Jackson WellSprings

What to expect

Jackson WellSprings is a casual mineral spa on about 30 acres at the north end of Ashland, beside Bear Creek. It feels more like a retreat center than a resort hotel. There are gardens, a labyrinth, temples and an events space alongside the pools, and the property is home to a nonprofit, the Health Research Institute, that runs garden and restoration projects on part of the land.

Warm artesian water rises on the hillside above the property at about 103°F39°C. The spa’s water analysis lists it as naturally alkaline (pH 9.3) with around 340 ppm of dissolved minerals, and says the state let the spa step away from the usual chlorine standard, so the pools are run without chlorine or bromine. Around 80,000 gallons a day flow through.

The public area has:

• A 95-foot swimming pool. This is the centerpiece, big enough to swim laps. The spa publishes the spring temperature but not the pool’s, so expect it to vary.
• A hot tub filled with the mineral water, for a proper hot soak.
• A wood sauna and a steam room.
• Showers, a locker room and a patio.

There are also private tub rooms, each with its own mineral-water jetted tub, which you rent by the 1.5-hour session.

The spa says Indigenous people long used the warm springs as a ceremonial and birthing site, and that Eugenia Jackson dedicated them in 1862 for “natatorium and sanitarium purposes.” Ashland once had several mineral spas. Jefferson Public Radio notes that Jackson WellSprings is the only one still operating.

Getting there

The spa is at 2253 Highway 99 North, Ashland, OR 97520, about 2.5 miles north of downtown Ashland on the old Pacific Highway. From I-5, take the north Ashland exit and follow Highway 99 a short way toward town; the entrance is on the highway with parking on site. Everything is a short walk from the car.

From Medford, it is a straight drive south on Highway 99 or I-5. Drive slowly once you turn in: the property speed limit is 5 mph at all times.

When to go

Jackson WellSprings is open year-round, and Ashland’s mild winters make it a good cold-season stop. Summer afternoons can be very hot in the Rogue Valley, so the morning family session or the evening session are more comfortable.

The schedule shapes your visit more than the season does:

• 9 AM to 5:30 PM daily: family session, swimsuits required.
• 6 to 10 PM daily: adults only, clothing optional.
• Mondays, 5 to 10 PM: Ladies Night, clothing optional.

The office and spa close briefly between sessions.

Rules and etiquette

The spa posts a long list of house rules. The ones that matter most:

• Swimwear: Required at all times except the clothing-optional sessions. Underwear is not allowed as swimwear. You can borrow a suit at the office.
• Kids: Children 13 and under must be with an adult and need one to use the sauna or steam room. Kids 3 and under must wear swim diapers, sold at the office. Everyone under 18 must leave the building 30 minutes before a clothing-optional session.
• Consent and conduct: Sexual activity is not tolerated.
• Shower first before using the pool, sauna or steam room, and again after using the restroom. Oregon law requires it.
• No street shoes in the spa area. Swim sandals are fine.
• No glass, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. Do not come in intoxicated.
• Sauna and steam: Sit on a towel, do not pour water on the dry sauna stove, and leave honey, salt and lotions at home. Only approved essential oils are allowed.
• No lifeguard. You are responsible for yourself and your group.
• Dogs stay out of the spa and office unless they are registered service animals. Emotional support animals are not allowed.

Prices: A public soak session is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $10 for campers and $8 for children. Private tubs are $85 for a single tub or $100 for a double (both fit two adults) for 1.5 hours, including two towels, sparkling water and use of the public pools, sauna and steam. Private tubs run 9 AM to 9:30 PM Tuesday to Sunday and 5 to 9:30 PM on Mondays. Book through the spa’s online system, call 541-482-3776, or email info@jacksonwellsprings.com.

Where to stay nearby

On site, the campground has several options. Check-in is at 3 PM:

• Meadow camping in a tent or vehicle: $25 a night.
• RV sites with full hookups and 30 or 50 amp power: $40.
• Tipis (empty canvas on an earth floor): $35.
• Bell tents on wood platforms with electricity: $50, two-night minimum.
• Domes with a bed, heater and bedding: $60 to $75, two-night minimum.
• Glamping cabins with a private half bath: $100, two-night minimum.

The canvas structures close from November to April. Quiet hours run 9 PM to 8 AM, though events can run later. Campfires are only allowed in designated pits and not during high fire danger.

Ashland, 2.5 miles south, has a wide range of hotels, inns and restaurants within walking distance of Lithia Park and the theaters. Medford, a little farther north, has the airport and chain hotels.

Safety notes

• Heat: The hot tub, sauna and steam room add up. Take breaks and drink water. The spa advises anyone pregnant or with heart conditions, high blood pressure or skin conditions to check with a doctor first.
• Slippery decks: Floors around the pool are wet and slick. No running.
• Valuables: The spa is not responsible for lost or stolen property, so use a locker.
• Summer smoke: Southern Oregon gets wildfire smoke in late summer. Check air quality before an outdoor soak.