Mccredie Springs

Also known as: McCredie Hot Springs - North Bank
Lane County, Oregon · Near Oakridge
43.7080°N, 122.2880°W · 2,044 ft
163°F 46°F air · Good soaking weather 2,044 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (7.2 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 163°F, the source water at Mccredie 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.

McCredie Springs is a hot springs site and former resort in the Willamette National Forest east of Oakridge, in Lane County. Where the water emerges it is scalding, far too hot to touch. Access is open and the springs sit nearly on the road. OpenStreetMap labels the spot McCredie Hot Springs, North Bank, which tells you at least that there is a creek to be on one side of.

Location

Forest Road 5874 passes within about sixty feet, so this is a park-and-walk-over kind of place on Forest Service land. The elevation is low for the Cascades, around two thousand feet, and the climate is wet. Rain approaches sixty inches a year, and winter snow piles well past a hundred inches. Wikipedia puts the springs along Salt Creek near Oregon Route 58.

The winter months are flagged as best, which on a wet, snowy forest road means checking conditions first. Source water is hot enough to scald, so test any pool before getting in. Packard Creek campground lies about seven miles away. No fee is on record.

History of Mccredie Springs

Wikipedia lists McCredie Springs as a former resort in Lane County, about ten miles east of Oakridge and fifty from Eugene, inside the Willamette National Forest. The natural hot springs along Salt Creek are what the place is known for today.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Aerial view of the ground around Mccredie Springs

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
204 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
84 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 21% 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.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
38°
Jan
38°
Feb
41°
Mar
46°
Apr
54°
May
60°
Jun
68°
Jul
69°
Aug
63°
Sep
53°
Oct
43°
Nov
37°
Dec
Annual Precip: 60.2 in Annual Snow: 135.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 37°F · Water 163°F · +126° contrast
January Air 38°F · Water 163°F · +125° contrast
February Air 38°F · Water 163°F · +125° contrast
December offers 32°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
46°F
ENE 3.6 mph 97% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 68° Low 47° Partly Sunny 11% precip
Spring is +95° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 48° Mostly Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +90° warmer
Thursday 77° Low 50° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +86° warmer
Friday 80° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +83° warmer
Saturday 84° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +79° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Packard Creek 7.2 mi away

Overview Packard Creek is a popular campground on the western side of Hills Creek Reservoir. The family-friendly destination offers a picturesque setting among tall trees, with views of the lake beyond. Most of the campground is accessible.Recreation Larison Creek Trail is excellent for mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking. It meanders along Larison Cove and Larison Creek, through lush vegetation of hemlock, Douglas fir and red cedar. Visitors also enjoy boating, swimming and fishin...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
163°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 163°F (73°C)
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Above Ambient +112°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Forest Road 5874
Distance to Road 60 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Willamette National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Mccredie Springs?
Mccredie Springs has a water temperature of 163°F (73°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Mccredie Springs located?
Mccredie Springs is located in Lane County, Oregon at 2,044 feet elevation, near Oakridge. Coordinates: 43.7080°N, 122.2880°W.
How do I get to Mccredie Springs?
Mccredie Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Forest Road 5874 (60 ft from the road).
Is Mccredie Springs free to visit?
Mccredie Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Mccredie Springs?
Yes, Packard Creek is located nearby (7.2 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Mccredie Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Mccredie Springs reaches 163°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.