Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort is a resort hot spring listed near Carson, Washington. Reported soak temperature: 103°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open year-round — historic Columbia Gorge resort (hotel since 1901, bathhouse 1930s) with clawfoot-tub bath & wrap service, a 104F mineral therapy pool, sauna, massages, golf and lodging; day visitors can buy 1- or 2-hour pool passes or bathhouse services, but all soaking is strictly 18+.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A Wind River / Columbia Gorge base.
Carson is under a mile from the spring.
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 Carson Hot Springs Resort — Hot Springs/Bathhouse page (current prices, 18+ rule, hours).
- Cost: Reported $27 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 103°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: none — walk-in pool passes or booked spa services
- Best time to go: weekday mornings; weekends draw Portland/Vancouver crowds
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuit required in the communal therapy pool; nudity optional in private bathhouse tubs. Legal: private property.
- Kids: Adults only.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: developed resort; bathhouse is a 1930s vintage building — confirm step-free access for mobility needs
- STRICTLY 18+ in soaking tubs, bathhouse and therapy pool — photo ID with proof of age required
- Day-use pool passes: 1hr $19 / 2hr $31; shower+sauna only $15
- Bath & wrap (25-min soak + 25-min wrap) $40; bath only $27/25min or $37/50min — +tax
- Bathhouse last admission ~1hr before close; book spa services ahead online or by phone
- Therapy pool water ~104F; notify staff of pregnancy/health conditions when booking
- Rates subject to change without notice; member login gives up to 20% off
- Hazard: 104F pool + hotter bathhouse tubs — overexposure risk for pregnant guests and people with cardiovascular conditions (operator's own warning)
About this spring
One of the oldest continuously operating mineral spring resorts in the Pacific Northwest (springs discovered 1876, hotel 1901, bathhouse 1923 — formerly St. Martin's Hot Springs). The 121°F source feeds four outdoor communal pools (98-104°F, drained daily, no chemicals), nine private indoor pools and a 1930s bathhouse with clawfoot tubs; golf course on site. Fee: Bathhouse soak $27-37; traditional bath & linen wrap ~$40. Bathhouse tubs can reach 110-126°F — limit soak time; therapy pool adults-only.
Carson's springs were found in 1876 by Isadore St. Martin, who came across hot water bubbling through the rocks of the Wind River riverbed while hunting. After filing a homestead claim on the site, he brought his wife Margaret, whose severe neuralgia was reportedly relieved by bathing; word spread, and by 1897 St. Martin was building facilities for guests "taking the waters." The hotel followed in 1901 and the bathhouse and cabins in 1923, operating as St. Martin's Hot Springs until the name changed to Carson Hot Springs in the early 1970s.
The resort sits on the west bank of the Wind River opposite the mouth of the Little Wind River, beneath forested Buck Mountain. The 1923 bathhouse still uses its original cast-iron clawfoot tubs for unchlorinated mineral baths followed by linen wraps, while the communal therapy pool is chlorinated and adults-only. The original 1901 hotel is closed except for its parlor, where guests check in, and the 1923 cabins were replaced in 2005 by a two-story, 28-room modern building; an 18-hole golf course adjoins the property.
Directions & trailhead access
372 St Martins Springs Rd, Carson — ~75 min east of Portland via I-84, Bridge of the Gods and SR-14.
Washington geothermal context
Washington's springs are split between Cascade volcanic valleys and the rain-soaked Olympic Peninsula. The Olympic Hot Springs sit inside a national park with permit rules and seasonal road closures; Cascade sites hide under mossy old-growth forest reachable by trail. Winter storms routinely close access roads — check forest-service alerts October through May.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
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 | 103°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 103°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $27 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Carson Hot Springs Resort — Hot Springs/Bathhouse page (current prices, 18+ rule, hours) |
Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort FAQ
Is Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort open right now?
Open year-round — historic Columbia Gorge resort (hotel since 1901, bathhouse 1930s) with clawfoot-tub bath & wrap service, a 104F mineral therapy pool, sauna, massages, golf and lodging; day visitors can buy 1- or 2-hour pool passes or bathhouse services, but all soaking is strictly 18+. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort free?
Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort is listed with reported fees near Carson. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort?
Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort has a reported soak temperature of 103°F and a historical source temperature of 103°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort clothing optional?
Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort?
Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Carson
A Wind River / Columbia Gorge base. Check the bathhouse or riverside spring’s access separately.
Carson is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Carson Hot Springs Resort — Hot Springs/Bathhouse page (current prices, 18+ rule, hours) — operator · 2026-09
- Carson Hot Springs Resort — FAQ — operator · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Carson Hot Springs Resort & Spa — community · 2025
- Soak Destinations — Carson Hot Springs guide — community · 2026
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
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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