Wall Creek Warm Springs

Lane County, Oregon · Near Oakridge
43.8080°N, 122.3090°W · 2,362 ft
106°F 46°F air · Good soaking weather 2,362 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (9.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Wall Creek Warm Springs

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

Wall Creek Warm Springs, in the Willamette National Forest nine miles from Oakridge, is a public soaking spring at bath temperature. Forest Service land, open access, a short walk from Forest Road 1931-243. The name undersells it; the water is warmer than most hot tubs. Lane County, in rain country.

Location

The walk in is short, under half a mile off the forest road. This is wet country: nearly sixty inches of precipitation and nine-plus feet of snow most years, at a modest elevation. Packard Creek campground, about ten miles away, is the one the record lists. Willamette National Forest ground, no fee on file.

Winter is the record's pick for best months, with snow on the approach likely. Access is open and a short walk. The water is soaking warm as measured, no mixing needed. Packard Creek is the nearest campground on file, about ten miles off. No fee is recorded.

Terrain

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

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
562 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
85 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 22% 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
37°
Jan
37°
Feb
40°
Mar
45°
Apr
52°
May
58°
Jun
66°
Jul
68°
Aug
61°
Sep
51°
Oct
41°
Nov
35°
Dec
Annual Precip: 57.1 in Annual Snow: 113.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 35°F · Water 106°F · +71° contrast
January Air 37°F · Water 106°F · +69° contrast
February Air 37°F · Water 106°F · +69° contrast
December offers 33°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
46°F
ENE 3.6 mph 97% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 64° Low 47° Mostly Cloudy 11% precip
Spring is +42° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 48° Mostly Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Thursday 73° Low 50° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +33° warmer
Friday 76° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +30° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Packard Creek 9.7 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
106°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 106°F (41°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +57°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Forest Road 1931-243
Distance to Road 0.4 mi
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 Wall Creek Warm Springs?
Wall Creek Warm Springs has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Wall Creek Warm Springs located?
Wall Creek Warm Springs is located in Lane County, Oregon at 2,362 feet elevation, near Oakridge. Coordinates: 43.8080°N, 122.3090°W.
How do I get to Wall Creek Warm Springs?
Wall Creek Warm Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Forest Road 1931-243 (0.4 mi from the road).
Is Wall Creek Warm Springs free to visit?
Wall Creek Warm Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Wall Creek Warm Springs?
Yes, Packard Creek is located nearby (9.7 miles away).