Wall Creek Warm Springs (Meditation Pool)

Current status: closed in 2026

Wall Creek Warm Springs is closed. The spring sits at the end of Warm Springs Trail #3582 in the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest, inside the area burned by the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire. The Forest Service says the trail now has fire-killed trees along it and a higher risk of landslides, mudslides, flash floods and debris flows.

The current closure is Willamette National Forest Order 06-18-10-26-04, in effect from March 22 through December 31, 2026 unless it is lifted sooner. It closes the Warm Springs Trailhead, the whole of Forest Road 1934 between Forest Road 19 and Forest Road 24, and Forest Road 24 east of its junction with Forest Road 2409, including spur roads and 100 feet on each side of the closed roads and trailheads. Being on a closed road or trail is a federal violation, with fines of up to $5,000 for an individual. Older closure orders covered the same area, and some guides report the access road is gated and watched by cameras.

If you are planning for 2027 or later, call the Middle Fork Ranger Station in Westfir at (541) 782-2283 or check the forest’s alerts page. Closure orders on this fire have been renewed more than once, so do not assume the trail will reopen on January 1.

The rest of this page describes the spring as it is when open, so you know what to expect once access returns.

What to expect

This is a quiet, small, low-key soak, which is why many people like it. The trail follows Wall Creek on a level grade through old-growth forest and ends at a single oval pool beside the creek. The Forest Service describes it as about 10 feet wide by 12 feet long and about 3 feet deep, with a bottom of silt and organic debris. There are no rock terraces or multiple pools to move between.

The water is warm rather than hot. The Forest Service says it hovers around 95°F35°C, and a state geothermal database records a reading of about 106°F41°C where the water rises. Visitors report anything from lukewarm to about 98°F37°C in the pool, depending on how much warm water is coming up through the bottom and how much cold creek water is getting in. It is the sort of place to sit for a long time rather than to warm up fast on a cold day.

Bubbles rise through the sandy, silty floor of the pool, and the nickname Meditation Pool reflects the calm feel of the spot. There are no facilities: no toilet and no drinking water at the trailhead or the pool.

Getting there

When the area is open, the route from Oakridge is short and paved most of the way.

From the Middle Fork Ranger Station on Highway 58 at Westfir, drive east toward Oakridge for 5 miles and turn left onto Fish Hatchery Road. At the stop sign, turn right onto Forest Road 24 (Salmon Creek Road). Follow it about 9 miles to Forest Road 1934 (signed for Blair Lake), turn left and drive about half a mile to the Warm Springs Trailhead. From there it is about 0.5 miles on foot to the pool.

Both the last stretch of Forest Road 24 and all of Forest Road 1934 are inside the 2026 closure, so you cannot legally drive or walk this route right now.

When to go

Once the closure lifts, the best time is midsummer to early fall. Snowmelt and spring runoff can raise Wall Creek enough to swamp the pool until about late June or July, and a visitor in December once found it barely warm. On a hot August afternoon the shady creek bottom is a cool place to be.

Plan for day trips only. The Forest Service lists the trail as day use, with no overnight parking or camping.

Rules and etiquette

• Respect the closure. Until the Forest Service lifts it, do not walk around gates or into the closed area.
• Day use only. No camping and no overnight parking at the trailhead or along the trail.
• Dogs must be leashed (6 feet or shorter) at the trailhead, under general forest rules.
• Pack it out. There are no trash cans or toilets. Carry out everything, including toilet paper.
• No soap or shampoo in the pool, and no glass. In a single, slow-flowing pool, soap stays around for days.
• Share it. The pool is small, so keep groups and visits modest if others are waiting.

The Forest Service does not post a clothing rule for this spring. Expect people to use their own judgment, and be respectful of others who arrive.

Where to stay nearby

Oakridge is the base for this spring, with motels, cafes, gas and groceries on Highway 58. Westfir, where the Middle Fork Ranger Station sits, is just west. The Middle Fork district has several Forest Service campgrounds along Highway 58 and the Salmon Creek corridor, but some camps and trailheads east of Oakridge are inside the same fire closure (for example Blair Lake Campground), so check the closure map before you count on a site.

Safety notes

• Burned forest: after the closure ends, dead and weakened trees will still be standing along the trail. Avoid the area in strong wind and after heavy rain, when landslides and debris flows are most likely.
• Water quality: this is a warm, still pool with a silty bottom. Keep your head out of the water, cover any cuts and shower afterward.
• Remoteness: cell service is unreliable in the Salmon Creek drainage. Tell someone where you are going.

Nearby stops worth adding

Salmon Creek Falls, along Forest Road 24 closer to Oakridge, is a short stop with a small waterfall and creek pools. The Aufderheide Scenic Byway (Forest Road 19) begins at Westfir and runs north past the red covered bridge toward Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs, a larger fee-managed soak about 50 miles up the byway.