44. Hot Springs Fork
2024 Status
The hike description below is based on my last visit in 2003. I plan to field check in 2024, and will update the hike description, photos and map later in 2024.
Summary
Length 6 miles one way (1.4 miles to Bagby Hot Springs)
Difficulty Easy to difficult
Season Spring to autumn
Elevation range 2,080 – 3,000 feet
Human imprint Very high to hot springs; minimal beyond hot springs
Information Mount Hood National Forest (Clackamas River Ranger District)
Primary old growth features
Massive Douglas-fir and western redcedar.
Description
The Bagby Trail (544) parallels the course of Hot Springs Fork, one of three major streams draining the north side of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. Hikers can enjoy attractive old growth in an easy streamside stroll to the hot springs, or plan an all-day venture further up Hot Springs Fork. The wilderness was established in 1984 as one of the last unfragmented, low-elevation old-growth forests left in the southern end of the Mount Hood National Forest. Unfortunately, the Bull of the Woods Complex Fires (2010) and the Bull Complex Fires (2021) burned severely over most of the southern part of the wilderness. Fortunately, most of the Hot Springs Fork watershed was unaffected by the fires.
The trail also leads to Bagby Hot Springs, a very well-used locale which has been closed since 2020, but has reopened as of May, 2024. A new permittee has renovated the communal bathhouses, although the private soaking tubs remain closed. Hikers intending to use the hot springs must obtain a permit at the Ripplebrook Store, or pay onsite with cash only.
The hot springs lie about 1½ miles up the trail, and from the parking lot to the springs the trail sometimes resembles a city sidewalk. Even so, the walk is quite pleasant through a beautiful old forest. Most of the old growth in the area appears to have regenerated about 300 or so years ago following a large forest fire. Douglas-fir and western hemlock 3 to 4 feet thick of that age dominate the forest. However, the segment of trail stretching from the bridge (a little over a mile from the trailhead) for another mile upstream passes by a more open forest with scattered older Douglas-fir reaching 6 feet in diameter. Still-larger veterans reach 8 feet thick in places, including in the vicinity of the hot springs.
Visitor use drops off rapidly above the springs, although some soakers wander up the trail another third of a mile to Shower Creek. Aptly named, this tiny tributary drops over trailside rocks giving well-positioned travelers another refreshing, though much cooler, soaking. The trail enters the wilderness shortly after Shower Creek.
A mile or so above the hot springs the forest becomes more varied. Small patches of old growth, areas of blowdown, and younger forest alternate for about 2 miles before settling back in to a long unbroken stretch of old forest above Betty Creek. The trail crosses Hot Springs Fork over to the western side of the stream about 6 miles up the trail. This marks a convenient turnaround point. A formerly outstanding old western hemlock forest further up the trail near Silver King Lake burned severely in the Bull Complex Fire (2021).
30 Years of Change
Last hiked in 2003; will update in 2024. The Bull Complex Fire (2021) consumed the old growth at the upper end of the trail around Silver King Lake.
How to get there
Turn right onto the Collowash Road (FR 63) from the Clackamas River Highway (FR 46) approximately 29 miles southeast of Estacada. Approximately 3½ miles later turn right onto FR 70. Park on the left in the Bagby Hot Springs parking lot in 6 miles.
Map note
The map below was created in 2003 and accurate at that time. I plan to field check and update the map in 2024.
