Bar M Ranch Hot Springs

What to expect

Bar M Ranch is a working guest ranch, not a hot spring resort in the spa sense. The draw is a large outdoor swimming pool fed by a warm mineral spring, set in a narrow valley of the Blue Mountains where the Umatilla River runs past the cabins. The ranch covers 633 acres and is surrounded by national forest, with the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness along its eastern edge.

The water comes out of the ground at about 93°F34°C and flows into a 40 by 60 foot pool, where it settles at around 85°F29°C. That makes it a long, lazy summer swim rather than a hot soak. If you are used to 104°F40°C tubs, expect something closer to a heated lap pool. The flow is high enough, around 130 gallons a minute according to published guides, that the pool does not need chemical treatment.

The setting is quiet and rural. Days revolve around the river, the pool, and whatever group happens to be staying. The ranch is owned by a church and describes itself as a ministry, so expect a family atmosphere and a Christian retreat flavor, especially when church groups are in.

History

The springs have a longer recorded history than most in Oregon. The ranch house is a hand-hewn log inn built in 1864 as a stage stop on the Thomas and Ruckel Road, a mail route over the Blue Mountains between Walla Walla and Boise. It doubled as a toll gate. Alfred B. Meacham, a well-known figure in early Oregon, ran the station in 1867 and 1868.

The property has carried several names. It was known as Warm Springs early on, then Purdy Springs, after a hotel owner who also ran a post office here from 1881 to 1891. In 1892 Dr. John Bingham bought it, and Bingham Springs became the best-known name. By the late 1800s it was a popular resort, and later visitors included Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.

Idaho ranchers Howard and Bonnie Baker bought the resort in 1938, renamed it the Bar M Ranch, and began running it as a dude ranch in the early 1940s. Three generations of Bakers ran it for 64 years. Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities bought the ranch in 2011.

Getting there

The ranch address is 58840 Bar M Lane, Adams, OR 97810. It is about 30 miles northeast of Pendleton and about 8 miles east of the small settlement of Gibbon, at roughly 2,100 feet.

From Interstate 84 at Pendleton:

1. Take exit 216 toward Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater.
2. Turn left onto Market Road (OR-331) and go about 2 miles to Mission Road.
3. Turn right on Mission Road and go 1.6 miles to Cayuse Road.
4. Turn left on Cayuse Road and follow it about 12 miles to Bingham Road.
5. Turn right on Bingham Road and continue about 13 miles up the Umatilla River to the ranch, on the right.

The last part follows the river into the mountains. Fill up and shop in Pendleton before you leave the interstate. The pool is right on the property, so once you park you are a short walk from the water.

When to go

The ranch is open year-round and markets itself for all seasons, from river tubing in summer to snowshoeing in winter.

For the pool, summer is the obvious choice. At about 85°F29°C the water feels great on a hot July afternoon and noticeably cool on a crisp October evening. The Umatilla River is also best for tubing and wading in mid to late summer, after spring runoff drops. Winter trips are more about the cabins, the snow and the quiet.

Because the ranch hosts retreats, conferences and outdoor school groups, some dates may be taken by large bookings. Ask about group events when you reserve.

Prices and booking

There is no gate fee or day pass. You book a stay or an event, and the pool comes with the ranch. Reservations and tours are arranged by phone at 509-736-2086 or by email at [email protected].

Rates listed on the ranch website in 2026:

• Bobsled Cabin: 2 bedrooms, sleeps up to 8, $150 per night plus a $40 cleaning fee.
• Wildhorse Cabin: 2 bedrooms with a kitchenette, sleeps up to 6, $150 per night plus $40.
• Bearcreek Cabin: 3 bedrooms, sleeps up to 10, $160 per night plus $40.
• Homestead House: 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, sleeps up to 13, $380 per night plus $120, 2-night minimum.
• Cayuse Lodge: 5 bedrooms, sleeps up to 23, with decks over a pond, $450 per night plus $120, 2-night minimum.
• Ranch House: the historic 1864 inn, 10 bedrooms for up to 32 people. Meal service is required and rates are on request.

There is also a campground, an equestrian camp and a bunkhouse, plus The Barn, a heated two-story event space that seats about 200. Prices for these are not posted online, so ask when you call.

Swimsuits are expected. The ranch is a family and church venue, so plan for modest, family-friendly behavior in the pool.

Facilities and activities

Beyond the pool, the ranch website mentions river tubing in summer and snowshoeing in winter, and Cayuse Lodge looks over a pond. Visitor guides also list fishing on the Umatilla, canoeing on the pond, horseback riding, lawn games and a small general store, so ask what is running when you book. A guest review on the ranch site notes there are no formal hiking trails on the property, though national forest and wilderness land start at the ranch boundary.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest option is to stay at the ranch, since that is how you get pool access. If you cannot get a booking:

• Pendleton, about 30 miles southwest, has the nearest hotels, restaurants and full services.
• National forest land surrounds the ranch. Check with the Umatilla National Forest for campgrounds and dispersed camping rules in the upper Umatilla River area.
• Walla Walla, across the state line in Washington, is another base with plenty of lodging.

Safety notes

• River: The Umatilla runs cold and fast in spring. Wait for summer flows before tubing, and watch children near the bank.
• Pool: The water is warm, not hot, so the usual hot spring heat warnings matter less here. Still, keep an eye on kids, since a ranch pool is not a staffed public pool.
• Remote roads: Bingham Road is a long drive up a mountain valley. Carry water and a spare tire, and check winter road conditions before you set out.
• Wildlife: The ranch borders wilderness. Store food properly and give animals room.