Quick FactsOverview
About Oregon Carey Hot Springs
Oregon Carey Hot Springs, also known as Austin Hot Springs, is a cluster of geothermal springs on the bank of the Clackamas River in the Mt. Hood National Forest, approximately 60 miles southeast of Portland and 35 miles southeast of Estacada. The site is owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as a protected conservation area and has been closed to the public since 2017. Access is prohibited, and no public soaking is permitted. This listing documents the existence of this geothermal site for informational purposes only.
The spring water emerges from multiple points on both banks of the Clackamas River and directly from the river bottom through hydrothermal vents, reaching source temperatures between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The site was historically known as one of the more accessible hot springs near Portland, and for many decades visitors constructed informal soaking pools from rocks along the riverbank. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs acquired the 151-acre Austin Hot Springs Conservation Area in 2017 to protect fish and wildlife habitat along the Clackamas River. Following acquisition, the springs were deliberately capped and the site restored, ending access for all visitors.
Location & Access
Location of Oregon Carey Hot Springs
Oregon Carey Hot Springs is located on Forest Road 46 along the Clackamas River in Clackamas County, Oregon, within the Mt. Hood National Forest. The site is gated and posted with no-trespassing signs approximately 6 miles east of the Ripplebrook Ranger Station and 35 miles southeast of Estacada via Highway 224. The property is enclosed by a large iron gate. No directions to the gate are provided here in support of the closure, and attempting to access the site beyond the gate constitutes trespassing on the conservation land of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Estacada, approximately 35 miles northwest on Highway 224, is the nearest town with services including fuel, groceries, and accommodation. Portland is approximately 60 miles to the northwest. The Clackamas River corridor offers many legitimate recreational opportunities in the surrounding Mt. Hood National Forest, including swimming holes, hiking trails, and campgrounds. For those seeking hot springs near Portland, several legally accessible options exist in the Oregon Cascade foothills, including Bagby Hot Springs in the Willamette National Forest, which requires a short hike of about 1.5 miles and a day-use fee.
Suitability & Accessibility
Suitability and Accessibility of Oregon Carey Hot Springs
Oregon Carey Hot Springs is not suitable for public visitation and is inaccessible to all members of the public. The property is owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as a protected conservation area, is enclosed by a gate, and is posted with no-trespassing signs. Accessing the site without permission from the tribal owners is illegal trespassing. This listing documents the geothermal feature for informational purposes only.
Beyond the legal prohibition, the site presents extreme physical danger. The source temperature of the spring water reaches up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and the flow from hydrothermal vents in the river bottom is unpredictable. Sudden surges of near-boiling water from beneath the gravel of the riverbank have caused serious burns to at least 50 documented visitors during the years the site was informally accessible. There is no safe zone at this location and no way for a visitor to predict when a burst of superheated water might occur.
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs acquired the 151-acre Austin Hot Springs Conservation Area in 2017 to protect salmon habitat and prevent further injuries. The springs have been physically capped. There is no soakable water at this location. Anyone researching hot springs near Portland who encounters references to Carey Hot Springs or Austin Hot Springs should understand that the site is permanently closed, legally protected, and physically inaccessible.
Safety & Etiquette
Oregon Carey Hot Springs Safety Tips
Oregon Carey Hot Springs is permanently closed to the public and presents the most significant safety hazard documented among hot springs in Oregon. The source temperature reaches between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The water emerges unpredictably from hydrothermal vents in the riverbank and river bottom, meaning that a soaker in what appears to be a warm pool can be subjected to a sudden surge of near-boiling water from directly below. The Oregon Burn Center has documented at least 50 serious burn injuries from this site during the years it was informally accessible.
The springs have been deliberately capped by the owners, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the property is gated and fenced. Entering the property is illegal trespass on tribal conservation land. There is no accessible soaking water at this location. Law enforcement including the Mt. Hood National Forest ranger district and Clackamas County sheriff have been involved in enforcement actions at this site over the years.
Any online references describing this site as a hot spring destination describe a location that is now permanently closed, legally protected, and physically altered to prevent soaking. The springs have been capped, not merely posted against access. There is no version of a visit to this site that is legal, safe, or productive. If you are looking for accessible hot springs near Portland, Bagby Hot Springs in the Willamette National Forest is the closest legal option, requiring a short hike and a day-use fee.
