Austin Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
CLOSED — private property of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, closed to all public use with trespass citations enforced; restoration work reportedly plugged the spring vents, and the site sits inside the Austin Fire closure area.
Field notes — checked September 2026
- Hazard: Spring temperatures historically exceeded 200°F — severe burns documented
- Hazard: Criminal trespass enforcement
- Hazard: Austin Fire burned through the area Aug 2026
- NO legal public access — property is patrolled; trespassers cited for criminal trespass and logged in a trespasser database
- No-trespassing signs and cameras posted
- Within the Austin Fire emergency closure perimeter (Aug–Sept 2026) — additional USFS closure layer on surrounding roads
- Tribal sacred site — do not visit
Current status
CLOSED — private property of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, closed to all public use with trespass citations enforced; restoration work reportedly plugged the spring vents, and the site sits inside the Austin Fire closure area.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
About this spring
Famous former roadside soak on the Clackamas River ~6 mi east of Ripplebrook — acquired in 2017 by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as the Austin Hot Springs Conservation Area. PERMANENTLY CLOSED to all public use after multiple injuries and deaths; extremely hot, unpredictable water. DO NOT VISIT — patrolled; trespassers cited. Springs are dangerously hot.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
Oregon geothermal context
Oregon splits cleanly in two: Cascade volcanic springs like the Umpqua corridor pools west of the crest, and high-desert basin springs like the Alvord area east of it. Western sites sit in dense wet forest prone to fire closures and winter road washouts; eastern ones are remote sagebrush tubs under enormous skies. Both ends reward checking land-manager alerts before driving out.
What a private-access site means here
This spring is on private property. Listing it documents the location's existence — it is not an invitation. Visiting requires explicit owner permission, and some sites are accessible only through memberships, hosted events, or arrangements with the land manager. Do not arrive unannounced.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Unknown — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Austin Hot Springs FAQ
Is Austin Hot Springs open right now?
CLOSED — private property of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, closed to all public use with trespass citations enforced; restoration work reportedly plugged the spring vents, and the site sits inside the Austin Fire closure area. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Can I soak at Austin Hot Springs?
CLOSED — private property of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, closed to all public use with trespass citations enforced; restoration work reportedly plugged the spring vents, and the site sits inside the Austin Fire closure area.
Where can I check access to Austin Hot Springs?
Check Warm Springs Conservation Lands — Austin Hot Springs property page: https://lands.warmsprings-nsn.gov/about-lands/austin-hot-springs/
Sources & references
- Warm Springs Conservation Lands — Austin Hot Springs property page — official · 2025
- Warm Springs Conservation Lands — 'Austin Hot Springs Remains CLOSED!' — official · 2020-02
- Statesman Journal — Austin Fire; Austin Hot Springs within fire perimeter — news · 2026-08
- Johnson Creek Watershed Council — CTWS restoration — official · 2024
- Soak Oregon — Austin (incl. May 2025 report springs plugged) — community · 2025-05
- NOAA PCSRF project details — side-channel/floodplain restoration — official · 2024
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction