as well as the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians lived along the Umpqua River.

Access

Travel 0.3-mile up the steep Umpqua Hot Springs trail #1444 to a 3'x5'x2.5' soaking pool carved in the

travertine Travertine ( ) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties. It is formed by a pro ...

. A larger soaking pool is located 150' above the North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River, and is surrounded by a wooden open-air roof structure. There is a $5.00 use-fee for using the trail. The springs may not be accessible during winter.

References

External links

Oregon Hot Springs Link
Bodies of water of Douglas County, Oregon Hot springs of Oregon Umpqua National Forest {{DouglasCountyOR-geo-stub