McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank is a primitive hot spring listed near Oakridge, Oregon. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Oregon Cascades Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open — quieter pools on the far side of Salt Creek reached via Shady Gap Rd/FR 5875 and a ~0.4-mile trail; same $5 day-use area, sunrise–sunset, clothing-optional.
Checked April 2026 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A Highway 58 base for McCredie.
Oakridge is about 9 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 USFS Willamette NF — McCredie Day Use Area.
- Cost: Reported $5/vehicle — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°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; covered by same $5/vehicle McCredie day-use fee / NW Forest Pass
- Best time to go: weekdays; south side stays quieter even on busy weekends
- Clothing reality: Official: no site-specific nudity prohibition. Customary: clothing-optional. Legal: lawful on federal land absent lewd conduct.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: unpaved trail with roots/rocks; not accessible
- Reach via Shady Gap Rd (~0.5 mi east of main lot) — one-lane bridge over Salt Creek, then gravel pullout
- ~0.4-mile informal trail downstream along creek
- Pool temps swing widely — some too hot or too cold depending on creek level
- Day use only; pools submerge during spring runoff
- No facilities on south side
- Hazard: Unbridged creek conditions and slippery banks
- Hazard: Variable pool temps incl. scalding near vents
- Hazard: Spring runoff submersion (May–June)
About this spring
The south-bank group of McCredie's rock-walled pools (~98-114°F), reached via the Shady Gap Rd bridge over Salt Creek in Willamette National Forest. Same undeveloped, clothing-optional, day-use-only system as the north bank — typically quieter since it requires crossing the creek. Fee: $5/vehicle day-use. Same cautions as north bank: runoff inundates pools; day-use only; dirt road muddy when wet.
The south-bank group of McCredie Hot Springs is a set of shallow, rock-walled, silt-bottomed pools along Salt Creek in the Willamette National Forest, about 8 miles east of Oakridge off OR-58 near milepost 45–46. Travel Oregon describes pools that 'can be extremely hot (98–114°F),' with the largest around 30–35 feet across; third-party compilations cite source water emerging near 130°F from a concrete cap and cooling through successive pools. Volunteers typically rebuild the rock pools each year.
To reach the south side, continue ~0.5 mile east past the main McCredie Day Use lot, turn right onto Shady Gap Road, cross the one-lane bridge over Salt Creek, and follow the dirt road to pullouts where a ~0.3-mile path leads downstream along the creek. The south-side road is passable for most vehicles when dry but can be muddy or snow-affected in winter. Visitor reports consistently find the south pools preferable to — and quieter than — the north bank, since reaching them requires crossing the creek corridor.
Rules are the same as the main site: strictly day-use (open sunrise to sunset, no overnight camping, actively enforced), $5 per vehicle day-use fee with Northwest Forest Pass and America the Beautiful passes accepted, vault toilet and picnic tables at the day-use area, no potable water and no trash service. Clothing is optional. Seasonal runoff and creek rise can inundate the pools, and no cell service is available — the nearest gas is in Oakridge. The site sits near historic McCredie Springs, a former resort community that operated in the early 20th century.
Directions & trailhead access
OR-58 east of Oakridge, pass the main McCredie lot near MP 46, continue ~0.5 mi east, right on Shady Gap Rd, cross the one-lane bridge, follow the dirt road to the south pools.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 130°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $5/vehicle — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS Willamette NF — McCredie Day Use Area |
McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank FAQ
Is McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank open right now?
Open — quieter pools on the far side of Salt Creek reached via Shady Gap Rd/FR 5875 and a ~0.4-mile trail; same $5 day-use area, sunrise–sunset, clothing-optional. (Status verified against an official source, last checked April 2026.)
Is McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank free?
McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank is listed with reported fees near Oakridge. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank?
McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 130°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank clothing optional?
McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank?
McCredie Hot Springs — South Bank is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Oakridge
A Highway 58 base for McCredie. Wall Creek is closed.
Oakridge is about 9 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- USFS Willamette NF — McCredie Day Use Area — official · 2026-03
- Hot Springs Guides — McCredie (south bank access) — community · 2026-04
- Soak Oregon — McCredie (south side quieter) — community · 2025-12
- wanderingyuncks trip report Oct 5, 2025 (south bank trail) — community · 2025-10
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- traveloregon.com/things-to-do/destinations/parks-forests-wildlife-areas/mccredie-day-use-area-hot-springs
- uprootedtraveler.com/mccredie-hot-springs
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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.