Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) is a primitive hot spring listed near Carson, Washington. Reported soak temperature: 103°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Bedrock soaking pools (~90-105°F) on the Wind River bank near Carson that are legally public (below the high-water line) but submerged most of the year and reachable without trespassing only by wading/scrambling up the riverbed itself — every easy route crosses hostile private property or a posted footbridge.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A Wind River / Columbia Gorge base.
Carson is about 1 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 Oregon Hikers forum — Wind River Hot Springs March 2024 trip report.
- 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 103°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: No permit; the pools themselves are public shoreland below the high-water mark. No fee.
- Best time to go: Late July to mid-September at low water — check the NOAA Wind River gauge first (pools drown above ~8 ft). Weekdays; fishing season and summer weekends bring some locals.
- Clothing reality: No official policy. Clothing-optional use has been customary at this semi-secluded river site; no clear legal prohibition on the public shoreland, but discretion advised.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — requires river wading and boulder scrambling even via the legal route.
- Seasonal only — pools sit below the Wind River high-water line and are underwater most of the year; roughly late July through mid-September low water is the window. NOAA gauge 'Wind River near Carson' (wcnw1): pools submerged above ~8 ft gauge height
- Access is the whole problem: adjacent landowners (Gunderson family per long-standing reports) do not allow access or parking — cars near Indian Springs Rd/Shipherd Falls Rd have been towed even from unposted turnouts
- The obvious footbridge route is posted No Trespassing and crossing it has drawn citations in the past (DNR/WDFW enforcement); locals contest the posting but it remains a legal risk
- Clearly-legal route = wade/scramble up the riverbed itself from a lawful parking spot — March 2024 trip report describes wading against current 1-4 ft deep, thorn-choked banks, and boulder/rock-face traverses up to ~60°; waist-deep waders recommended
- Parking at Carson Hot Springs Resort (small fee) then hiking/fording is another reported option
- Poison oak and ticks on the banks; occasional trash/graffiti at the pools; no camping at the springs
- Hazard: River wading against current over slick bedrock and boulders; steep rock-face traverses
- Hazard: Cold-water immersion outside summer; pools submerged at high flows
- Hazard: Trespass citations via footbridge/dam route; tow risk for parked cars
- Hazard: Poison oak, ticks
About this spring
Two primitive bedrock pools (~102-105°F) on the bank of the Wind River near Carson, fed by the same geothermal system as the Carson resort — one of Washington's best primitive soaks when accessible, but submerged except during late-summer low water. Also called The Springs at Carson or Shipherd's. Serious access complexity — private postings, contested footbridge with documented citations, river crossing dangerous except at late-summer low water. Verify conditions; never trespass.
Wind River Hot Springs — also called The Springs at Carson, St. Martins, or Shipherd's — is a pair of bedrock pools on the bank of the Wind River, fed by the same geothermal system that supplies the Carson Hot Springs Resort nearby. Hot water bubbles up through the bottoms of the pools: the larger runs about 105°F (with inflow at 106-107°F) and fits four to seven people, while the smaller, shallower pool sits a few degrees cooler. In late summer visitors sometimes pile extra sand-and-gravel dams along the riverbed to create small mixing pools.
Because the pools sit below the river's high-water line they are technically on public land — and are underwater and unsoakable most of the year. The soaking season is essentially late July through mid-September, when flows drop enough to expose the pools and allow a ford. Access is the catch: all abutting land is private, a footbridge route has produced documented citations, and cars parked near Indian Cabin Road have been towed by the neighboring Gunderson family. The most accepted approach is paying to park at the resort, hiking north, and wading the river. Elevation is only about 160 feet.
Directions & trailhead access
Near Shipherd Falls Rd, Carson — the pools sit below the river's high-water line; approaches involve a river ford or contested footbridge.
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 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 | 103°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 103°F |
| 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 | Oregon Hikers forum — Wind River Hot Springs March 2024 trip report |
Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) FAQ
Is Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) open right now?
Bedrock soaking pools (~90-105°F) on the Wind River bank near Carson that are legally public (below the high-water line) but submerged most of the year and reachable without trespassing only by wading/scrambling up the riverbed itself — every easy route crosses hostile private property or a posted footbridge. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) free?
Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) is listed as free to access in Skamania County, Washington. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's)?
Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) 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 Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) clothing optional?
Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's)?
Wind River Hot Springs (Shipherd's) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Carson
A Wind River / Columbia Gorge base. Check the bathhouse or riverside spring’s access separately.
Carson is about 1 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Oregon Hikers forum — Wind River Hot Springs March 2024 trip report — community · 2024-03
- Hot Springs Guides — The Springs at Carson, WA — community · 2026-09
- HotWaterSlaughter — Wind River Hot Springs — community · 2026-09
- Oregon Hikers forum — Wind River Hot Springs access thread — community · 2023
- Top Hot Springs — Wind River Hot Springs — community · 2026-09
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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