Paulina Lake Hot Springs

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Category: Oregon, View All
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Paulina Lake Hot Springs Near Bend, OR

Paulina Lake Hot Springs is a non-commercial hot springs located near the Newbury Volcanic Monument in the Deschutes National Forest. The hot pools at Paulina Lake are primitive, to say the least – typically featuring circular dugouts within the sandy banks of the lake where some pools are bordered with rocks and wood.

The hot springs pools are located in an area of Paulina Lake known as Hot Springs Beach and are accessible either through the Paulina Lake Hot Spring Trail, the Hot Springs Spur Trail or by kayaking or boating Paulina Lake. The relatively remote location of the hot pools result in limited visitors and is a perfect place to escape to and relax when visiting the Deschutes National Park.

Paulina Lake Hot Springs Pool Information

The Paulina Lake Hot Springs complex include five geothermal pools situated within the sandy banks of Paulina Lake Beach. The hot springs pools are relatively small and typically accommodate one person per pool. The water temperature ranges from 90 to115 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the time of year.

Seasonal Access Information

For the best experience, consider visiting Paulina Lake Hot Springs between May and July. During other months, the hot springs are fully submerged under Paulina Lake.

Hiking to Paulina Lake Hot Springs

You can reach Paulina Lake Hot Springs from either the Paulina Lake Hot Springs Trail or the Hot Spur Spring Trail. The Paulina Lake Hot Springs Trail is the longer route covering over 7.5 miles around the picturesque Paulina Lake loop. This hike is perfect for experiencing more of the natural beauty of the Deschutes National Park and also ideal for those wanting a more challenging hiking option. The Hot Spur Trail is the quickest way to get to the Paulina Hot Springs; it is a 1.2 mile hike across the eastern shores of the Paulina Lake with extremely limited elevation.

Camping Information

Paulina Lake Hot Springs is located within the Deschutes National Forest, and there are camping areas relatively close to the Hot Springs if you choose to stay overnight and experience as much of the natural beauty of the volcanic area as possible. The Paulina Lake and Little Crater Campgrounds are excellent options for those interested in hot springing.

The Paulina Lake Campground is located on the south shore of the Lake and includes amenities such as potable water and restrooms. The cost to stay overnight at this campground is $18 per night for one RV and an additional $9 per if you are adding a second RV. For a Dump Station, the nightly rate is $10. The Day use fee for the Paulina Lake Campground is $10. It is recommended that you make prior reservations for this campsite. Paulina Lake Campground is open between May and October.

The Little Crater Campground includes 49 camping sites and is found almost at the edge of Paulina Lake. The Campsites here can accommodate RV’s, trailers and tents and potable water and flush toilet facilities are available. This campground is available between May and October. The cost for an overnight stay at Little Crater Campground is $18, an additional $9 is charged for a second RV and the Day use fee is $10.

There are also a handful of backcountry campsites available at North Cove Beach, which is about 1 mile west of North Beach.

History of Paulina Lake Hot Springs

Paulina Lake Hot Springs was developed after the collapse of the Newbury Volcano core and the resulting crater filling with water. Continued lava flow throughout many years resulted in the separation of the crater into two bodies of water – Paulina Lake and East Lake along with the development of hot springs on the beach of Paulina Lake.

Paulina Lake Hot Springs Soak Stats:

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall (access road often closed during winter)
Type: Hike (1.2-7.5 miles depending on which trail)
GPS: 43.719 121.209
Map Quad: CRESCENT
Elevation: 6,340 ft
Land: Public – Deschutes National Forest
Fee: None
Restrictions: No camping allowed at North Beach
Usage: High
Visibility: Moderate
Temp: 90-115
Water Clarity: Moderate
Odor: n/a
pH: n/a
Area Features: Newbury Volcanic Monument
Closest Food/Gas: Paulina Lake
Trash: Moderate
Bugs: Moderate
Wildlife: Moderate
Camping: Paulina Lake Campground, Little Crater Campground, North Cove Beach (primitive sites)
Clothing Optional: n/a
Pit Toilet: No

Responses

How to Collect Spring Water

Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.

The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.

FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.

Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.

Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug

When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.

When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.

How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.

How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.

I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.

Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.

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