Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) is a primitive hot spring listed near McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. Reported soak temperature: 98°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Oregon Cascades Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free, popular 2-4 person rock-walled soaking pool in a fern grotto on the north bank of the McKenzie River (Willamette NF, off Hwy 126/FR 2654 near Blue River) — day use only (sunrise to sunset), ~102-104F in summer/fall but drowned cold by high river water in winter/spring.
based on recent visitor reports · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For Belknap and the McKenzie River leg on OR-126.
McKenzie Bridge is about 7 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via BLM — Holiday Farm Fire BAER plan (Deer Creek burn context).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 98°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — free, no fee or reservation (Willamette National Forest).
- Best time to go: Summer and fall weekday mornings; avoid winter/spring high water.
- Clothing reality: Clothing-optional by long custom (documented in multiple guides); no official nudity policy — legal gray area on NF land, tolerated.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short but informal, unimproved riverbank trail — not wheelchair accessible.
- Day-use only: open sunrise to sunset — nighttime closure is enforced
- Pool is tiny (8x13 ft, 1-2 ft deep, 2-4 people) — high-use site; arrive early or expect to share
- Too cool for soaking in winter/spring when the McKenzie runs high — summer/fall are the reliable seasons; a single high-water event can render it unusable without warning
- Turn onto FR 2654 (Deer Creek Rd) just after Belknap Springs, cross the bridge, park on the right — easy to miss; then a short informal bank trail ~200-340 ft downstream
- No camping at the spring, no facilities, no signage, no cell service — pack out trash
- McKenzie corridor burned in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire — hazard trees possible; the spring itself is operating (2025 reports)
- Bugs moderate-high seasonally; trash reports moderate
- Hazard: Cold river inundation in high water — pool unsoakable and approach can be hazardous
- Hazard: Hazard trees from 2020 Holiday Farm Fire burn
- Hazard: No cell service or facilities
About this spring
A single small rock-ringed pool (~8x13 ft, ~90-104°F) in a fern-lined grotto on the north bank of the McKenzie River in Willamette National Forest, ~60 miles east of Eugene. When the river runs high in winter/spring the pool is inundated with cold water — summer and fall are the reliable seasons. Too cool/submerged during high river (winter/spring). Day-use only. Area burned in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire — check conditions.
Deer Creek Hot Springs — better known locally as Bigelow Hot Springs — is a small geothermal pool on the north bank of the McKenzie River in Lane County, Oregon, about 60 miles east of Eugene off Highway 126. A half-mile path from a trailhead pullout near milepost 45 leads down to the riverside, where a roughly 100°F pool is tucked against the bank. The pool is submerged when the McKenzie runs high, typically from late fall through spring; during summer and early fall it appears as a shallow, rock-ringed basin beside the river, and soak temperatures can drop into the 80s during late-summer drawdowns. The spring surfaces in a popular camping corridor — Delta and McKenzie Bridge campgrounds are nearby — so despite the short walk, the pool stays lightly used. Clothing is optional by custom, and there are no facilities at the spring itself.
Directions & trailhead access
Hwy 126 about 5 miles east of the 126/242 junction (near McKenzie Bridge, just past Belknap Springs), left onto FR 2654/Deer Creek Rd, cross the bridge, park, and follow the bank trail ~200 yards downstream.
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 primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
May – October (Spring through Fall)Pacific Northwest springs are framed by lush temperate rainforests. Summer brings dry, sunny trail conditions, while autumn provides vibrant foliage and crisp soaking weather.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 98°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | BLM — Holiday Farm Fire BAER plan (Deer Creek burn context) |
Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) FAQ
Is Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) open right now?
Free, popular 2-4 person rock-walled soaking pool in a fern grotto on the north bank of the McKenzie River (Willamette NF, off Hwy 126/FR 2654 near Blue River) — day use only (sunrise to sunset), ~102-104F in summer/fall but drowned cold by high river water in winter/spring. (Status based on recent visitor reports.)
Is Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) free?
Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) is listed as free to access in Lane County, Oregon. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek)?
Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) has a reported soak temperature of 98°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) clothing optional?
Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek)?
Bigelow Hot Spring (Deer Creek) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in McKenzie Bridge
For Belknap and the McKenzie River leg on OR-126. Use the northern approach to Cougar Reservoir in winter; mountain connecting roads can close.
McKenzie Bridge is about 7 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Wikipedia — Deer Creek Hot Springs (a.k.a. Bigelow; fee-free day use sunrise-sunset) — community · 2025
- Soak Oregon — Bigelow (Deer Creek) Hot Springs (seasonal temps, nighttime closure) — community · 2024
- Hot Springs Guides — Deer Creek (Bigelow) Hot Springs (access, dogs-on-leash, no facilities) — community · 2025
- Oregon Discovery — Deer Creek/Bigelow Hot Springs (managed by USFS, open year-round sunrise-sunset) — community · 2025
- Find A Spring — Deer Creek aka Bigelow (2025 update: open, summer best) — community · 2025
- BLM — Holiday Farm Fire BAER plan (Deer Creek burn context) — official · 2020
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
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