Nestled in the Willamette National Forest, Cougar Hot Springs is located about 55 miles east of Eugene, which is the closest major town. The springs pools are located along Rider Creek, a little above a beautiful and tall waterfall that you will see from the beginning of the short hike to the springs. There are six volunteer-built soaking pools surrounded by large rocks, and the pools were completely renovated and improved in 2009. The setting is absolutely beautiful: a verdant forest with tall trees and a dense growth of ferns. There are usually at least half a dozen soakers present, and sometimes there are several dozen visitors. Although "Cougar" is the most common name for the springs among regulars, the springs are officially signed as Terwilliger Hot Springs.

Cougar is a location where nudity is an intrinsic part of the culture. Most visitors opt to soak nude, and nudity is also common and acceptable in the immediate vicinity of the springs. Known for drawing a diversity of people, there is a bit of a bit of a hippie-ish atmosphere. At the start of the trail to the springs, there is a pay station where a fee of $6 per person is required. Sometimes an attendant is present to collect the fee. Otherwise, there are envelopes that you fill out and deposit into a self-pay box. You will need to keep part of the envelope as a receipt since a ranger may come around to check. Signs at the trailhead inform visitors that clothing is optional at the springs, and there is also a sign informing visitors that clothing must be worn within 50 feet of the road where the trail starts. However, walk less than a minute along the trail and you can strip down and do the rest of the hike in the nude if you wish.

At the beginning of the hike, you will be walking alongside a small lagoon that is an arm of Cougar Reservoir. The lagoon will be on your left-hand side, and the previously mentioned waterfall spills into the lagoon. Before long, you will reach a short spur trail on your left that is the access to the lagoon. Some visitors swim nude in the lagoon during the height of summer when the water temperature warms up a bit, but the water is too cold most of the year. If you stay on the main trail, you will begin to go uphill above the top of the waterfall, and you will reach the springs pools within 10 minutes or so. The pools are warm enough that they attract visitors all year long, even during winter.

The springs are available for soaking during daylight hours only, and alcohol is prohibited. While the forest service tolerates nudity with no hassles, forest rangers do patrol frequently and readily write tickets to those who do not abide by the posted rules, so don't be there after dusk, don't try to avoid the day-use fee and remember to put your clothes back on at least 50 feet before you get back to the road.

Friends of Cougar website

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 44.0835N, 122.2400W

city, county, state, country  Blue River, Lane, Oregon, U.S.A.

classification  1 (freely nude)

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