Umpqua

Umpqua Hot Springs in the Umpqua National Forest of southern Oregon cascades down a cliff face above the North Umpqua River in a series of shallow rock pools carved naturally by centuries of geothermal water flow, surrounded by old-growth Douglas fir and cedar forest whose enormous trees cast dramatic shadows across the steam rising from the mineral waters in the cool Pacific Northwest air. The sodium-rich geothermal water emerges at various temperatures across the multi-tiered pool system, allowing bathers to find their preferred warmth while overlooking the blue-green river far below in a forest setting that has made Umpqua one of the most popular and photographed wild hot springs on the West Coast of North America. The springs' accessibility via a short forest hike, their position within the broader outdoor recreation landscape of southern Oregon's Cascade Range, and their rule of natural clothing-optional bathing culture makes Umpqua a destination that embodies the free-spirited outdoor wellness tradition of the Pacific Northwest.