Bagby Hot Springs is a beatiful hike through the Mount Hood National Forest. The hot springs can your ultimate destination or just a stop on a longer hike.
Before you head out to the springs make sure you pick up a Forest Service pass. Rangers do visit the springs and will ticket you. I speak from experience, unfortunately. If you do get ticketed (a $50 fine) you can avoid the fine by purchasing an annual pass ($30) and faxing them your ticket and your pass. If you're just planning a single visit then pick up a day pass ($5) the day before your trip to the springs. Depending where you are coming from you may not be able to purchase one en route, especially if you start out early in the morning.
Bagby is very easy to reach. For the most part there are signs along the way to point you in the right direction. To reach the trailhead drive south on Hwy 224 from Estacada, Oregon; Estacada is 25 miles south-east of Portland. Watch for the signs to Bagby Hot Springs. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 63. The road narrows. Turn onto Forest Service Road 70 and drive to the parking lot. If you have a gps then the gpx datafile includes a track for the drive from Estacada to the trailhead.
During the summer you can also reach the springs from the south. From Detroit (on Hwy 22 east of Salem) go north on Brietenbush Rd / FR-46 Rd from Detroit . Fr-46 is not plowed making it impassible during the winter. Follow Forest Service Road 46 north until you reach Forest Service Road 63, then turn left. From this point follow the directions in the previous paragraph.
There are pit toilets at the trailhead as well as at hot springs. Avoid leaving valuables in your car as break-ins do occur.
Trailmaps
This map shows the general location of the hot springs.
This topo map shows the hike from the campground to the hot springs.
Bagby Hot Springs is a beatiful hike through the Mount Hood National Forest. The hot springs can your ultimate destination or just a stop on a longer hike.
Before you head out to the springs make sure you pick up a Forest Service pass. Rangers do visit the springs and will ticket you. I speak from experience, unfortunately. If you do get ticketed (a $50 fine) you can avoid the fine by purchasing an annual pass ($30) and faxing them your ticket and your pass. If you're just planning a single visit then pick up a day pass ($5) the day before your trip to the springs. Depending where you are coming from you may not be able to purchase one en route, especially if you start out early in the morning.
Bagby is very easy to reach. For the most part there are signs along the way to point you in the right direction. To reach the trailhead drive south on Hwy 224 from Estacada, Oregon; Estacada is 25 miles south-east of Portland. Watch for the signs to Bagby Hot Springs. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 63. The road narrows. Turn onto Forest Service Road 70 and drive to the parking lot. If you have a gps then the gpx datafile includes a track for the drive from Estacada to the trailhead.
During the summer you can also reach the springs from the south. From Detroit (on Hwy 22 east of Salem) go north on Brietenbush Rd / FR-46 Rd from Detroit . Fr-46 is not plowed making it impassible during the winter. Follow Forest Service Road 46 north until you reach Forest Service Road 63, then turn left. From this point follow the directions in the previous paragraph.
There are pit toilets at the trailhead as well as at hot springs. Avoid leaving valuables in your car as break-ins do occur.
Trailmaps
This map shows the general location of the hot springs.
This topo map shows the hike from the campground to the hot springs.