- Trail
- 0.25 mi one way
- Fee
- $12 per person (age 12 and up) for a two-hour period, paid on site; covers springs, trail, lagoon and parking lot (USFS)
- Hours
- Closed 10 p.m. to sunrise (Forest Order 06-18-01-26-03)
- Season
- Open year-round per USFS listing; Aufderheide Drive is subject to winter conditions and periodic closures
- Coordinates
- 44.0833, -122.2392
The NOAA Thermal Springs List gives a source temperature of 111°F (44°C) for Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs, the entry that matches this place. The land is managed by Willamette National Forest (USDA Forest Service). The usual route is 0.25 mi one way from Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs Trailhead, Rider Creek Trail #3319. Fee: $12 per person (age 12 and up) for a two-hour period, paid on site; covers springs, trail, lagoon and parking lot (USFS).
Terwilliger Hot Springs, also known as Cougar Hot Springs, lies in a forested side canyon of Rider Creek above Cougar Reservoir in Lane County, Oregon. The site is managed by the Willamette National Forest. Recreation.gov describes six pools stepped down a ravine and separated by rock walls, and the Forest Service listing gives water temperatures of about 112°F in the uppermost pool and about 85°F in the lowest. Water from the springs drains into Rider Creek and on into the reservoir.
The springs are reached from Aufderheide Drive, Forest Service Road 19, a paved scenic byway. From Highway 126, the Forest Service directions follow the road past Cougar Reservoir to a parking lot about 5 miles beyond the turn. From Highway 58, the route runs about 50 miles on the Aufderheide Scenic Byway. A trail of about a quarter mile, part of Rider Creek Trail #3319, leads from the parking area to the pools. The Forest Service charges $12 per person, age 12 and up, for a two-hour period, covering the springs, trail, lagoon and parking lot. Forest Order 06-18-01-26-03, in effect from March 15, 2026, to March 14, 2028, closes the site from 10 p.m. to sunrise and bans alcohol. Pets are not allowed at the springs, and camping is limited to developed campgrounds in the Cougar Recreation Area.
The springs carry the name of Hiram Terwilliger, a settler linked to the site in the 1860s. The Forest Service studied the area in 1978 and 1979, then built a posted trail and set new rules. The Terwilliger Fire started on August 19, 2018, burned around the site and kept it closed until July 1, 2019. Cougar Crossing and Slide Creek are among the Forest Service campgrounds near the reservoir, and Blue River and Vida are the closest communities on Highway 126.
Getting there and local rules
- Road: Paved Aufderheide Drive (FS Road 19). From Hwy 126, about 5 mi south past the Cougar Reservoir turn; from Hwy 58, about 50 mi on the Aufderheide Scenic Byway (USFS). FS Road 19 was fully closed for bridge work in April 2026.
- Trail: USFS site page and Recreation.gov give a quarter mile; the Rider Creek Trail page gives 0.4 mi.
- Camping: Camping restricted to developed campgrounds in the Cougar Recreation Area (Recreation.gov, USFS camping restriction alert); Cougar Crossing and Slide Creek campgrounds are nearby
- Alcohol prohibited, including consumption
- Closed 10 p.m. to sunrise
- No pets at the springs
- Camping only in developed campgrounds of the Cougar Recreation Area
History
- Named for Hiram Terwilliger, a settler associated with the springs in the 1860s.
- The Forest Service studied the site in 1978-79, built a posted trail and banned camping in the parking lot.
- The Terwilliger Fire started August 19, 2018, closing the site; it reopened July 1, 2019.
Weather by month near Terwilliger (Cougar)
The nearest NOAA climate station with 30-year normals is Cougar Dam, about 3 miles away at 1,260 ft. Its average daily high peaks at 89.1°F in Aug, and the coldest nights average 38.6°F in Dec. Conditions at the place itself can differ, especially with a large change in elevation.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49.1 | 38.8 | 13.01 |
| Feb | 53.4 | 39.2 | 7.49 |
| Mar | 58.1 | 40.8 | 9.78 |
| Apr | 63.6 | 44.6 | 8.24 |
| May | 74 | 50.2 | 4.33 |
| Jun | 79.1 | 54.7 | 2.7 |
| Jul | 89 | 58.7 | 0.73 |
| Aug | 89.1 | 57.8 | 0.59 |
| Sep | 81.7 | 54.2 | 1.87 |
| Oct | 68.2 | 48.1 | 5.83 |
| Nov | 54.5 | 42.7 | 10.97 |
| Dec | 48 | 38.6 | 12.11 |
Other springs within 60 miles
From the NOAA list, by straight-line distance from Terwilliger (Cougar). Most of these are not developed sites and some are on private land.
- Foley Springs8 mi northeast178°F
- Belknap Springs12 mi northeast160°F
- Bigelow Hot Springs14 mi northeast142°F
- Wall Creek Warm Springs19 mi south106°F
- McCredie Springs26 mi south163°F
- Kitson Hot Springs28 mi south109°F
- Breitenbush Hot Springs50 mi north198°F
- Paulina Springs55 mi southeast70°F
Sources: NOAA NCEI, Thermal Springs List for the United States (source temperature, about 1980); fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; recreation.gov; recreation.gov; katu.com; klcc.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 Willamette National Forest before you go. This page is for trip planning only.