McMcredie Hot Springs is one of those right off the road spots to visit. Unlike some other hot springs, these are not maintained-so I want to be transparent about my experience here so you know what to expect.
A positive aspect of these is they are FREE , and you don’t have to pay for parking either.
On this blog post you will know what to expect before planning your visit. Looking to turn this into a road trip? Read my blog on exploring Oregon hot springs by road trip.
Getting to McCredie Hot Springs
From Eugene: 1 hour
From Portland: 3 hours
McCredie Hot Springs has roadside signage that will direct you into the parking lot that has the hot springs along the roadside. Pro-tip: to get to the large pool across the river, drive further east and there is a small parking lot and trail that will take you to the two bigger pools.
You can also access these by crossing the river. Be sure to have knowledge of the depth before doing this and the risk of doing so. In the warmer months the river isn’t very deep making it easier to walk across.
What to Expect?
Is it hot? Pools that border the creek are 98-114 degrees, and cooler as you get closer to the river.
Is it big? I would recommend not visiting the smaller pools with a big group as they are quite small and in rainy season can be engulfed by the river. The larger pools are better for groups as they are about 35 feet wide!
Hours: dawn to dusk
Clothing Rules: clothing is optional.
Cost: free!
Cleanliness: these pools are not managed, so it is important to note that they are in a river bed, so organic soot and material is going to be a part of the experience. Be sure to leave no trace and pack out all of your trash!
Visiting McCredie Hot Springs
McCredie is great to visit any time of day. You can tell how busy it is by seeing how many cars are in the parking lot.
Sunset and sunrise are beautiful times for photographs. These hot springs aren’t quite as scenic as some others in Oregon-but it is great how accessible they are.
I was able to visit during the rare time when it got snow. It is a lower elevation hot springs so it doesn’t get snow as often. When it snows in Eugene the hot springs are likely to have snow as well. It was the best experience I have had there yet.
McCredit might not have the most popularity on social media-but if you’re in the area it is worth stopping to soak the stress away. It’s not always about the beautiful photo-but the destination itself.
Have you been here? Leave a comment below I would love to hear about your experience!
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