The Ultimate Guide to Cougar Hot Springs, Oregon – Soak Away Stress

Cougar Hot Springs has a rich history that is as colorful as its hydrothermal waters. Native American tribes used the hot springs for healing purposes before settlers discovered the area in the late 1800s. The area was developed as a commercial resort in the early 1900s, with cabins, a store, and other amenities. After a period of economic decline, the United States Forest Service assumed management of the site, restoring it to its original condition while ensuring its availability to all visitors.

Cougar Hot Springs, like other hot springs in Oregon, has a long history of use by Native Americans. The first European settlers to “claim” the hot springs were Hiram and Sarah Terwilliger, who filed a mineral rights claim in 1906, but the Forest Service denied it. The hot springs are officially named Terwilliger, but are more commonly referred to as Cougar due to their close proximity to the Cougar reservoir, which is drained through Rider Creek.

Until 1960, the hot springs were a remote destination, but after that time, the area became increasingly popular. Hundreds of people could be camping in the vicinity of the springs during the summer months. 

This influx of visitors resulted in a number of issues for the forest service, such as the proliferation of crowds, litter, drugs, alcohol consumption, and the presence of hippies! ( oh my)

The Forest Service conducted a number of studies on the site in the years 1978–79. The site was improved by the construction of a designated trail, the prohibition of nudity on the roads, and the prohibition of camping in the designated parking area. However, the issues persisted and by the mid 80s, the area was populated by a variety of cult groups, motorized gangs, and former prisoners.

In 1994, a young woman’s body was discovered near the parking lot with a fractured skull, believed to have been drowned after a fall. In 1996, a Harrisburg man was murdered after a transient stole his motor home while returning to the city from a hot springs resort. I remember this happening about a month after my first visit to the hot springs. In the same year, a man camping at the campground was shot multiple times in the head following an argument over noise. 

The Forest Service implemented a fee system for the use of hot springs in 1998, which prohibited camping in the vicinity of the site. This fee system was instrumental in the clean-up and restoration of the pools, as well as the implementation of restrictions such as the establishment of a “night-closure” policy and the prohibition of alcohol consumption, which made the site safer and more appealing for hot springs enthusiasts.