Quick FactsOverview
About Austin Hot Springs
Austin Hot Springs, Oregon is a geothermal spring site on the bank of the Clackamas River in Clackamas County, within the Mt. Hood National Forest, approximately 35 miles southeast of Estacada. The property is privately owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and is permanently closed to public access. As of 2025, the geothermal sources have been physically capped by the owners as part of an active site restoration. There are no soaking pools, and entering the property is criminal trespass under Oregon law.
The Confederated Tribes acquired the 151.7-acre conservation area in 2017 under the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program. The site supports freshwater, riparian, mixed conifer forest, and grassland habitat along the Clackamas River corridor. The Tribes have undertaken restoration work to address compaction, vegetation damage, and modifications to the river channel caused by years of illegal occupation and trespassing prior to the acquisition.
Visitors searching for natural hot springs in Oregon within a similar drive from Portland will find legal alternatives nearby. Bagby Hot Springs in Mt. Hood National Forest and Terwilliger Hot Springs further south are both publicly accessible with the appropriate day-use permits.
Location & Access
Location Notes for Austin Hot Springs - Site Is Closed
Austin Hot Springs sits approximately 35 miles southeast of Estacada, off Highway 224 as it becomes the Clackamas River Road entering the national forest, roughly 6 miles east of the Ripplebrook Ranger Station. From Portland, the site is about 60 miles southeast. No directions to the springs themselves are provided here, because the property is permanently closed to the public and all entry constitutes criminal trespass.
No-Trespassing signs are posted at the site. The property is enrolled in the Clackamas County Sheriff Exclusion Program, which authorises deputies to enforce trespass laws directly on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Both Tribal conservation enforcement rangers and the Sheriff's Office actively monitor the area. A trespasser database tracking first-time and repeat offenders is maintained jointly by the Tribes and the Sheriff's Office, and citations have been issued regularly.
Visitors looking for hot springs near Estacada should consider Bagby Hot Springs in Mt. Hood National Forest, which is legally accessible via a short hike with a day-use permit, or Terwilliger Hot Springs further south near Cougar Reservoir. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have publicly asked visitors to respect the closure and redirect to destinations that are open for public recreation.
Suitability & Accessibility
Suitability of Austin Hot Springs
Austin Hot Springs is not suitable for any visitor at this time, as the property is permanently closed to public access and the geothermal sources have been physically capped as part of an ongoing restoration project by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. There are no soaking pools, no facilities, and no legal way to enter the property. The closure applies to all members of the public without exception, regardless of prior visits or familiarity with the area.
The site was acquired by the Tribes as a wildlife conservation area supporting fish and wildlife habitats along the Clackamas River corridor. The 151.7-acre property has been formally designated under the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program. The restoration work underway is focused on riparian vegetation recovery, floodplain function, and addressing the ecological damage from years of illegal use. Trespassing continues to impede that restoration work and is treated seriously by the owning Tribe and the county.
For visitors seeking natural hot springs in Oregon within a comparable drive from Portland, legally accessible alternatives exist in the same general region. Bagby Hot Springs, also within Mt. Hood National Forest, is a well-maintained Forest Service site requiring a short hike and a day-use fee. Terwilliger Hot Springs near Cougar Reservoir in the Willamette National Forest is another option further south. These are the recommended alternatives for anyone who had planned a visit to Austin Hot Springs.
Safety & Etiquette
Safety and Access Status at Austin Hot Springs
Austin Hot Springs is not safe or legal to visit. The site is permanently closed to public access, actively enforced by Tribal rangers and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, and the geothermal sources have been physically capped as of 2025. Visiting creates legal exposure, not just physical risk.
Before the closure and capping, the geothermal source water at Austin emerged at temperatures exceeding 186 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit in documented locations, posing a serious burn risk to anyone approaching without first testing the water carefully. The informal soaking pools visitors once built along the river mixed spring water with Clackamas River water to reach soakable temperatures, but safe zones were unpredictable and varied with river level and season. This history is context, not guidance for visiting.
The property is enrolled in the Clackamas County Sheriff Exclusion Program, which authorises deputies to enforce trespass laws on behalf of the Tribes without requiring the owner to be present. Criminal trespass in the first degree under Oregon law can result in arrest, fines, and potential jail time. Repeat offenders are tracked by name and date in a database maintained jointly by the Tribes and the Sheriff's Office.
Anyone encountering a closed gate or No-Trespassing signs at the site should leave immediately. Removing or bypassing posted signage does not confer any right to enter. The Confederated Tribes have asked the public to respect the closure as both a legal obligation and as respect for the cultural and ecological significance of the site. No change in public access status has been announced.
