Paulina Lake Hot Springs
- Free
- 1 hr 10 min from Bend
- Roadside
Small pockets of geothermal water on the northeast shore of Paulina Lake inside the Newberry Caldera, where visitors have stacked rocks to form shallow soaking pools. The site is undeveloped and reached on foot from the Little Crater area on the Deschutes National Forest. Visit Central Oregon says access is best from May to July, when lake levels are lower.
Caldera campgrounds closed for the season Oct 18, 2026.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- La Pine
- From Bend
- 1 hr 10 min
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
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|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
785 mg/L
Moderately mineralized · Sodium–chloride (salty, brine-like water)
- pH
- 6.65
- Temp at source
- 104°F
- Lithium
- 0.20 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 0.60 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.90 mg/L
- Iron
- 0.01 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “21s/12e-26aab (Paulina Lake Hot Springs Well)”, sampled 1991–1993 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
What's here
- visitor-built rock pools on the lakeshore
- northeast shore of Paulina Lake
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument
- no development
- best May-July at low water
Getting there
- From Bend1 hr 10 min39 mi
- From Redmond/Bend (RDM)1 hr 31 min55 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 6,338 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Trail |
|
| Parking |
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Things to do near La Pine
Big Obsidian Flow
Trailhead and interpretive site at the obsidian flow inside the Newberry Caldera.
Campgrounds
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
East Lake Hot Springs
Geothermal seeps along the southeast shore of East Lake in the Newberry Caldera, where visitors have built low rock walls to hold soaking water. There are no facilities at the springs; East Lake Campground is the nearest developed site. Visit Central Oregon says the pools are easiest to use from May to July, when the lake is lower.
Belknap Hot Springs Lodge & Gardens
A lodge on the McKenzie River with two hot spring soaking pools, gardens, cabins and tent and RV sites. Walk-in visitors pay $12 for one hour in the lower pool; the upper pool is reserved for overnight guests. Children under 5 are not allowed in the pool area.
McCredie Hot Springs
Undeveloped hot springs along Salt Creek on the Willamette National Forest, reached by a short trail from the McCredie Day Use Area on Highway 58 about 8 miles east of Oakridge. The Forest Service runs the site as day use only, sunrise to sunset, with a $5 per-vehicle fee. There is a vault toilet but no drinking water or trash service.
East Lake Hot Springs: 2 mi · Belknap Hot Springs Lodge & Gardens: 51 mi · McCredie Hot Springs: 52 mi
Sources (8)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.
- Official site: Best hot springs in central oregon bend beyond
- fs.usda.gov: Little crater day use site
- fs.usda.gov: Little crater campground
- fs.usda.gov: Paulina lake day use area
- fs.usda.gov: Newberry national volcanic monument deschutes nf 0
- fs.usda.gov: Big obsidian flow trailhead and interpretive site
- fs.usda.gov: Paulina falls day use area
- fs.usda.gov: Paulina peak observation site