# Belknap Springs, Oregon

Belknap Springs in Oregon. 160°F (71°C). Short Walk. Deschutes County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/belknap-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Belknap Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 160°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 160°F (71°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.9 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 1,644 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 510 ft from the nearest road (North Belknap Springs Road) |
| County | Deschutes County |
| Nearest town | Sisters |
| Coordinates | 44.19300, -122.04900 |
| Best months to soak | February, December, January (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | LIMBERLOST CAMPGROUND, 1.3 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 160°F, the source water at Belknap Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Belknap Springs

Belknap Springs is a private hot springs resort, and also the name of the small unincorporated community around it, near the McKenzie River. The record files it under Deschutes County with Sisters as the nearest town, twenty-five miles or thereabouts. Wikipedia puts it in Lane County. The source water is scalding, far too hot to touch, and whatever soaking happens here is under the resort's control. Public access: nothing recorded.

Five hundred feet or so from North Belknap Springs Road, low in the river valley. The climate is wet, well over sixty inches a year, with heavy winter snow for such a low elevation. Limberlost Campground is listed a little over a mile away.

Wikipedia describes Belknap Springs as an unincorporated community and private hot springs resort in Lane County, Oregon, close to the McKenzie River. The USGS has the spring in its thermal records under a site number.

Since this is a private resort, expect to pay and to use their pools on their terms, though no fee amount is recorded. Do not approach the source. The winter months show as best on file. Water chemistry, including iron alongside calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate and chloride, was last sampled in 1981, so the mineral figures are old.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-09-18 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.9 |
| Calcium | 230 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.3 mg/L |
| Sodium | 670 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 35 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1,400 mg/L |
| Iron | 30 µg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Hardest water of Oregon's 11 springs with calcium and magnesium readings: 576 mg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Oakridge](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/oregon/oakridge), 12 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Oregon](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon)
- [Bigelow Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/bigelow-hot-springs): 142°F source, pH 7.6, TDS 49 mg/L, Short Walk, near Sisters, Deschutes County
- [Foley Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/foley-springs): 178°F source, TDS 3,172 mg/L, Short Walk, near Oakridge, Lane County
- [Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/cougar-reservoir-hot-springs): 111°F source, Roadside, near Oakridge, Lane County
- [Wall Creek Warm Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/wall-creek-warm-springs): 106°F source, Short Walk, near Oakridge, Lane County
- [Mccredie Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/mccredie-springs): 163°F source, Roadside, near Oakridge, Lane County
- [Kitson Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/kitson-hot-springs): 109°F source, Roadside, near Oakridge, Lane County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Belknap Springs?**
Belknap Springs has a water temperature of 160°F (71°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Belknap Springs located?**
Belknap Springs is located in Deschutes County, Oregon at 1,644 feet elevation, near Sisters. Coordinates: 44.1930°N, 122.0490°W.

**How do I get to Belknap Springs?**
Belknap Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being North Belknap Springs Road (510 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Belknap Springs?**
Yes, Limberlost Campground is located nearby (1.3 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Belknap Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.9 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Belknap Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Belknap Springs reaches 160°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belknap_Springs,_Oregon