Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs
Wikipedia's title for this place is Terwilliger Hot Springs; the record calls it Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs, and Cougar Hot Springs is a third name. It is a set of geothermal pools within the Willamette National Forest, Lane County, Oregon, about 26 miles from Oakridge and, by Wikipedia's count, 53 miles east of Eugene. The water runs hot, at the upper edge of a comfortable soak. Open to the public on Forest Service ground.
The pools drain into Rider Creek, which feeds Cougar Reservoir. Aufderheide Drive, also known as Forest Service Road 19, is close. The record measures the spring at under a hundred feet from the road, while Wikipedia says about a quarter mile, so expect some walking. Low elevation, wet, with substantial winter snow. Slide Creek campground is under a mile away.
Winter, December through February, is when the record says to come. It is hot enough that you should ease in and get out if you feel light-headed. Camping at Slide Creek is very close. The record carries no fee, though check current Forest Service notices.
The Terwilliger name comes from Wikipedia's entry, which also lists Cougar Hot Springs. The record's own name ties it to the reservoir it drains toward. The USGS keeps it in its thermal inventory.
Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs.
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
- Setting
- Canyon floor
- Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
- Highest ground nearby
- 444 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 11% of the springs on this site.
Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
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Overview Slide Creek Campground is a unique camping destination just 50 miles from Eugene, Oregon. Located on the east bank of the Cougar Reservoir, it is known for handy access to boating and many water activities. It is also near Terwilliger Hot Springs, a pristine area with 5 soaking pools fed by the Rider Creek waterfall.Recreation Activities on the reservoir include water skiing, swimming, fishing and canoeing. Anglers might catch some quality rainbow trout. The campground is clos...
Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key.
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