Bigelow Hot Springs
Bigelow Hot Springs, also called Deer Creek Hot Springs, emerges at 142°F just 400 feet from Deer Creek Road in the Willamette National Forest at 2,350 feet elevation. The springs feed rock-lined pools measuring roughly 8 by 13 feet, though McKenzie River flooding during high water combines and cools the pools. Forest Service land with open public access surrounds this popular thermal feature flowing 91 degrees above ambient temperature.
The springs sit along the McKenzie River in the western Cascade Range, where the river carves through volcanic geology beneath towering Douglas fir and western hemlock. At 2,350 feet elevation, the site occupies the transition zone between low-elevation old-growth forests and higher montane vegetation. Annual precipitation reaches 64.2 inches, with winter snowfall totaling 156.9 inches, creating a wet temperate climate. The McKenzie flows clear and cold except during spring runoff, when snowmelt raises water levels enough to inundate the thermal pools with frigid river water, typically from winter through early summer.
The springs bear the name of John Bigelow, though documentation of when and how the name was applied remains unclear in published sources. Local use as Deer Creek Hot Springs persists, reflecting the nearby tributary. The thermal feature appears on early Forest Service maps of the McKenzie drainage. Indigenous peoples including the Molalla used the McKenzie corridor before Euro-American settlement in the 1800s. The springs have served as an informal bathing site for generations, with visitor-maintained rock pools.
Visit July through October after spring runoff subsides and before winter flooding begins. Early summer high water inundates and cools the pools. Winter access remains possible on Deer Creek Road unless snow closes the route. The 400-foot walk from the parking area requires crossing uneven terrain. Water temperature demands caution to avoid scalding. Olallie Campground lies 1.4 miles distant on the McKenzie with reservable sites. Expect company on summer weekends; weekdays and shoulder seasons offer more solitude.
Is Bigelow Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
The water at Bigelow Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.6) with 49 mg/L total dissolved solids.
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Overview Nestled on the banks of the McKenzie River and Olallie Creek, Olallie Campground provides a superb setting for a getaway into nature. The lower loop offers mesmerizing views of both the river and the creek while the upper loop is set further in the trees with many sites facing the creek. The McKenzie River is a tributary of the Willamette River that runs for 90 miles, flowing into the southernmost end of the Willamette Valley. There are 16 campsites, for which 15 are reservable. Si...