Bingham Springs
Bingham Springs flows at 93°F in the Blue Mountains of Umatilla County, requiring an 830-foot walk from Bingham Road near Milton-Freewater. Recent USGS measurements record 36.1°C water running 42 degrees above the ambient temperature of 51.1°F at 2,156 feet elevation. Water chemistry shows alkaline conditions (pH 8.6) with moderate dissolved solids (482 mg/L) dominated by sodium (126 mg/L) and chloride (194 mg/L).
The springs emerge on the western flank of the Blue Mountains where timbered slopes transition to foothill country. Elevation of 2,156 feet places the site in mixed ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forest with native grasses in openings. The area receives 35.3 inches of annual precipitation, substantially higher than the Columbia Basin to the north, with 77.8 inches of winter snowfall. The terrain rises eastward toward the main Blue Mountain crest, while the Walla Walla River drainage lies to the north, fed by snowmelt from these forested uplands.
Access is most reliable from June through October when snow has melted and forest roads remain dry. Winter snowfall of 77+ inches makes the route challenging December through April. The 830-foot walk requires suitable footwear for forested terrain. Water temperature of 93°F provides comfortable bathing without excessive cooling. Woodward Campground lies 7 miles distant in the Umatilla National Forest with reservable sites. Check current land ownership and access regulations before visiting.
The springs take their name from the Bingham family, early settlers in this section of Umatilla County. Development of a resort at the springs began in the late 1800s, with a hotel and bathhouse serving visitors arriving by wagon from the nearby communities. The Northern Paiute and Cayuse peoples knew of the thermal springs before Euro-American settlement. The resort operated into the early 1900s before declining, though the springs continue to flow. Remnants of historic structures may persist at the site.
The water at Bingham Springs is alkaline (pH 8.6) with 482 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).
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