- Trail
- 1.4 mi one way
- Fee
- $5 per person, paid at the trailhead or Ripplebrook Store; passes not accepted (USFS)
- Season
- Day-use fees apply May 1 through October 31 (USFS); site closed as of fall 2026
- Elevation
- 2,280 ft
- Coordinates
- 44.9354, -122.1736
- Status
- Closed as of fall 2026: FR 70 landslide (USFS alert Dec 2025) and Austin Fire closures (operator closure Aug 2026; USFS emergency closure expanded Aug 27, 2026). No reopening found.
The NOAA Thermal Springs List gives a source temperature of 136°F (58°C) for this spring. The land is managed by Mt. Hood National Forest, Clackamas River Ranger District (USDA Forest Service); operated by concessionaire Bagby Preservation. The usual route is 1.4 mi one way from Bagby Hot Springs Trailhead (Trail #544), FR 70. Fee: $5 per person, paid at the trailhead or Ripplebrook Store; passes not accepted (USFS).
Bagby Hot Springs is a developed thermal site in the Mt. Hood National Forest in Clackamas County, Oregon. The springs are on National Forest land and are run by a concessionaire, Bagby Preservation, under the Forest Service. Water from the springs feeds wooden tubs in a group of bathhouse shelters along Trail #544, the trail that continues south into the Bull of the Woods Wilderness.
The site was closed in fall 2026. A Forest Service alert in December 2025 reported a large landslide on Forest Road 70 that blocked access. In August 2026 the operator closed the springs as the Austin Fire grew, and on August 27, 2026, the Forest Service expanded an emergency closure for the Austin and Narrows fires that covered Forest Roads 46, 63 and 70. In normal years, the Forest Service route from Estacada follows Highway 224 for about 26 miles, Forest Road 46 for 4 miles, Forest Road 63 for 4 miles and then Forest Road 70 to the trailhead. Trail #544 starts near 2,120 feet and reaches the springs in about 1.4 miles. The Forest Service lists a $5 per person use fee, paid at the trailhead or the Ripplebrook Store, and recreation passes are not accepted. Day-use fees apply from May 1 through October 31.
Hunter and prospector Bob Bagby came across the springs in 1880. The Forest Service built a guard station beside them in 1913, and the Bagby Guard Station is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The original wooden structures burned in 1979, and new shelters went up between 1983 and 1986. After closing in 2020, the site reopened in 2024 under Bagby Preservation. Bagby Campground sits near the trailhead, and Estacada is the nearest town.
Getting there and local rules
- Road: Paved/forest roads: from Estacada Hwy 224 about 26 mi, FR 46 for 4 mi, FR 63 for 4 mi, then FR 70 to the trailhead (USFS). USFS warns against smaller roads; rockfall and slides common on FR 46 and 63.
- Trail: Trail #544 begins at FR 70 / Hot Springs Fork Road at 2,120 ft; full trail 12.5 mi into Bull of the Woods Wilderness (USFS). Some USFS text says about 1.5 mi.
- Camping: Bagby Campground near the trailhead (USFS); also closed under the 2026 fire closure
- $5 per person wristband required
- Recreation passes not accepted for the fee
History
- Hunter and prospector Bob Bagby came across the springs in 1880.
- The Forest Service built a guard station next to the springs in 1913; the Bagby Guard Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1999).
- The original wooden structures burned in 1979; new shelters were built 1983-1986, and the site reopened in 2024 under Bagby Preservation after closing in 2020.
Weather by month near Bagby
The nearest NOAA climate station with 30-year normals is Three Lynx, about 14 miles away at 1,120 ft. Its average daily high peaks at 79°F in Aug, and the coldest nights average 32.5°F in Dec. Normal snowfall there adds up to about 5 inches a year. Conditions at the place itself can differ, especially with a large change in elevation.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41.2 | 32.6 | 9.26 | 3.1 |
| Feb | 45.5 | 33.1 | 7.09 | 0.2 |
| Mar | 50.9 | 35.3 | 7.98 | 0.5 |
| Apr | 57.1 | 38.7 | 6.21 | 0 |
| May | 64.4 | 43.9 | 4.41 | 0 |
| Jun | 69.1 | 48.6 | 3.01 | 0 |
| Jul | 78 | 52.5 | 0.61 | 0 |
| Aug | 79 | 52.1 | 0.7 | 0 |
| Sep | 73.3 | 47.8 | 2.11 | 0 |
| Oct | 59.2 | 42.2 | 6.22 | 0 |
| Nov | 47.4 | 36.8 | 10.05 | 0.4 |
| Dec | 40.6 | 32.5 | 11.3 | 0.8 |
Other springs within 60 miles
From the NOAA list, by straight-line distance from Bagby. Most of these are not developed sites and some are on private land.
- Austin Hot Springs10 mi northeast186°F
- Breitenbush Hot Springs14 mi southeast198°F
- Swim Warm Springs33 mi northeast79°F
- Mount Hood Fumaroles38 mi northeast194°F
- Springs47 mi east125°F
- Kahneeta Hot Springs48 mi east126°F
- Bigelow Hot Springs48 mi south142°F
- Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs51 mi north97°F
Sources: NOAA NCEI, Thermal Springs List for the United States (source temperature, about 1980); fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; kptv.com; opb.org; NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Facts checked October 2026.
Source temperature from the NOAA Thermal Springs List (measured around 1980). Conditions, access and rules change; check with Mt. Hood National Forest, Clackamas River Ranger District (USDA Forest Service); operated by concessionaire Bagby Preservation before you go. This page is for trip planning only.