Shasta Hot Springs
There are hot springs, and then there are Shasta hot springs.
Here, the water comes up through the southern Cascade volcanic arc, carrying minerals that have been brewing for millennia. You can soak in a riverside pool in the Oregon Cascades, or float in a remote Northern California spring with nothing but high desert around you. Some springs require a hike and a willingness to wander. Others come with a soaking deck and a lodge. We cover both — because the best soak is the one that fits your trip.
The Cascade Range runs from Mount Shasta north into Southern Oregon, and along its flanks, groundwater heated by residual magma rises through fault lines to the surface. That geology has created more than 60 springs across the region — from backcountry pools reached only by trail to developed resorts in the Oregon Cascades.
Some are a short walk from the car. Others require a backpack and a weekend. All of them carry the same minerals that have drawn people to these waters for centuries.
Exploring beyond the Shasta region? Soak Trail covers the whole West — here's how to find hot springs anywhere.
Find Your Soak
- ✦ Wild & Remote — Hike to Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon or Surprise Valley in Northern California for undeveloped pools and solitude.
- ✦ Resort & Relax — Unwind at Breitenbush Hot Springs, a forest retreat with soaking pools and lodging.
- ✦ Family Friendly — Easy-access developed springs like Belknap Hot Springs, with pools and amenities.
- ✦ Free & Public — Soak under open sky at natural pools like Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs.
Not all hot springs are the same. Pick the experience you're looking for.
Plan a Weekend, Not Just a Stop
Here's a sample Mount Shasta to Southern Oregon loop to inspire your route:
Coverage
64 springs across Northern California and Southern Oregon. Updated regularly with seasonal access conditions, road closures, and new trip routes. Start with the spring closest to you.