About Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs
Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs is a natural hot spring at Cougar Dam Rd in Blue River, OR. The land is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Willamette NF).
The pools are about a quarter mile from Forest Road 19 (Aufderheide Drive), 53 miles east of Eugene, and drain into Cougar Reservoir. source
The Forest Service describes the springs as clothing optional. A 2026 order also prohibits being publicly nude when visible from Forest Road 19, so the optional setting at the pools does not erase rules around the road, parking and approach. source
Key facts
- Type
- Natural hot spring
- Area
- Lane County, Oregon · Willamette Valley & Central Cascades
- Nearest town
- Blue River (about 7.3 miles straight-line)
- Clothing
- Clothing-optional forest pools
- Hours
- Managed day use; camp only in developed campgrounds
- Land manager
- U.S. Forest Service (Willamette NF)
- Coordinates
- 44.08208, -122.23217
From our guide: Clothing-Optional Hot Springs in Oregon
Clothing-optional forest pools
Blue River · McKenzie River corridor
- Best fit
- Explicit Forest Service clothing-optional designation
- Access
- Forest road, limited parking and short trail
- Cost & booking
- Managed day-use fee; confirm current method · No general reservation listed; capacity is limited
- Facilities
- Day-use pools; camping only in developed campgrounds
Reviewed August 2, 2026 against this source. Also compared in: Hot Springs Near Eugene, Oregon, Camping Near Oregon Hot Springs.
Map: Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs and nearby
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- Hot springs resort
- Natural hot spring
- Hot spring, access unverified
- Cold or mineral spring
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins show the spring or the property, not the parking area.
Get directions · Big pin: Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs; small pins: other places within 45 miles.
Before you go
- Check the land manager's page and current alerts on the day you go; roads, trails and day-use rules change with weather and fire season.
- Managed day use; camp only in developed campgrounds.
- Pack out everything, including trash left by others; there is no staff on site.
- Water temperature varies by pool and by season. Test it with your hand before getting in, and never put your head under in natural hot water.
- Carry a paper map or an offline map: phone service is often weak or missing.
Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs: questions
Is Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs clothing optional?
Clothing-optional forest pools
Can you camp at Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs?
Managed day use; camp only in developed campgrounds.
What is the closest hot spring to Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs?
Belknap Hot Springs Lodge & Gardens is about 12 miles away as the crow flies. Road distance is longer.
Where to stay nearby
Lodging or camping listed by the operator, within 35 miles in a straight line.
- Hot springs resortBelknap Hot Springs Lodge & GardensMcKenzie Bridge, OR12 miles awayfrom $12 Overnight
Hot springs near Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs
- Hot springs resortBelknap Hot Springs Lodge & GardensMcKenzie Bridge, OR12 miles awayfrom $12 Overnight
